PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between DaMatti Matikainen (ranked 78 p4p, 180 weight class) and Marko Kersikov (ranked 13 p4p, 26 weight class). Kersikov has chosen Re-Style - Spring as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matikainen
vs
Kersikov

180 cm
30
155
22 - 8 - 0

168 cm
31
140
18 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Brooklyn Apothecary

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, DaMatti Matikainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marko Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matikainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Matikainen.
Kersikov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Matikainen with a body shot.
A big right from Matikainen misses.
Matikainen catches Kersikov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kersikov slips under a jab.
Kersikov lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matikainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kersikov.
Matikainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kersikov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kersikov misses with a lunging right hand
and Kersikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov catches Matikainen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Matikainen motions for Kersikov to come forward. Matikainen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matikainen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It seemed like Kersikov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matikainen slips a straight right by Kersikov.
Matikainen punishes Kersikov's body with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A telegraphed right hand from Matikainen misses the target.
Matikainen throws a nice looking combination but Kersikov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kersikov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen lands with a hook. Kersikov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Matikainen misses with an uppercut.
Matikainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kersikov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Matikainen throws a leg kick
and Kersikov counters with a straight right hand.
A shot to the body from Kersikov misses
and Matikainen counters with an outside leg kick.
Matikainen with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov misses with a right hand
enabling Matikainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Kersikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matikainen.
Matikainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab from Kersikov.
Matikainen walks into a jab.
Kersikov loads up on a big right hand but Matikainen slips the punch.
Matikainen throws a right hand that misses
and Matikainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov moves out of range of the body kick from Matikainen.
Matikainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like DaMatti Matikainen has been cut.
Kersikov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
That kick from Matikainen tenderised Kersikov's leg. Kersikov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matikainen swings for the body but Kersikov moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Kersikov misses.
Matikainen scores with a jab.
Matikainen lands a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

DaMatti Matikainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on DaMatti Matikainen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matikainen slips under a jab from Kersikov.
Matikainen throws a sloppy head kick
and Kersikov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kersikov works the jab nicely.
Matikainen misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matikainen misses with a hook.
Kersikov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kersikov blocks a jab.
Kersikov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Matikainen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matikainen connects with a crisp jab.
Kersikov misses with a lunging right hand
and Matikainen counters with a nice body kick.
A big right from Kersikov misses.
Kersikov walks into a stiff left hand from Matikainen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov with a nice cross.
A big right from Kersikov misses.
A little feinted left hand from Matikainen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kersikov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
DaMatti Matikainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matikainen throws a leg kick which misses Kersikov's front leg but catches the back leg as Kersikov tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Matikainen misses.
Kersikov tries to counter with a clinch but Matikainen shakes him off and moves away.
Kersikov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kersikov walks straight into a right hand from Matikainen - that's dropped him! Matikainen jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Kersikov from any more punishment! Kersikov complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). DaMatti Matikainen!
An out of breath DaMatti Matikainen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.