PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Weichanthal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paavo Matinheimo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Matinheimo
vs
Weichanthal

177 cm
26
184 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

188 cm
25
192 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paavo Matinheimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Weichanthal!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matinheimo is looking to clinch.
Matinheimo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch but Weichanthal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matinheimo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matinheimo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weichanthal is fending him off so far but Matinheimo persists. Nope, Weichanthal circles away and we're back to standing.
Weichanthal will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
No luck for Matinheimo with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Weichanthal with that takedown attempt.
Matinheimo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matinheimo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matinheimo moves in looking to clinch but Weichanthal pushes him off.
Paavo Matinheimo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matinheimo is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Weichanthal fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matinheimo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Weichanthal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matinheimo fails to land with a series of punches.
Weichanthal is looking to clinch.

Matinheimo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matinheimo fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Matinheimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Weichanthal.
Matinheimo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Weichanthal walks away with a smile on his face. Matinheimo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Weichanthal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matinheimo circles away.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch but Weichanthal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matinheimo fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo tries to clinch up but Weichanthal circles away and keeps his distance.
Matinheimo doesn't manage to clinch there - Weichanthal circles away.

Matinheimo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matinheimo lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matinheimo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Weichanthal keeping moving, preventing Matinheimo from controlling successfully.
Weichanthal working a defensive guard here.
Weichanthal is adopting a defensive guard.
Weichanthal keeping moving, preventing Matinheimo from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Weichanthal is on top in guard.
Matinheimo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Weichanthal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Weichanthal is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Matinheimo!
Weichanthal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matinheimo is desperately trying to improve his position but Weichanthal has a good base and remains in mount.
Weichanthal has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Matinheimo's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal throws some wild stikes that Matinheimo manages to avoid easily.
Matinheimo is squirming around, avoiding Weichanthal's attempts to control the action.
Matinheimo can't escape the position.
Matinheimo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Weichanthal wants to control the pace but Matinheimo is squirming around nicely.
Weichanthal raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weichanthal lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Matinheimo is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Weichanthal dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matinheimo wants to clinch.
Matinheimo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weichanthal is fending him off so far but Matinheimo persists. Nope, Weichanthal circles away and we're back to standing.
Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Weichanthal as he avoids it easily.
Weichanthal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Weichanthal thumps Matinheimo with a low kick.

Matinheimo closes the distance and clinches.
Matinheimo managing to block the knees to the body from Weichanthal.
Nice elbow from Weichanthal.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Weichanthal.
Matinheimo can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichanthal creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Matinheimo tries to pull guard but Weichanthal holds him up against the cage and eventually Matinheimo drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Matinheimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matinheimo fails to pull guard.
Weichanthal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matinheimo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matinheimo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Weichanthal pushes off an throws an elbow but Matinheimo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Weichanthal throws an elbow but it misses.
Weichanthal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matinheimo is trying to break the clinch but Weichanthal has him pressed against the cage.
Weichanthal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Weichanthal looking for a takedown.

Matinheimo jumps guard.
John Weichanthal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matinheimo keeping moving, preventing Weichanthal from controlling successfully.
Weichanthal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matinheimo wants to stand and escape but Weichanthal is having none of it.
Weichanthal connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weichanthal gets to his feet - Matinheimo follows without any prompting.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matinheimo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matinheimo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matinheimo.
Matinheimo tries to clinch there but Weichanthal circles away.
Weichanthal moves in looking to clinch but Matinheimo pushes him off.

Weichanthal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Weichanthal lands an elbow inside that Matinheimo shrugs off.
Weichanthal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matinheimo is defending well for now.
Weichanthal lands an elbow inside.
Weichanthal lands an elbow just above Matinheimo 's eye.
Matinheimo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Weichanthal fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Weichanthal looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matinheimo pushes Weichanthal up against the cage in a clinch.
Weichanthal throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matinheimo blocks it with crossed arms.
Weichanthal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matinheimo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Weichanthal leaves Matinheimo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Weichanthal paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Weichanthal moves into the clinch.
Matinheimo is trying to stall.
Weichanthal slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Weichanthal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Weichanthal is working for takedown but Matinheimo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Weichanthal misses with an elbow strike.
Weichanthal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matinheimo fails to pull guard.
Matinheimo avoids the elbow strike from Weichanthal, against the cage.
Weichanthal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Matinheimo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Weichanthal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Weichanthal is pushing Matinheimo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Matinheimo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Weichanthal is keeping busy.
Matinheimo looking for a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weichanthal unloads a knee to the mid-section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weichanthal creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Matinheimo's defenses.

Weichanthal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Weichanthal wants to clinch.
Matinheimo tries to clinch up but Weichanthal circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Weichanthal 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Weichanthal closes the distance and pushes Matinheimo back into the cage.
Weichanthal stops a takedown attempt from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo tries to pull guard but Weichanthal won't allow it.
Matinheimo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Weichanthal just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Matinheimo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Weichanthal pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Weichanthal misses with a knee to the head.
Weichanthal trying to control the position but instead, Matinheimo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Weichanthal into the cage.
Weichanthal lands a nice elbow.
Matinheimo tries to pull guard but Weichanthal holds him up against the cage and eventually Matinheimo drops back down to his feet.
Matinheimo dodges an elbow strike from Weichanthal.

Matinheimo decides to pull guard.
Matinheimo wants to stand and escape but Weichanthal is having none of it.
Weichanthal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matinheimo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weichanthal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Weichanthal postures up in Matinheimo's guard and throws a big left but Matinheimo blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Weichanthal distracts Matinheimo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichanthal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Weichanthal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Weichanthal forces his way into half guard.
Weichanthal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Matinheimo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Weichanthal trying to control from half guard but Matinheimo is working away.
Weichanthal moves into full mount! Matinheimo won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal lands a big shot there that rocks Matinheimo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Weichanthal tries to control but Matinheimo wriggling away.
Weichanthal is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matinheimo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Weichanthal cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matinheimo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Matinheimo won't allow Weichanthal to pass to mount.
Paavo Matinheimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matinheimo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Weichanthal is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Weichanthal looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matinheimo wants to control but Weichanthal is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weichanthal working Matinheimo over with strikes.
Weichanthal looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matinheimo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
John Weichanthal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Weichanthal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matinheimo wants to get back to his feet.
Weichanthal is trying to control. Matinheimo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Weichanthal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Weichanthal winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Weichanthal!