PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Matveychuk (ranked 4739 p4p, 4433 weight class) and Joshua Forde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matveychuk
vs
Forde

176 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Matveychuk !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Forde!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matveychuk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Forde's waist but Forde gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matveychuk off to one side.
Matveychuk misses with a two punch combination.

Forde looking to score a takedown here. Matveychuk is defending well but Forde drives through and ends up in Matveychuk 's guard.
Forde content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Forde trying to control the position from guard on top but Matveychuk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Forde is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Matveychuk wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matveychuk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Forde gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Forde content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forde throws a big elbow that misses.
Forde wants to control from the top but Matveychuk keeps moving.
Forde not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Forde wants to control from the top but Matveychuk keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Forde is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Forde.
Matveychuk is trying to buck Forde off.
Forde working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forde looks up at the clock and then as Matveychuk takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Forde smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Matveychuk tries to bench press Forde off him but Forde keeps the position.
Forde throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Forde wants to control but Matveychuk is keeping him busy.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matveychuk takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Matveychuk tries to escape but Forde is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forde grinds an elbow into Matveychuk 's temple.
Forde creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Matveychuk is trying to improve his position.
Forde tries to move into full mount but can't pass Matveychuk 's legs.
Forde trying to control the position but Matveychuk is working away.
Matveychuk is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on Matveychuk 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matveychuk throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forde misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Forde is working Matveychuk over with some ground and pound from side control.
Forde is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Forde landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Forde trying to control the position but Matveychuk is working away.
Forde landing strikes.
Forde lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matveychuk holds on to Forde's head and controls the position momentarily.
Forde cracks Matveychuk with a big right hand but Matveychuk just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Forde dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Forde shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matveychuk napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Matveychuk tries to bench press Forde off him but Forde keeps the position.
Matveychuk is trying to get back to his feet.
Forde scoring with punches from side control.
Matveychuk tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Forde's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Matveychuk is trying to control Forde's posture but Forde avoids it.
Matveychuk is not content to let Forde control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Matveychuk 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matveychuk manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Forde looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matveychuk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Matveychuk wants to free his trapped foot but Forde is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forde is trying to stand.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Forde has one foot on Matveychuk 's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Matveychuk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Forde gets the takedown into side control.
What's Matveychuk going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Forde is working Matveychuk over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Matveychuk 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Forde is looking to take a break and control but Matveychuk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Forde landing a few strikes.
Matveychuk is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Forde's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Forde seems to be looking for submissions.
Forde wants to take a breather but Matveychuk is having none of it.
Matveychuk gets back to full guard.
Matveychuk keeping moving, preventing Forde from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Forde engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Forde stands up over Matveychuk , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Matveychuk doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Forde trying to control but Matveychuk is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Forde works over Matveychuk with some ground and pound from guard.
Forde lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Forde showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matveychuk slips under a jab from Forde.
Matveychuk attempts a counter takedown but Forde avoids it well and moves away.
Forde avoids the head kick by Matveychuk .
Matveychuk tries to clinch but Forde moves away

and Forde counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Forde.
Forde scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Forde trying to control the position from guard on top but Matveychuk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Forde is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Matveychuk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Matveychuk has escaped and now he's on top!

Matveychuk stops Forde from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matveychuk throws a big right hand that misses.
Matveychuk throws a big right hand that misses.
Forde wants to get back to his feet but Matveychuk is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matveychuk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matveychuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Forde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matveychuk tries to clinch but Forde moves out of range.
Forde avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Forde closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Forde lands some shots froms side control.
Matveychuk takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Matveychuk manages to get back to half guard.
Forde has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Forde passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Matveychuk !
Matveychuk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Forde avoids the attempt from Matveychuk to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forde lands a big elbow.
Alexander Matveychuk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Forde cracks Matveychuk with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Matveychuk is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Forde cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Matveychuk in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Matveychuk is rocked!
Forde lands a big shot there that rocks Matveychuk but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Oh Matveychuk is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Forde pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Forde cracks Matveychuk with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joshua Forde!