PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Matinheimo
vs
Smith

177 cm
21
197 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
202 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Matinheimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry Smith!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matinheimo lands a really nice looking cross but Smith seems unphased.
Smith takes a swing at Matinheimo's ribcage but misses.
Matinheimo slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Matinheimo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith throws the left hand but Matinheimo avoids the punch easily.
Matinheimo works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Matinheimo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith scores with the left hand. Matinheimo knows he should have avoided that one.
Matinheimo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matinheimo was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Smith lands a jab to the nose.
Matinheimo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matinheimo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Matinheimo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Matinheimo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a with a good body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Matinheimo misses the target.
Jab from Smith.
Matinheimo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matinheimo throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Matinheimo thows a body shot but no joy.
Matinheimo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Matinheimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matinheimo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Matinheimo dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Matinheimo moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Henry Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matinheimo throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Matinheimo is out of range.
Matinheimo misses with a double jab.
Jab by Matinheimo.
Matinheimo misses with a straight right.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
A big right from Matinheimo misses.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Jab by Smith.
A big left from Matinheimo misses.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matinheimo circles away quickly and effectively.
Matinheimo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Smith sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith lands with an overhand left.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matinheimo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Smith is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Smith has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Matinheimo slips a jab and a cross from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matinheimo gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Matinheimo.
Smith avoids the body shot from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Matinheimo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matinheimo misses with an uppercut.
Matinheimo lands a head shot.
Smith misses with a hook. Matinheimo ducked under it nicely.
Matinheimo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matinheimo throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matinheimo.
Smith lands the left hand.
Matinheimo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Smith misses with a combination

so Matinheimo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Matinheimo from controlling successfully.

Matinheimo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matinheimo prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matinheimo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith pulls Matinheimo in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matinheimo walks into a straight right hand from Smith.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Matinheimo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Smith staying out of range there.
Matinheimo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
Matinheimo throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matinheimo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matinheimo looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Matinheimo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matinheimo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Matinheimo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matinheimo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matinheimo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Matinheimo misses the shot to the body.
Smith jabs at Matinheimo's body.
A big right from Matinheimo misses.
Matinheimo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Matinheimo throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Matinheimo avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matinheimo.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Matinheimo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matinheimo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Matinheimo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matinheimo thuds a left hand into Smith's body.
Matinheimo avoids the body shot from Smith.
Jab, jab by Matinheimo - just one landing.
A jab from Smith misses.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Matinheimo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Smith throws a jab when Matinheimo was well out of range.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matinheimo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo dodges the punch combination from Smith.
Matinheimo throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Smith to counter with a crisp jab.
Matinheimo misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Matinheimo.
Smith is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Matinheimo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matinheimo misses the jab.
Matinheimo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matinheimo misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Matinheimo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Smith moves away from the strike by Matinheimo.
Matinheimo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matinheimo.
Smith slips under a jab.
Matinheimo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matinheimo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matinheimo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matinheimo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Smith in his tracks.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith staying out of range there.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith misses the body punch
and Matinheimo counters with a nice uppercut.
Matinheimo throws a big shot that misses.
Matinheimo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Matinheimo tests Smith's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matinheimo swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith thows a body shot but no joy.
Smith tries to bum rush Matinheimo with a series of wild strikes but Matinheimo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matinheimo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.
Smith drops his hands momentarily and Matinheimo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Matinheimo misses the shot to the body.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith connects with a looping right hand.
Matinheimo missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith throws a series of strikes that have Matinheimo backpedaling.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith takes one to the chin there.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matinheimo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Matinheimo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith defending well as Matinheimo loads up on a big left hand.
Matinheimo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matinheimo lands a body shot.
Matinheimo throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Matinheimo missing with a left hand there. Smith was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matinheimo throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Matinheimo tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matinheimo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matinheimo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matinheimo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab to the body
enabling Matinheimo to counter with a crisp jab.
Matinheimo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matinheimo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Matinheimo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matinheimo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matinheimo misses with a hook to the body
and Smith makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matinheimo throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Matinheimo moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Matinheimo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matinheimo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Smith.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Smith connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A right-left combo lands from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo slips under a jab from Smith.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Smith has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Matinheimo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a hook but Matinheimo blocks it.
Matinheimo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Matinheimo.
Paavo Matinheimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Henry Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith scores with a hook.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matinheimo throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
Smith lands with a nice combination. Matinheimo backs away looking to recover.
Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matinheimo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith defending against the ground and pound.

Matinheimo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smith takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Matinheimo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Smith some visible discomfort.
Henry Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Matinheimo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith is trying to buck Matinheimo off.
Matinheimo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Paavo Matinheimo.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Smith!