PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Black (ranked 1067 p4p, 115 weight class) and Sami Vatanen (ranked 1075 p4p, 116 weight class). Black comes to the cage accompanied by Manu Chao - Mr. Bobby. Vatanen has chosen Kalmah - Heros to Us as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Vatanen

192 cm
34
275 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

200 cm
28
282 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

IniTech Nutrition
THE END 32

IniTech Nutrition

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 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Matt Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sami Vatanen!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vatanen.

It looks like Matt Black has been cut.
Black throws a big shot that misses.
A little jabbing left from Vatanen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A punch lands to the side of Black 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Black bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vatanen's head backwards.

It looks like Sami Vatanen has been cut.
Black takes a swing at Vatanen's ribcage but misses.
Black lands a glancing blow to the side of Vatanen's head.
Vatanen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vatanen misses with a right hand
and Black counters with a nice body shot.
Black uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vatanen.
Black misses with a hook.
Vatanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vatanen scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vatanen throws a body shot but no joy.
A quick step to the side and Black tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vatanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Black ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Black definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Black moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Black blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Black fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vatanen lands with a good body shot.
Black changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vatanen tries to avoid it but Black manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vatanen to the ground. Vatanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Black misses with a hook to the body
and Vatanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Matt Black's cut is getting worse.
A big left from Vatanen misses.
Black moves out of range as Vatanen strikes.
Vatanen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Black dives in and scores a takedown into Vatanen's guard.
Vatanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Black throwing strikes but missing.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vatanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vatanen is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Black is on top in guard.

Vatanen has momentary wrist control but Black slips an elbow through the middle.
Vatanen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Black keeping moving, preventing Vatanen from controlling successfully.
Vatanen wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
Vatanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Black keeping moving, preventing Vatanen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vatanen pushing down on Black's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vatanen trying to advance position but Black counters by regaining guard.
Vatanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Black is retaining full guard.
Vatanen is stalling in the full guard.

Black is looking for a triangle but Vatanen pushes his legs off easily.

Black is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vatanen defends well.
Vatanen wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Black looking for a sweep. Not yet Black, not yet.
Black trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Vatanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vatanen slips nicely into half guard.
Black is trying to control but can't.
Vatanen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Black.
Black wants to control but Vatanen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sami Vatanen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vatanen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Black throws a nice head kick!
Vatanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Black connects with the punch.
Black throws a head kick but Vatanen moves out of range.
Vatanen takes one to the side of the head.

That has opened up Sami Vatanen's cut even more.
Vatanen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Black misses with a head kick.
Vatanen throws an off balance right hand
enabling Black to counter with a crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Black.
Vatanen connects with a single shot there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Black shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vatanen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vatanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Black in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands a couple of digs.
Black missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vatanen's head.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.
Black lands a couple of digs.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vatanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vatanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Vatanen, not yet.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vatanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Black landing with the ground and pound.

The cut above Sami Vatanen's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Vatanen is pulling down on Black's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black throws a big elbow that misses.
Vatanen wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Black postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Black showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Black makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sami Vatanen's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Sami Vatanen's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Matt Black!
Matt Black decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
In defeat, Sami Vatanen stepped up to the mic, saying 'Did u fart? or is that ur breath?'.