PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sparry Spartan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Mahtava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Spartan
vs
Mahtava

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sparry Spartan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matti Mahtava!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spartan fails with the takedown.
Mahtava blocks a head kick by Spartan.
Mahtava fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Spartan has a takedown stuffed.
Mahtava misses with a series of wild punches.
Mahtava fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spartan shoots in but Mahtava avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sparry Spartan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spartan shoots in but Mahtava avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Spartan is breathing heavily.
Mahtava throws a right and a left that Spartan avoids nicely.
Spartan closes the distance and clinches up with Mahtava, looking for a takedown. Spartan pushes Mahtava against the cage but Mahtava circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahtava misses with a wild combination.
Mahtava tests Spartan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mahtava scores with a body shot.
Mahtava throws a series of punches but Spartan avoids them all with ease.
Mahtava throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spartan's waist but Spartan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mahtava off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtava throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mahtava lands a nice shot to the body.
Mahtava scores with a sloppy right hand. Spartan should have avoided that one.
Spartan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mahtava, as that shot connected.
Spartan slips a jab and a cross from Mahtava.
Mahtava works over Spartan's head and body with a nice combination.
Spartan moves in looking to clinch but Mahtava pushes him off.
Mahtava tries to bum rush Spartan with a series of wild strikes but Spartan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Spartan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mahtava is looking to improve his position but Spartan isn't that keen on the idea.
Spartan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mahtava keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Spartan is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtava lands a slapping body shot.
Mahtava connects with the punch.
Mahtava misses with a takedown attempt - Spartan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Spartan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Mahtava avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mahtava shoots in and drives through. Spartan sprawls well.
Mahtava will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahtava throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spartan's waist but Spartan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mahtava off to one side.
Spartan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mahtava circles away.

Spartan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mahtava looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mahtava parries the strikes from Spartan easily there. Spartan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mahtava to escape.
Mahtava is trying to get back to half guard.
Mahtava is not content to let Spartan control the position.
Mahtava tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtava is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mahtava is not content to let Spartan control the position.
Mahtava tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Spartan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Spartan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Spartan fails with a takedown attempt.
Mahtava throws a series of punches but Spartan avoids them all with ease.
Mahtava misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mahtava closes the distance and clinches up with Spartan, looking for a takedown. Mahtava pushes Spartan against the cage but Spartan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Spartan tries to clinch there but Mahtava circles away.
Spartan doesn't manage to clinch there - Mahtava circles away.
Mahtava tries to score with a low kick but Spartan moves his leg out of the way.
Mahtava scores with a nice head shot.
Spartan dodges the punch combination from Mahtava.
Mahtava stuns Spartan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Spartan is looking to clinch.
Mahtava ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mahtava jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Spartan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mahtava lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mahtava lands a nice shot to the body.
Mahtava swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spartan counters with a thumping low kick.

Spartan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mahtava looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Spartan tries for a kimura but Mahtava is defending well.
Mahtava tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Spartan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Spartan wants to control but Mahtava is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mahtava wants to control but Spartan postures up.
Mahtava gets back to half guard.
Spartan prevents Mahtava from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matti Mahtava will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Spartan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mahtava is fending him off so far but Spartan persists. Nope, Mahtava circles away and we're back to standing.
Matti Mahtava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spartan throws a wild body kick that Mahtava sees coming a mile off.
Mahtava fails with a takedown attempt.
Mahtava has a takedown stuffed.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mahtava.
Spartan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Spartan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Spartan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mahtava connects with a looping right hand.
Spartan shoots in but Mahtava avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sparry Spartan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mahtava gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mahtava is striking but Spartan is not phased and passes to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mahtava is trying to maintain the position but Spartan is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spartan prevents Mahtava from improving his position.
Spartan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mahtava.
Spartan wants to control but Mahtava is keeping him busy.
Mahtava controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Mahtava missing with punches from the bottom.
Spartan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mahtava.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mahtava feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mahtava preventing the sweep.

Mahtava postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Spartan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mahtava, into his guard.
Spartan slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtava tries to roll over but Spartan keeps him under control.
Mahtava moves into full guard.
Mahtava looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mahtava has his feet on Spartan's thighs here. He's pushed Spartan off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Spartan screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matti Mahtava!