PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Irwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Metaxa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irwin comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - T.N.T. Metaxa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: •99• The Haunted🔫. 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.

Irwin
vs
Metaxa

190 cm
29
212 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

185 cm
25
218 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Irwin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Metaxa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Metaxa moves out of range as Irwin strikes.
Metaxa fails in his attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Irwin.
Irwin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Metaxa takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Metaxa tries to clinch but Irwin moves out of range.
Irwin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Metaxa. That did some damage!
Metaxa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Metaxa tries to clinch up
and Irwin counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irwin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Irwin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Metaxa walks into a jab.
Irwin throws a right hand that misses

and Metaxa counters by moving into the clinch.
Metaxa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Irwin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Metaxa throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin misses with a hook.
Irwin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Irwin tries to work over Metaxa's front leg with a kick but Metaxa checks it.
Metaxa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Metaxa.
Irwin scores with a jab to the jaw.
A jab from Irwin misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Metaxa.
Irwin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Metaxa moves in looking to clinch but Irwin pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Irwin misses the target.
Irwin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Metaxa scores with a head kick. Irwin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Irwin circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Irwin to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Irwin lands the left hand.
A big left from Irwin misses.
Irwin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Metaxa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Irwin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Irwin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Metaxa.
Metaxa misses with a combination
and Irwin counters with a stiff right hand.
Irwin lands a nice shot that snaps Metaxa's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa looks to throw the jab but Irwin is out of range.
Metaxa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Metaxa lands a jab to the head.
Irwin swats away the attempt to clinch by Metaxa.
Irwin misses with a looping right.
Metaxa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Irwin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Metaxa.
Decent striking displayed by Irwin there.
Irwin cracks Metaxa with a right hand to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Metaxa tries to clinch up but Irwin circles away and keeps his distance.

Metaxa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Still in the clinch, Irwin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Irwin has a couple of punches blocked by Metaxa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irwin is looking to break free of the clinch but Metaxa has double underhooks.
Metaxa lands a nice uppercut.
Metaxa blocking some punches.
Metaxa lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Paul Irwin has been cut.
Metaxa throws a punch but it's blocked by Irwin.
Metaxa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Irwin is defending well for now.
Irwin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Metaxa.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Irwin manages to break the clinch.
Irwin connects with a high kick.
Irwin slips a straight right by Metaxa.
Metaxa wants to clinch up but Irwin keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Irwin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Metaxa misses with a looping left.
A low kick from Irwin is predictable there
and Metaxa counters with a left and a right that stings Irwin.
Metaxa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Irwin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Irwin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Irwin lands a lovely overhand right.
Irwin lands a head shot.
Metaxa doesn't manage to clinch there - Irwin circles away.
Metaxa wants to clinch.
Irwin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Irwin scores with a leg kick.
Irwin throws an overhand right that lands on Metaxa's shoulder, as Metaxa tries to avoid the shot.
A cross from Irwin lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Irwin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Irwin throws a right hand that misses
and Metaxa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Irwin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Irwin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Metaxa.
Irwin blocks a head kick by Metaxa.
A right-left combo lands from Metaxa.
A big right from Irwin misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin misses with a looping right.
Irwin throws a jab when Metaxa was well out of range.
Irwin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Metaxa counters by clinching up.
Irwin swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Irwin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paul Irwin is winning the standup battle so far.
Irwin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Irwin misses with a right hand
and Metaxa counters with a head kick.
Metaxa throws a sloppy head kick
and Metaxa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Metaxa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Irwin.
Irwin misses with a hook
and Metaxa counters with a straight right hand.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch but Irwin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Irwin lands a really nice looking cross but Metaxa seems unphased.
Irwin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Metaxa's head.
Irwin misses with a hook.
Irwin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Irwin there.
Irwin misses with a looping left.
Irwin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Irwin throws out a loose jab but Metaxa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Martin Metaxa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Irwin.
A big left from Irwin misses.
Some wild striking there from Metaxa.
Irwin misses with a low kick.
Irwin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Metaxa moves forwards but Irwin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Irwin throws a leg kick
and Metaxa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch but Irwin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Irwin takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irwin throws a hook but Metaxa blocks it.
Jab, jab by Irwin - just one landing.
Irwin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Irwin misses with a lunging right hand

and Metaxa counters by moving into the clinch.
Metaxa tries a body shot but Irwin blocks it.

Irwin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Metaxa tries to clinch but Irwin moves out of range.
Metaxa doesn't manage to clinch there - Irwin circles away.
Irwin misses with a right hand
and Metaxa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Irwin lands a head shot.
Metaxa tries to clinch there but Irwin circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Irwin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Metaxa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Metaxa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Irwin.
Irwin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Irwin pushes off an throws an elbow but Metaxa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Metaxa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Metaxa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Irwin lands a shoulder strike.
Irwin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Irwin wants to break free but Metaxa has control.
Metaxa throws an elbow but it misses.
A short uppercut from Metaxa.
Metaxa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Irwin's efforts to push away.

Irwin breaks from the clinch.
Irwin throws an overhand right that lands on Metaxa's shoulder, as Metaxa tries to avoid the shot.
Metaxa throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Irwin to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Irwin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Metaxa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Irwin throws a hook but Metaxa avoids it easily.
Metaxa moves in looking to clinch but Irwin pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Irwin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Irwin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Metaxa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Metaxa takes one on the button.
Irwin throws a hook but Metaxa avoids it easily.
Metaxa throws the left hand but Irwin avoids the punch easily.
Metaxa is looking to clinch but Irwin is avoiding it.
Metaxa is looking to clinch.
Metaxa tries to clinch up.
Irwin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch but Irwin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Metaxa tries a head kick but it misses.
Irwin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Metaxa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Irwin misses with a looping left.
Metaxa tries to clinch there but Irwin circles away.
Metaxa is looking to clinch.
Irwin scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irwin looks to land a left hand but Metaxa moved out of range nicely.
Metaxa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Irwin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Irwin misses with a lunging right hand

and Metaxa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Metaxa tries to throw a body punch but Irwin avoids it by throwing Metaxa back against the cage.
Irwin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Irwin breaks from the clinch.
Irwin throws a lazy uppercut
and Irwin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Irwin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Metaxa tries to clinch up
and Irwin counters with a nice low kick that buckles Metaxa's knee momentarily.
Irwin throws a right hand that misses

and Metaxa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Irwin tries to break the clinch but Metaxa is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Irwin.
Metaxa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Irwin's defenses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Irwin.
Metaxa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Irwin misses with some punches.
Metaxa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Irwins head.
Irwin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Metaxa backwards.
Metaxa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Irwin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Metaxa takes a shot to the head.
Metaxa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Irwin avoids it.
Metaxa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Metaxa trying to land knees to the body.

Irwin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Metaxa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Metaxa moves in looking to clinch but Irwin pushes him off.
Irwin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Metaxa's head.
Metaxa doesn't manage to clinch there - Irwin circles away.
Irwin misses with an uppercut. Metaxa saw that one coming.
That kick from Irwin tenderised Metaxa's leg. Metaxa is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Irwin scores with a jab. Metaxa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Irwin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Irwin throws a hook to the side of Metaxa's head but Metaxa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Martin Metaxa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Irwin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Metaxa.
Metaxa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Metaxa is looking to clinch.
Irwin keeps the fight on the outside.
Metaxa throws a combination that misses
and Irwin counters with a stiff right hand.
Irwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa misses with a straight left.
Metaxa ducks under a wild hook from Irwin.
Metaxa throws a looping overhand right but Irwin ducks down to avoid it.
Metaxa tries to clinch up but Irwin circles away and keeps his distance.
Metaxa moves away from the strike by Irwin.
A nice inside leg kick there by Irwin. That's going to slow Metaxa down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Metaxa throws a hook to the side of Irwin's head but Irwin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A swing and a miss from Irwin.
Metaxa checks a leg kick.
Irwin loads up on a big right hand but Metaxa slips the punch.
Metaxa fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Metaxa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Irwin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Irwin misses with a looping left.
Metaxa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

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 Paul Irwin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Irwin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Irwin!
During a confident post fight interview, Paul Irwin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.