PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Mattila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Mabbit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Mattila
vs
Mabbit

188 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Mattila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Craig Mabbit !
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mabbit fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mattila tries to clinch up.
Mabbit circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mattila doesn't manage to clinch there - Mabbit circles away.
Mattila throws a sloppy head kick and Mabbit moves out of range easily.
Mabbit throws a head kick but Mattila moves out of range.
Mattila moves in looking to clinch but Mabbit pushes him off.
Mattila doesn't manage to clinch there - Mabbit circles away.
Mabbit fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mattila looks for a takedown but Mabbit sprawls well.
Mattila tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mabbit sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mattila somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mabbit clinches.
Mabbit tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mabbit wants to get back to striking at distance but Mattila won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but Mattila holds him up against the cage and eventually Mabbit drops back down to his feet.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but Mattila holds him up against the cage and eventually Mabbit drops back down to his feet.
Markus Mattila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mabbit .
Mabbit is looking to break free of the clinch but Mattila has double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Mattila.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mattila.
Mabbit wants a takedown but no success here.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but Mattila holds him up against the cage and eventually Mabbit drops back down to his feet.
Mabbit working hard to break the clinch.
Mattila is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mattila looking to throw knees to the head but Mabbit is blocking nicely.
Mabbit working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mattila is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mabbit pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mabbit is trying to drag Mattila to the mat but Mattila just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mabbit throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mattila as Mabbit tries to tie him up.
A knee to the head by Mattila.

It looks like Craig Mabbit has been cut.
Mabbit looking to throw knees to the head but Mattila is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mabbit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mabbit is working for takedown but Mattila is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mattila using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mabbit has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mattila lands an elbow just above Mabbit 's eye.
Mabbit misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mabbit just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mattila's brow.
Mattila goes for a takedown attempt but Mabbit pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mattila takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mattila shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mabbit sprawls well. Mabbit wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mattila gets slowly back to his feet.
Mattila closes the distance but Mabbit moves to the side
and Mabbit counters with a head kick.
Mabbit misses with a head kick.
Mattila throws a leg kick
and Mabbit counters with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabbit tries a knee to the head but Mattila blocks it.
Mattila using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mabbit has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mattila misses with a knee strike.
Mabbit has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mattila avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mabbit is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mabbit looks gassed!
Mabbit changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mattila fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mabbit circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mabbit counters by clinching up.
Mattila throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mabbit blocks it with crossed arms.
Mabbit throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Mabbit dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Mabbit 's cut.
That's time! Mattila's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mattila displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mabbit .
Mattila tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mabbit paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mabbit leaves Mattila with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mabbit tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mattila tries to clinch but Mabbit moves away

so Mabbit counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mabbit would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Mabbit stands up from Mattila's guard - Mabbit perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mabbit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattila gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Mabbit counters with an outside leg kick.
Mabbit tries to clinch but Mattila moves out of range.

Mattila fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mabbit , pushing him back against the cage.
Mabbit tries to circle away but Mattila has him pinned against the cage.
Mabbit stalling in the clinch but Mattila improves position.
Mattila missing with knees to the body.
Mabbit misses with a knee strike.
Mabbit drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mattila pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mattila tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mabbit counters with an inside leg kick.
Mattila tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mabbit counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mattila kicks Mabbit off and gets to his feet.
Mattila looks to clinch

and Mabbit counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mabbit sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mattila defending well though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mabbit in particular looking to stall.
Mabbit tries to stand and escape but Mattila is controlling the position.

Mabbit decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mattila looks to clinch

and Mabbit counters with a shoot takedown. Mattila fights it but they end up in guard.
Mabbit throwing strikes but missing.
Mattila trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabbit scoring with some ground and pound.
Mabbit really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mattila. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mabbit decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mattila, up you get!
Mattila darts in trying to clinch
and Mabbit counters with an inside leg kick.
Mattila tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mabbit swivels and escapes.
Mattila misses with the body kick

and Mabbit counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mabbit sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mattila defending well though.
Mattila is trying to control but can't.
Mabbit throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabbit tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mabbit missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mabbit wants to stand up but Mattila is controlling the position.
Mabbit not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mabbit is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mabbit tries to clinch up but Mattila circles away and keeps his distance.
Mattila looks to clinch
and Mabbit counters with a head kick. That will keep Mattila thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Mattila wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Mabbit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Craig Mabbit 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mabbit gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but Mattila won't allow it.
Mabbit avoids a wild elbow strike from Mattila.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mabbit jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mattila walks away with a smile on his face. Mabbit gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Markus Mattila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mabbit .

Mabbit closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mabbit jumps into guard, dragging Mattila to the mat.

Mattila got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mabbit has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mattila has managed to get both his arms back between Mabbit 's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mattila stands and steps away. Mabbit gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattila tries to clinch but Mabbit is having none of it.
Mabbit shoots in but no luck this time.
Mabbit keeps the fight on the outside.
Mabbit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mabbit circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mabbit holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mattila working Mabbit over with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Mabbit 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Mattila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mattila gets underhooks to prevent Mabbit 's takedown attempt.
Mabbit tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mabbit dodges an elbow strike from Mattila.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mattila obliges.
Mattila creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mattila misses with an elbow over the top.
Mattila blocks an elbow strike from Mabbit .
Mabbit is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Mattila.
Mabbit fails to pull guard.
Mabbit being controlled against the cage.
Mattila gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mattila lands a good knee to the midsection. Mabbit won't want to take too many of those.
Mabbit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mattila smiles and moves away.
Mattila closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mabbit counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mattila doesn't manage to clinch there - Mabbit circles away.
Markus Mattila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mattila clinches up against the cage.
Mabbit is looking to break free of the clinch but Mattila has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Mattila.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mabbit blocks the elbow strike.
Mabbit looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mabbit looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mattila throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mattila throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mabbit takes an elbow to the temple.
Mabbit tries a knee to the head but Mattila blocks it.
Mattila creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mabbit tries to pull guard but Mattila won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mattila.
Markus Mattila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Mabbit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Mattila showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mabbit 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Mabbit !