PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Meikalainen (ranked 2375 p4p, 59 weight class) and Taras Shevchenko (ranked 3419 p4p, 137 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Meikalainen
vs
Shevchenko

197 cm
42
250 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

190 cm
33
265 lbs
25 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matti Meikalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Taras Shevchenko!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meikalainen lands a head shot.

It looks like Taras Shevchenko has been cut.
Meikalainen stuns Shevchenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Meikalainen connects with a solid leg kick.

Meikalainen forces Shevchenko back against the cage and clinches.
Shevchenko fails to pull guard.
Meikalainen looking to slow down the pace here.
Shevchenko leaning against his opponent.
Shevchenko effectively controlling the action here.
Shevchenko receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Meikalainen misses with the head strike.
Meikalainen lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meikalainen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shevchenkos head.
Meikalainen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Meikalainen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shevchenko goes for a takedown attempt but Meikalainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Meikalainen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shevchenko. Meikalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shevchenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Meikalainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Meikalainen.
Shevchenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Shevchenko is trying to drag Meikalainen to the mat but Meikalainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Matti Meikalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taras Shevchenko.
Meikalainen effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko leaning his opponent against the cage.
Come on Shevchenko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Shevchenko is struggling to control the position.
Shevchenko looking to slow down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Taras Shevchenko.
Shevchenko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Meikalainen to score with a decent uppercut.
Shevchenko is looking to score with low kicks.
It looked like Meikalainen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Matti Meikalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Meikalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Shevchenko looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice cross by Shevchenko.
Shevchenko throws a big shot that misses.
Meikalainen throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meikalainen misses with a few strikes there.

Meikalainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Meikalainen is struggling to control the position.
Shevchenko is pushing Meikalainen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Meikalainen.
Stalling in the clinch from Meikalainen.
Shevchenko is working for takedown but Meikalainen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Meikalainen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Meikalainen stalls.
Shevchenko fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meikalainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shevchenko up against the cage.
Shevchenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Meikalainen is working Shevchenko over against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Meikalainen.
Shevchenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Shevchenko throws a head punch that misses.
Shevchenko can't get the takedown.
Shevchenko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Meikalainen.
Meikalainen stalling in the clinch.
Shevchenko has a couple of punches blocked by Meikalainen.
Meikalainen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Meikalainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Taras Shevchenko's cut.
That's time! Meikalainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shevchenko misses with a looping right.
Shevchenko moves out of range of the leg kick from Meikalainen.
Meikalainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Meikalainen is looking to counter punch.
Shevchenko looks to land a left hand but Meikalainen moved out of range nicely.
Meikalainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Shevchenko misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Matti Meikalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meikalainen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Shevchenko throws out a loose jab but Meikalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Meikalainen moves out of range as Shevchenko strikes.

Meikalainen clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meikalainen lands with a left to the head.
Shevchenko looking to stall.
Shevchenko blocking some punches.
Shevchenko being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Meikalainen.
The referee calls for Shevchenko to work.
The referee calls for Shevchenko to work.
Meikalainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shevchenko is stalling here.
Shevchenko being controlled against the cage.
Meikalainen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Meikalainen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Meikalainen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shevchenko's elbow.
Shevchenko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meikalainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shevchenko stalling.

Shevchenko pulls guard.
Meikalainen trying to control but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.
Meikalainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shevchenko keeping moving, preventing Meikalainen from controlling successfully.
Meikalainen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Meikalainen preventing the sweep.
Shevchenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meikalainen slips nicely into half guard.
Meikalainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Meikalainen trying to control the action but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.

Shevchenko actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meikalainen blocks the strikes from Shevchenko.
Meikalainen prevents Shevchenko from improving his position.
Meikalainen is trying to control the action in half guard but Shevchenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Meikalainen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shevchenko won't allow Meikalainen to pass to mount.

Shevchenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Meikalainen pulls his head out easily.
Meikalainen trying to control the action but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Meikalainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shevchenko can do to turn this around?
Shevchenko takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Meikalainen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Meikalainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Meikalainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Shevchenko controls his hands.
Shevchenko is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Shevchenko wants a takedown but no success here.
Matti Meikalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taras Shevchenko.
Meikalainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Meikalainen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taras Shevchenko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shevchenko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Meikalainen defending well as Shevchenko loads up on a big left hand.

Meikalainen rushes Shevchenko and presses him up against the cage.
Meikalainen tries to throw a body punch but Shevchenko avoids it by throwing Meikalainen back against the cage.
Meikalainen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Meikalainen avoids the elbow strike from Shevchenko, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Meikalainen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That has opened up Taras Shevchenko's cut even more.
Meikalainen is working Shevchenko over against the cage.
Meikalainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shevchenko up against the cage.
Meikalainen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meikalainen just leaning against Shevchenko, taking a breather.
Meikalainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Meikalainen won't allow it.
Matti Meikalainen has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meikalainen scores with a shoulder strike.
Meikalainen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Shevchenko slows down the pace here.
Meikalainen leaning against his opponent.
Meikalainen is trying to maintain a safe position but Shevchenko gets an underhook and turns Meikalainen into the cage.
Shevchenko blocks a body shot from Meikalainen.
Shevchenko is trying to stall.
Meikalainen stalls.
Shevchenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shevchenko.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Meikalainen as Shevchenko tries to tie him up.
Meikalainen lands an uppercut.
Meikalainen lands with a light punch inside.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Meikalainen won't allow it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shevchenko as Meikalainen tries to tie him up.
Meikalainen lands a left hand.
Meikalainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Meikalainen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

The cut above Taras Shevchenko's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Meikalainen throws a head punch that misses.
Meikalainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Shevchenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stalling in the clinch from Shevchenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Meikalainen scores with a nice short uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Meikalainen scores with a hook to the body.
Meikalainen lands an uppercut.
Shevchenko prevents a body shot from Meikalainen.
Shevchenko tries to pull guard but Meikalainen won't allow it.
Matti Meikalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taras Shevchenko.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Meikalainen.
The referee is keeping an eye on Meikalainen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Shevchenko taking a breather.
Meikalainen working aggressively here.
Shevchenko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meikalainen lands a right hand.
A short uppercut from Meikalainen.

Taras Shevchenko's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Meikalainen.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Meikalainen misses with a body punch.
Meikalainen misses with a punch to the body.
Matti Meikalainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Meikalainen working aggressively here.
Meikalainen looking to slow down the pace here.
Taras Shevchenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Meikalainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Meikalainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shevchenko just leaning against Meikalainen, taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Meikalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Meikalainen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Meikalainen!
Matti Meikalainen thanked the fans post fight for their support.