PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxwell Mathews (ranked 6682 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Jami (ranked 6086 p4p, 0 weight class). Maxwell Mathews has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mathews
vs
Jami

217 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maxwell Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Jami!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jami slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathews, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jami moves to clinch but Mathews breaks away

and Mathews counters with a single leg into guard. Jami didn't expect that.
Mathews throwing strikes but missing.
Jami wants to sweep but no luck.
Mathews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Jami manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Mathews breaks from the clinch.

Jami moves into the clinch.

Mathews manages to break the clinch.
Jami tries to clinch but Mathews moves out of range.

Mathews gets caught napping as Jami dives in and scores a takedown. Mathews manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mathews manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niko Jami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jami pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jami tries to clinch up.
Mathews changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Jami drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jami throwing strikes from guard but Mathews blocks nicely.
Jami pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mathews is keeping the position for now.
Mathews looking for a sweep. Not yet Mathews, not yet.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet but Jami passes into half guard.
Mathews tries to kick Jami off but Jami keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jami in particular looking to stall.
Mathews is trying to stand.

Jami decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Jami throws a head kick but Mathews moves out of range.

Jami fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mathews to the ground. Jami is now in Mathews's guard.
Mathews wants to stand up but Jami is controlling him.
Mathews trying to keep a closed guard but Jami is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews pulls Jami in to control the position.
Mathews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jami throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mathews wants to stand up but Jami is controlling him.
Mathews keeping moving, preventing Jami from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mathews trying to control the position here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mathews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jami defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jami tries to clinch there but Mathews circles away.
Jami leaves Mathews with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxwell Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathews with a poor takedown
and Jami counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mathews is breathing heavily.

Mathews gets tackled into the cage by Jami. Jami maintains the clinch.
Mathews is trying to force a seperation but Jami has the dominant position.

Mathews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jami fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mathews to the ground. Jami is now in Mathews's guard.
Jami is looking to work some ground and pound but Mathews has wrist control.
Jami should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Jami stands up from Mathews's guard - Jami perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nice takedown defense from Jami. No joy for Mathews on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Jami dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mathews gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Mathews looking for subs off his back but Jami has passed one foot through into half guard.
Jami missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jami stops Mathews from getting back to his feet.
Mathews is controlling Jami's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mathews actively working from the bottom here.
Mathews landing rabbit punches to the side of Jami's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mathews trying to hold on to Jami's head to control him but Jami postures up.
Jami trying to control the action but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Jami wants to stand but Mathews has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Mathews is trying to control but can't.

Mathews manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Jami manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mathews on his heels. He'll look to pass Mathews's guard now, I'm sure.
Mathews trying to control the position.
Mathews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jami is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jami loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jami looking to pass the guard.
Mathews keeping moving, preventing Jami from controlling successfully.
Mathews wants to control but Jami passes easily into half guard.
Mathews trying to control from the bottom.
Jami throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Jami postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mathews to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jami shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mathews is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jami throws a big right hand that misses.
Mathews is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jami is pressing down on Mathews's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mathews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jami's head.
Mathews throws a big right hand that misses.

Jami looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jami working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mathews.
Mathews landing with the ground and pound.

Jami has his foot on Mathews's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mathews works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mathews throwing strikes but missing.
Mathews connects with a couple of short punches.
Mathews postures up and lands a big shot to Jami's brow.
Jami is trying to control the position but Mathews postures up.
Mathews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mathews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jami's head.
Mathews has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jami looking to control.
Mathews postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mathews's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mathews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jami's head.
Mathews scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maxwell Mathews will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mathews drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jami throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mathews is working Jami over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mathews content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mathews postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jami pulls Mathews in to control the position.
Mathews postures up and lands a big shot to Jami's brow.
Mathews works over Jami with some ground and pound from guard.
Mathews stands up over Jami, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Jami working for a triangle but Mathews defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jami works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jami takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jami is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mathews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jami wants to sweep but no luck.
Mathews scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jami working a defensive guard here.
Mathews stands up over Jami, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mathews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mathews scoring with some ground and pound.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews won't allow Jami to sweep him here.
Mathews lands a couple of digs.
Mathews scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jami has momentary wrist control but Mathews slips an elbow through the middle.
Mathews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mathews lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mathews postures up and lands a big shot to Jami's brow.

Jami is looking for a triangle but Mathews pushes his legs off easily.
Mathews landing some decent shots from guard.

Jami is looking for a triangle but Mathews pushes his legs off easily.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews landing some decent shots from guard.
Mathews chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews scoring with some ground and pound.
Mathews scoring with some ground and pound.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews lands a couple of digs.
Mathews with a nice head shot there.
Maxwell Mathews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mathews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mathews is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mathews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mathews lands a couple of elbows.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jami has a closed guard, preventing Mathews from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jami's head.
Mathews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jami throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mathews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jami is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews cracks Jami with a solid left hand.
Mathews cracks Jami with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mathews lands a couple of elbows.
Mathews works over Jami with some ground and pound from guard.
Mathews throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxwell Mathews showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mathews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxwell Mathews!