PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roko Matijevic (ranked 1394 p4p, 1782 weight class) and Raleigh St. Clair (ranked 153 p4p, 190 weight class). Raleigh St. Clair has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matijevic
vs
St. Clair

175 cm
32
155
16 - 12 - 0

175 cm
36
160
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Heavy handed

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Conviction

Wrestler Wayfare

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roko Matijevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raleigh St. Clair!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St. Clair missing with a left hand there. Matijevic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matijevic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by St. Clair.
Matijevic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as St. Clair throws out the jab.
Matijevic connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed St. Clair momentarily.
St. Clair digs a good hook to Matijevic's body.
A low kick lands for St. Clair.
St. Clair has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
St. Clair throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
St. Clair misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matijevic throws a poor cross that misses
and St. Clair makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
St. Clair throws a nice looking combination but Matijevic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A slapping leg kick lands for St. Clair.
Matijevic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from St. Clair.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matijevic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by St. Clair.

St. Clair gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matijevic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
St. Clair lands a hook that snaps the head of Matijevic backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matijevic.
Matijevic cracks St. Clair with a nice body shot.
A shot in the inside from Matijevic.
A short right from Matijevic on the inside.
St. Clair misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, St. Clair scores with a nice short uppercut.
St. Clair misses with a punch on the inside.
St. Clair doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
St. Clair swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matijevic blocking some punches.
Matijevic tries a body shot but St. Clair blocks it.
St. Clair blocking some punches.
St. Clair gets through Matijevic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matijevic misses with a body punch.
St. Clair fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matijevic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St. Clair moves forwards but Matijevic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
St. Clair throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matijevic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
St. Clair loads up on a big right hand but Matijevic slips the punch.
Matijevic throws a quick counter head kick but St. Clair was just out of range.
Matijevic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Matijevic throws a hook but St. Clair blocks it.
St. Clair ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matijevic moves away.
Matijevic moves away from the strike by St. Clair.
Matijevic ducks under a wild hook from St. Clair.
We've been told by Matijevic's head coaches at Elite Combat Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
St. Clair swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matijevic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from St. Clair.
Matijevic jabs St. Clair right on the nose. St. Clair blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic misses with a body kick.
St. Clair misses with a left hand
and Matijevic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
St. Clair blocks a leg kick.
St. Clair misses with an uppercut.
St. Clair lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
St. Clair fails in his attempt to clinch.
St. Clair loads up on a big right hand but Matijevic slips the punch.
Matijevic fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
St. Clair takes one on the button.
Matijevic swings widly with a right hand
and St. Clair counters with a straight right hand.
A swing and a miss from St. Clair.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic scores with the left hand. St. Clair knows he should have avoided that one.
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!
A big left from Matijevic misses.
St. Clair looks like he wants to counter punch here.
St. Clair throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matijevic counters with a stiff right hand.
St. Clair fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matijevic manages to avoid it.
Matijevic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from St. Clair.
St. Clair throws a lazy right hand but Matijevic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matijevic is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Matijevic misses the shot to the body.
Matijevic lands a jab to St. Clair's midsection.
Matijevic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matijevic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract St. Clair.
St. Clair tries to clinch but Matijevic is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raleigh St. Clair will probably get the nod.
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.

St. Clair slips a jab from Matijevic.
Matijevic misses with a looping left.
Matijevic misses with a straight left.
St. Clair misses with a looping left.
Matijevic throwing a counter right hand but St. Clair manages to avoid it.
Matijevic tries a head kick but it misses.
Matijevic throws a body shot but no joy.
A big left from Matijevic misses.
St. Clair thinks about the counter body kick.
Matijevic thows a left - swing and a miss!
St. Clair looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St. Clair looks to score with a jab to the body but Matijevic is just out of range.
Matijevic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
St. Clair throws a right and a left that Matijevic avoids nicely.
St. Clair throws a shot from downtown. Matijevic moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

St. Clair has closed the distance and engaged Matijevic in a clinch.
St. Clair misses with the head strike.

Matijevic breaks the clinch.
Matijevic misses with a body kick.
A leg kick checked by St. Clair.
St. Clair with a hook.
Roko Matijevic is winning the standup battle so far.
Crunch! Matijevic slams his shin into St. Clair's torso.
St. Clair loads up on a big right hand but Matijevic slips the punch.
St. Clair scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Matijevic doesn't seem bothered though.
Matijevic lands a head shot.
Matijevic throws a hook to the side of St. Clair's head but St. Clair sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St. Clair moves out of range as Matijevic throws a body kick.
A countering left hand to the body from St. Clair misses.
St. Clair throws a front kick that sends Matijevic stumbling back into the cage.
Matijevic wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Matijevic misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from St. Clair! But no joy.
St. Clair throws a looping overhand right but Matijevic ducks down to avoid it.
Matijevic is looking to counter punch.
St. Clair connects with a leg kick.
Matijevic loads up on a big right hand but St. Clair slips the punch.
Matijevic is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
St. Clair throws a body kick, spinning off balance
letting Matijevic counter with a right hand.
Matijevic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
St. Clair has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matijevic finds it's way round the side to connect with St. Clair's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Clair scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheers as St. Clair lands an impressive looking overhand right. Matijevic doesn't seem phased though.
St. Clair throws out a loose jab but Matijevic uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from St. Clair. Matijevic does a little dance to reset his feet.
St. Clair loads up on a big right hand but Matijevic slips the punch.
St. Clair steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Matijevic. That one must have hurt.
St. Clair misses with a lunging right hand
letting Matijevic counter with a right hand.
Matijevic lands a nice shot that snaps St. Clair's head back.
Matijevic moves into range and connects with a jab.

St. Clair is rocked!
Matijevic throws a jab but it's blocked by St. Clair.
St. Clair feints a counter leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from St. Clair.
St. Clair takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matijevic misses with a hook
and St. Clair counters with a thumping low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

St. Clair moves into the clinch.
Matijevic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
St. Clair misses with a punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Matijevic.
St. Clair stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
St. Clair swings wildly with an uppercut but Matijevic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matijevic pushes St. Clair back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
St. Clair tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matijevic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matijevic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
St. Clair fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matijevic lands with a left to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roko Matijevic dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matijevic scores with a sloppy right hand. St. Clair should have avoided that one.
Matijevic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matijevic misses with a straight left.
Matijevic misses with a lunging right hand
and St. Clair counters with a stiff right hand.
Matijevic swings widly with a right hand
and St. Clair counters with a nice uppercut.
A slow jab from Matijevic misses its intended target.
St. Clair throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
St. Clair dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matijevic. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matijevic avoids a kick to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Matijevic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matijevic gets off balance looking for a body kick
and St. Clair counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A low kick from St. Clair is predictable there
and Matijevic counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Matijevic misses.
St. Clair rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matijevic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
St. Clair fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matijevic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from St. Clair.
St. Clair misses with a straight right.
St. Clair misses with an uppercut. Matijevic saw that one coming.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
St. Clair tries to clinch there but Matijevic circles away.
Matijevic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
St. Clair misses with a hook to the body
and Matijevic counters with a stiff right hand.
Matijevic looks to score with a jab to the body but St. Clair is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic wants to slow St. Clair down by chopping away at his legs.
St. Clair misses with a right hand
and St. Clair takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matijevic lands a straight punch to the body, keeping St. Clair at a distance.
A cross from Matijevic lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
St. Clair throws a big shot that misses.
St. Clair avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as St. Clair checks a leg kick.
Matijevic misses with a looping right.
Matijevic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
St. Clair is still on wobbly legs! Can Matijevic finish him?
St. Clair misses with a right hand
and Matijevic counters with a nice low kick that buckles St. Clair's knee momentarily.
St. Clair seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St. Clair throws a hook but Matijevic blocks it.
Matijevic misses with a left hand
and St. Clair counters with a nice uppercut.
Matijevic throws a front kick that sends St. Clair stumbling back into the cage.
Matijevic moves away from the strike by St. Clair.
Matijevic throws a body shot but no joy.
St. Clair throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matijevic counters with a nice uppercut.
Matijevic throws a low kick but it's checked well by St. Clair.
Matijevic slips under a jab.
Matijevic connects with a good right hand that stumbles St. Clair. St. Clair circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matijevic bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps St. Clair's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic swings widly with a right hand
enabling St. Clair to counter with a crisp jab.
St. Clair pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice uppercut there from St. Clair.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matijevic tries a head kick but it misses.
St. Clair is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Matijevic with a body shot.
St. Clair misses with a straight left.
Matijevic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matijevic throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and St. Clair counters with a stiff right hand.
Matijevic loads up on a big right hand but St. Clair slips the punch.
St. Clair moves out of range of the body kick.
Matijevic motions for St. Clair to come forward. Matijevic throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
St. Clair waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matijevic.
And Matijevic counters with a quick kick to the body but St. Clair blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roko Matijevic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matijevic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roko Matijevic!
An out of breath Roko Matijevic thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.