PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Usko Matonen (ranked 913 p4p, 45 weight class) and Henry The Crab (ranked 1526 p4p, 79 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matonen
vs
The Crab

165 cm
28
140 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

170 cm
27
140 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry The Crab!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Crab takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice cross by The Crab.
The Crab changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matonen tries to avoid it but The Crab manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matonen to the ground. Matonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The Crab closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matonen circles away.
A big left from The Crab misses.
The Crab just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMatonen.
The Crab misses with a looping left.
The Crab with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Matonen to score with a decent uppercut.
The Crab looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The Crab doesn't manage to clinch there - Matonen circles away.
Matonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matonen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've been told by Matonen's head coaches at Secret Lab that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Matonen looks to score with a jab to the body but The Crab is just out of range.
The Crab throws a hook but Matonen avoids it easily.
The Crab jabs at Matonen's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid leg kick lands there for Matonen.
The Crab lands a jab to the nose.
Matonen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. The Crab looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The Crab misses with the combination.
Matonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen scoring well with a low kick there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from The Crab.
Usko Matonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry The Crab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from The Crab.
Matonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as The Crab throws out the jab.

The Crab closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Matonen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The Crab looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matonen is looking to improve his position.

The Crab is looking for a kimura but Matonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for The Crab to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Crab not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The Crab has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The Crab wants to free his trapped foot but Matonen is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The Crab is looking for a kimura here.
Matonen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of The Crab's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take The Crab's back!
The Crab tries to roll but Matonen sticks to his back.
The Crab is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matonen is riding his opponent, not letting The Crab buck him off.
Matonen controlling well, preventing The Crab from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Crab keeps trying to improve his position.
Matonen biding his time, looking for the opening.
The Crab is in bad spot here.
Matonen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Matonen avoiding The Crab 's attempts to control his hands.
Matonen really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for The Crab.
The Crab wants to escape the position.
Matonen is not going to allow The Crab to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen has the hooks in. The Crab is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Matonen biding his time, looking for the opening.
The Crab tries to escape but Matonen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Matonen controlling the position well here. The Crab rolled but Matonen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Matonen trying to control momentarily.
The Crab rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Usko Matonen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as The Crab throws out the jab.
Matonen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Matonen slips under a jab from The Crab.
A quick step to the side and Matonen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The Crab is looking to clinch.
Matonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from The Crab.
Matonen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
The Crab walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A good leg kick by Matonen.
The Crab throws a jab but it's blocked by Matonen.
Matonen connects with an inside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matonen.
The Crab throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matonen connects with a body shot.
The Crab misses with a takedown attempt
and Matonen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matonen scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The Crab throws the left hand but Matonen avoids the punch easily.
Matonen is looking to wear down The Crab with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The Crab misses with a right hand
and Matonen counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Henry The Crab has been cut.
Matonen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Crab throws a right and a left that Matonen avoids nicely.
Matonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice shot by Matonen.
The Crab moves in looking to clinch but Matonen pushes him off.
Matonen connects with a leg kick. The Crab looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The Crab tries to clinch up.

Matonen has managed to clinch.
Still in the clinch, The Crab scores with a nice short uppercut.

Matonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Usko Matonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matonen lands with a shot to the body.
Matonen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matonen throws a shot to the body.
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!
The Crab looks to land a right hand but Matonen moved out of range.
The Crab takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matonen takes a swing at The Crab's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The Crab tries to keep at a distance but Matonen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matonen misses with a punch to the body.
The Crab misses with the head strike.
The Crab is looking to take this one to the mat.
Matonen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down The Crab.
Matonen prevents the takedown attempt.
Usko Matonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry The Crab.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matonen.
A nice left hand lands by Matonen.

Matonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Crab 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.

The Crab shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matonen is trying to defend but The Crab finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The Crab is breathing heavily.
The Crab prevents Matonen from improving his position.
Henry The Crab has got the better of the ground game so far.

The Crab is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Matonen to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen keeping moving, preventing The Crab from controlling successfully.
The Crab wants to pass the guard but Matonen is keeping the position.
The Crab is fighting to break Matonen's control of his arms but Matonen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Matonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Matonen, not yet.
The Crab throwing strikes but missing.
Matonen has The Crab pulled in close to control his posture.
The Crab trying to control but Matonen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matonen seems keen to control The Crab's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The Crab connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The Crab is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matonen.
The Crab swings for the body but Matonen moves out of range.
The Crab on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matonen. Matonen obviously looking to wear him down.
Matonen fakes the leg kick and cracks The Crab in the body.
The Crab has a takedown stuffed.
Matonen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that The Crab can do to turn this around?
A kick lands to the mid section there for Matonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Usko Matonen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Henry The Crab's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Matonen lands with a good body shot.

The Crab closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Matonen quickly recovers to half guard.
The Crab is pressing down on Matonen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matonen is holding on for now.

The Crab is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matonen manages to get to full guard.
The Crab stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matonen keeping moving, preventing The Crab from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Matonen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Crab manages to get himself to full guard.

The Crab looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The Crab looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The Crab looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Matonen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matonen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henry The Crab has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Usko Matonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matonen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The Crab is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matonen defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matonen.
Nice takedown defense from Matonen. No joy for The Crab on that attempt.
The Crab shoots in for a takedown but Matonen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The Crab takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The Crab throws an off balance right hand
and Matonen counters with a left and a right that stings The Crab.
Matonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
The Crab misses with an uppercut
and Matonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matonen tests The Crab's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matonen jabs at The Crab's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Crab doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The Crab misses with the combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Crab is defended easily by Matonen.
Usko Matonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry The Crab.
Matonen connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from The Crab.
Matonen scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The Crab throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matonen's waist but Matonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing The Crab off to one side.
Matonen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Matonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The Crab throws a hook to the side of Matonen's head but Matonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Usko Matonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Usko Matonen!
A very excited looking Usko Matonen rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
The defeated Henry The Crab had this to say: 'Respect man, respect!'.