PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roko Matijevic (ranked 1614 p4p, 1751 weight class) and Alejandro Laguera (ranked 122 p4p, 129 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matijevic
vs
Laguera

175 cm
30
155
14 - 11 - 0

171 cm
30
145
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roko Matijevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alejandro Laguera!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laguera lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Laguera throws a lazy right hand but Matijevic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Laguera just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMatijevic.
Laguera lands a nice shot that snaps Matijevic's head back.
Laguera walks forward, straight into a front kick from Matijevic.
Laguera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matijevic sprawls well. Matijevic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Laguera gets slowly back to his feet.
Laguera throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Matijevic lands an overhand right.
Laguera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laguera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Laguera. That snapped Matijevic's head back.
Laguera misses with a left hand
and Matijevic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Laguera lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laguera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matijevic circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Matijevic was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Laguera.
Laguera fails to land the takedown.
Matijevic throwing a counter right hand but Laguera manages to avoid it.
Laguera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matijevic thinks about countering with a head kick.
Roko Matijevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Laguera.
Laguera throws the left hand but Matijevic avoids the punch easily.
Laguera throws an overhand right that lands on Matijevic's shoulder, as Matijevic tries to avoid the shot.
It appears Matijevic was looking to counter with a kick there.
Matijevic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laguera.
Laguera throws a nice looking combination but Matijevic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matijevic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matijevic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Laguera is defended easily by Matijevic.
An attempted straight right counter from Matijevic misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Laguera misses with a series of wild punches.
Matijevic lands a nice looking body kick.

Laguera has managed to clinch.
Matijevic lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matijevic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Laguera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matijevic half committed to a counter leg kick.
Laguera shoots in looking for a takedown. Matijevic tries to sprawl out of it but Laguera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matijevic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Laguera.
Laguera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matijevic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alejandro Laguera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matijevic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Laguera fails to land the takedown.
Laguera lands with an overhand left.
Matijevic lands a body shot.
Laguera has his takedown stuffed
and Matijevic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Laguera looks winded!
Matijevic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Laguera dives in for a single leg takedown but Matijevic sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Laguera throws a head kick that misses
and Matijevic counters with a straight right hand.

Laguera is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laguera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laguera is still on wobbly legs! Can Matijevic finish him?
Laguera shoots for a double leg takedown but Matijevic sprawls well. He's pushed Laguera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laguera seems to have recovered his senses.
A swing and a miss from Matijevic.
Laguera misses with a body shot.
Matijevic appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've been told by Matijevic's head coaches at DC Dragon Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Laguera moves out of range of the strikes.
Laguera throws a right hand that misses
and Matijevic counters with a nice uppercut.
Laguera throws a hook but Matijevic avoids it easily.
Matijevic scores with a body shot.
Laguera shoots and misses
and Matijevic counters with a left to the body.
Matijevic connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Laguera might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Matijevic throws a hook but Laguera avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Laguera shoots in but Matijevic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Laguera throws a poor cross that misses
letting Matijevic counter with a right hand.
Laguera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matijevic throws out the jab.
Laguera misses with a jab, cross combination.
Laguera scores with a body shot.
Matijevic scores with a sloppy right hand. Laguera should have avoided that one.
Matijevic lands with a thumping leg kick.
Laguera defending well as Matijevic loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Laguera on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laguera looks to land a combination but Matijevic avoids it well.
It looked like Matijevic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Laguera works the jab nicely.
Laguera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matijevic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Laguera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laguera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Roko Matijevic is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laguera throws a series of strikes that have Matijevic backpedaling.
Matijevic throws a body shot but no joy.
Laguera throws a head kick that misses.
Laguera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matijevic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matijevic misses with a low kick as Laguera jumps back.
Laguera throws a nice head kick!
A jab from Laguera misses.
Matijevic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Laguera ducks under a wild hook from Matijevic.
Matijevic lunges at Laguera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Laguera's hand.
Laguera misses with a straight right.
A shot to the liver by Matijevic. Beautiful body shot.
Laguera misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laguera misses the jab.
Laguera moves out of range of the strikes.
Laguera misses with a double jab.
Matijevic quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Laguera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matijevic is fending him off so far but Laguera persists. Nope, Matijevic circles away and we're back to standing.
Laguera throws a hook but Matijevic avoids it easily.
Matijevic staying out of range there.
Matijevic throws a half hearted mid kick.
Laguera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matijevic.
Laguera lands a glancing blow to the side of Matijevic's head.
Laguera connects with a body shot that sends Matijevic's belly button to the back.
Matijevic swings widly with a right hand
and Laguera counters with a straight right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matijevic.
Laguera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Laguera misses.
Matijevic with a nice cross.
Laguera misses with a looping right.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matijevic.
Laguera closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Matijevic misses with a body kick.
Laguera throws a nice looking combination but Matijevic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laguera scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laguera. Matijevic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laguera fails with a takedown attempt.
Roko Matijevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Laguera.
Laguera lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic throws a leg kick that misses.
Laguera tries a head kick but it misses.
Matijevic scores with a crisp jab that stopped Laguera in his tracks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laguera staying out of range there.
It seemed like Laguera was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matijevic throws a chopping leg kick but Laguera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matijevic misses with a hook to the body
and Laguera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laguera avoids the body shot from Matijevic.
Laguera fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Matijevic. Laguera shrugs it off though.
Laguera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laguera checks a low kick from Matijevic.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alejandro Laguera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Laguera ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Laguera misses with a takedown attempt
and Laguera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matijevic gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Laguera counters with a nice uppercut.
Matijevic throws a shot to the body.
Matijevic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Laguera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matijevic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matijevic jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Matijevic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Laguera throws a sloppy head kick and Matijevic moves out of range easily.
As Laguera looks to move away, Matijevic throws a big counter combo but Laguera just gets out of the way.
Matijevic blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laguera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laguera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matijevic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laguera.
Matijevic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Matijevic misses with a hook.
Matijevic lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Laguera misses.
Laguera closes the distance and clinches up with Matijevic, looking for a takedown. Laguera pushes Matijevic against the cage but Matijevic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Matijevic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matijevic throws a body kick that misses.
Matijevic misses with an uppercut. Laguera saw that one coming.
Laguera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matijevic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Laguera.
Roko Matijevic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laguera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matijevic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Laguera takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Laguera misses with a hook. Matijevic ducked under it nicely.
Laguera fails to land the takedown.
Roko Matijevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alejandro Laguera.
Matijevic checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laguera misses with a body shot.
Matijevic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laguera moves away.
Laguera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A counter left hand to the body from Matijevic misses its target.
Matijevic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Laguera.
Sloppy strikes from Laguera. Those never looked like landing.
A lazy left from Laguera finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matijevic takes a swing at Laguera's ribcage but misses.
Laguera shoots in for a takedown but Matijevic shows good takedown defense.
Laguera takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Laguera scores with a nice head shot.
Laguera throws an overhand right that lands on Matijevic's shoulder, as Matijevic tries to avoid the shot.
Matijevic was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Matijevic tries a low kick but Laguera avoids it.
Laguera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matijevic looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laguera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matijevic was well out of range. Poor timing from Laguera.
Matijevic ducks under a wild hook from Laguera.
Matijevic stuns Laguera with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Laguera shoots in looking for a takedown. Matijevic tries to sprawl out of it but Laguera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matijevic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Laguera throws a poor cross that misses
and Matijevic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laguera needs to keep his hands up - Matijevic had a free shot at his head there.
Matijevic throws a jab but it's blocked by Laguera.
Laguera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matijevic paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Matijevic lands a big uppercut and Laguera crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Laguera looks OK. Matijevic waves Laguera back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Matijevic! Laguera is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roko Matijevic!
Roko Matijevic thanked the fans post fight for their support.