PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Lacey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pena Hirmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hirmu has chosen AC/DC - War Machine as his entrance music. Pena Hirmu has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mathew Lacey's chin.

Lacey
vs
Hirmu

190 cm
25
192 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mathew Lacey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Hirmu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirmu tries to clinch but Lacey is having none of it.
Jab, jab by Hirmu - just one landing.
Lacey swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hirmu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lacey bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hirmu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut lands for Hirmu. That snapped Lacey's head back.
Hirmu throws a hook but Lacey avoids it easily.
Hirmu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lacey misses with a hook to the ribs.

Hirmu manages to break the clinch.
Hirmu takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lacey circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hirmu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lacey scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Lacey pushes Hirmu up against the cage in a clinch.
Hirmu is pushing Lacey up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right from Lacey on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lacey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hirmu.
Hirmu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Lacey.
Hirmu is trying to maintain a safe position but Lacey gets an underhook and turns Hirmu into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu lands with a right to the head.
Good body shot from Lacey.
Hirmu throws a head punch that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lacey as Hirmu tries to tie him up.
Hirmu swings wildly with an uppercut but Lacey uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hirmu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hirmu misses with an uppercut.
Hirmu wants to clinch.

Lacey clinches.
Lacey tries to work over Hirmu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hirmu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lacey can't find room to land a body shot as Hirmu controls the action.
Lacey tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Lacey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lacey scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hirmu doesn't seem bothered though.
Hirmu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lacey looks to score with a jab to the body but Hirmu is just out of range.
Lacey gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hirmu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Good shot there by Lacey.

Lacey throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hirmu was covering up waiting for the punch and Lacey finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hirmu looking for a guillotine here but Lacey defends easily.
Lacey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hirmu working a defensive guard but Lacey manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hirmu is not content to let Lacey control the position.
Hirmu is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lacey's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lacey not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirmu is refusing to be controlled, as Lacey sits in half guard.
Lacey working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lacey seems to be working for a kimura but Hirmu defends the submission attempt.
Lacey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hirmu gets full guard.
Lacey trying to control but Hirmu is working from the bottom.
Lacey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Lacey is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hirmu is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hirmu has escaped and now he's on top!
Lacey keeping moving, preventing Hirmu from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacey keeping full guard, as Hirmu tries to pass.
Hirmu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Lacey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lacey scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Hirmu tries to free his leg and advance position but Lacey is retaining full guard.
Hirmu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lacey's guard.

Hirmu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lacey sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hirmu is looking for a kimura here.
Hirmu looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. Lacey manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mathew Lacey will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lacey scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lacey lands with a nice body punch.
Lacey swinging wildly here.

Lacey gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hirmu to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hirmu wants to pass the guard but Lacey is keeping the position.
Hirmu preventing the sweep.
Hirmu tries to free his leg and advance position but Lacey is retaining full guard.
Lacey is looking to sweep but instead, Hirmu has passed into half guard.
Lacey moves into full guard.
Lacey throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Lacey avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lacey is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu tries to free his leg and advance position but Lacey is retaining full guard.
Lacey is trying to control the position but Hirmu postures up.
Lacey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hirmu manages to get himself to full guard.
Hirmu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hirmu wants to take Lacey's back here but Lacey is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Lacey wants to control but Hirmu is having none of it.

Hirmu has hold of Lacey's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lacey manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hirmu is breathing heavily.
Lacey is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hirmu is working for a guillotine from mount but Lacey frees his head quite easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lacey is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lacey slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lacey trying to hold on to Hirmu's head to control him but Hirmu postures up.
Lacey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hirmu forces his way into half guard.
Lacey is pressing down on Hirmu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lacey looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hirmu wants to pass the guard but Lacey is keeping the position.
Hirmu trying to control but Lacey is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacey keeping full guard, as Hirmu tries to pass.
Lacey is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lacey trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Lacey escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hirmu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hirmu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hirmu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Hirmu pushes Lacey up against the cage in a clinch.
Hirmu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hirmu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hirmu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hirmu manages to break the clinch.
Lacey digs a good hook to Hirmu's body.
Hirmu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Hirmu closes the distance and clinches.
Lacey is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lacey's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lacey tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hirmu avoids it.
Hirmu trying to control the position but instead, Lacey has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hirmu into the cage.
Hirmu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hirmu lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Hirmu gets control of Lacey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hirmu will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Hirmu is looking for a triangle but Lacey pushes his legs off easily.
Lacey landing with the ground and pound.
Lacey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hirmu's head.
Lacey distracts Hirmu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Hirmu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pena Hirmu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lacey scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hirmu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hirmu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lacey with a hook.
A lazy left from Lacey finds it's target.
Hirmu misses with a looping right.

Lacey closes the distance and clinches.
Lacey is stalling here.
A right hook to the body lands for Hirmu.
Hirmu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lacey.
Lacey is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hirmu is defending well for now.

Hirmu has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lacey uses from the top position.

Hirmu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lacey defends it easily.
Hirmu wants to sweep here but Lacey controlling him for the moment.
Hirmu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lacey looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hirmu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lacey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lacey trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hirmu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lacey controls the pace.

Hirmu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lacey is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hirmu.
Lacey in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lacey scoring with punches from side control.
Lacey scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hirmu to see if he's OK.
Lacey looks up at the clock and then as Hirmu takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Lacey smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacey lands a few punches from side control.
Hirmu on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hirmu tries to improve position but can't.
Hirmu is not content to let Lacey control the position.
Hirmu tries to bench press Lacey off him but Lacey keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Hirmu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lacey lands a nice forearm strike.
Hirmu is trying to improve his position.
Hirmu is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lacey's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lacey looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hirmu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacey looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hirmu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hirmu trying to control but Lacey postures up.
Ground and pound from Lacey.
Hirmu is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lacey scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lacey uses his free foot to push down on Hirmu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hirmu.
Hirmu manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lacey looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hirmu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hirmu trying to control but Lacey postures up.
Hirmu wants to get back to full guard.

Hirmu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lacey is nestled in close to Hirmu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mathew Lacey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacey lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lacey connects with a nice short shot to Hirmu's temple.

Lacey is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hirmu sees it coming and defends easily.

Hirmu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hirmu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lacey pulls his head out easily.
Hirmu wants to sweep but Lacey has passed to side control!
Hirmu tries to bench press Lacey off him but Lacey keeps the position.
The referee asks Lacey politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Lacey prefers to stall for the moment though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Lacey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lacey 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Lacey!