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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Usko Matonen (ranked 5058 p4p, 214 weight class) and Ruben Rivera (ranked 4473 p4p, 192 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ruben Rivera was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 165 cm
23
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0 |
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157 cm
24
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Ruben Rivera!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matonen connects with a body shot that sends Rivera's belly button to the back.
Matonen lands with an overhand left.
Matonen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rivera.
Rivera tries to land a leg kick but Matonen saw it coming and moves away.
Matonen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rivera counters with a good, hard body kick but Matonen shrugs it off.
Matonen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Matonen misses with a left hand
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Rivera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matonen. That did some damage!
Rivera slips a jab from Matonen.
Rivera throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matonen is defending well for now.
Matonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivera looks to throw a body kick
letting Matonen counter with a right hand.
A solid body kick from Matonen.
Rivera staying out of range there.
Rivera has taken the fight to the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matonen is defending well for now.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Matonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivera pushes off an throws an elbow but Matonen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
I was talking to Matonen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Matonen breaks the clinch.
Matonen throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera pushes Matonen away with a front kick.
A head kick from Rivera lands but Matonen takes it in his stride.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Matonen is avoiding it.
Matonen looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Matonen swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matonen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matonen misses with the combination.
Matonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from Matonen.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rivera moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A bit of stalling here from Matonen.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matonen avoids it.
Matonen avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Matonen scores with a shot to the side of Rivera's head.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matonen.
Matonen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Matonen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Matonen dodges an elbow strike from Rivera.
Rivera scores a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Matonen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Matonen avoids the damage to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matonen is defending well for now.
Rivera lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right from Matonen on the inside.
Matonen is trying to pull guard but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
Matonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Matonen managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Matonen blocks it.
Matonen avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Rivera letting Matonen take a breather here.
Matonen looking to stall.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Matonen tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Matonen looking to slow down the pace here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Matonen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Matonen stalling in the clinch but Rivera improves position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Matonen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Matonen is breathing heavily.
Matonen managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Matonen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Matonen is pushing Rivera up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matonen is defending well for now.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matonen is defending well for now.
Matonen stalling against the cage.
Matonen fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ruben Rivera dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Rivera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rivera has closed the distance and engaged Matonen in a clinch.
Matonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rivera throws an elbow but misses.
Matonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Matonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matonen is looking to control Rivera's arms but Rivera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Matonen has his back to the cage.
Matonen taking a breather.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Matonen avoids the damage to the body.
Matonen is trying to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling him.
Matonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matonen avoids it.
Matonen avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Matonen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivera as Matonen tries to tie him up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
Rivera looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Matonen avoids the damage to the body.
Matonen managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Matonen jumps guard but Rivera stands there with Matonen around his waist. Matonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivera smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Usko Matonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera moves out of range as Matonen strikes.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matonen, as that shot connected.
Matonen scores with a body shot.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Matonen moves out of range easily.
Decent striking displayed by Matonen there.
Matonen sizes up Rivera with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Matonen.
Matonen lands with an overhand left.
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!
Matonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivera tries to land a front kick but Matonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rivera takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matonen misses with a body shot.
Rivera keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jab from Matonen.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Matonen moved away.
Usko Matonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera clinches up with Matonen and pushes him back against the cage.
Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matonen moves out of range as Rivera strikes.
Rivera instigates a clinch.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Matonen blocks it.
Stalling in the clinch from Matonen.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matonen.
Matonen jumps into guard, dragging Rivera to the mat.
Matonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rivera's guard.
Matonen looking to pass the guard.
Rivera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matonen 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.
Matonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Matonen wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Matonen from controlling successfully.
Rivera is looking to stand up but Matonen isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Usko Matonen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rivera throws a body kick that misses.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matonen.
Matonen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Riveras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rivera throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rivera defending well as Matonen loads up on a big left hand.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera blocks a low kick nicely.
Jab from Matonen.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Matonen.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Matonen moves out of range easily.
Rivera throws a wild body kick that Matonen sees coming a mile off.
Rivera walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Matonen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Matonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera lands with a kick to the ribs.
Matonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Matonen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rivera's hands.
Matonen checks a leg kick nicely.
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Matonen pushes him off.
Matonen throws a poor cross that misses
and Rivera counters with a nice kick to the body.
Matonen tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A clash of legs there as Matonen blocks the low kick.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Rivera gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rivera misses with a straight left.
Matonen lands a nice shot that snaps Rivera's head back.
Matonen misses with a straight left.
Matonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rivera can pounce on him.
Rivera throws a body kick that misses.
Rivera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with the body kick
and Matonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Matonen circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Matonen misses the target.
Rivera slips a straight right by Matonen.
A head kick misses from Rivera.
Matonen misses with an uppercut.
Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
Matonen fails to pull guard.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matonen.
Matonen avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Matonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Matonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rivera is looking to score with low kicks.
Rivera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Usko Matonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera tries to clinch but Matonen moves out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera checks the leg kick.
Matonen throws a jab when Rivera was well out of range.
Rivera does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matonen connects with a leg kick. Rivera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
And Matonen counters with a quick kick to the body but Rivera blocks it.
Matonen cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
Matonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A telegraphed right hand from Matonen misses the target.
Rivera is looking to slow Matonen down with leg kicks.
Rivera checks a leg kick nicely.
Rivera is trying to counter with his kicks.
Matonen moves out of range of the leg kick from Rivera.
Rivera thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Matonen if he has to take too many more of those.
Matonen throws a one two combo.
Matonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rivera pushes Matonen away with a front kick.
Good leg kick by Rivera there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matonen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rivera moves into the clinch successfully.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matonen avoids it.
Matonen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Matonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Matonen avoids the damage to the body.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Matonen avoids the damage to the body.
Rivera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rivera throws an elbow that misses.
Matonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivera is keeping busy.
Matonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matonen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matonen gets control of Rivera's arms and successfully pulls guard. Matonen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Matonen trying to control the position.
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 Usko Matonen.
I think Matonen 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29
The fight is ruled a majority draw!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
57% |
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