PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Matikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matikainen comes to the cage accompanied by Terveisiä perseestä. Ferguson has chosen Fabolous - My Time as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Kevin Ferguson enters the cage!

Matikainen
vs
Ferguson

182 cm
25
207 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

183 cm
24
207 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Matikainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kevin Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matikainen pinned against the cage. Matikainen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matikainen throws a series of punches but Ferguson avoids them all with ease.
Matikainen slaps away a takedown attempt from Ferguson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matikainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matikainen swinging wildly here.
Matikainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matikainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ferguson.
A lull in the action here.
Matikainen tries to buck Ferguson off but Ferguson is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson tries for a kimura but Matikainen is defending well.
Matikainen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ferguson off and has taken his back!
Ferguson breaks Matikainen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Matikainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ferguson.
Matikainen controlling the position.
Ferguson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ferguson tries to stand but Matikainen is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matikainen is looking to stand up but Ferguson isn't so interested in that idea.
Ferguson wants to control from the top but Matikainen keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A punch combination from Matikainen misses.

Ferguson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matikainen is trying to defend but Ferguson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ferguson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen tries to get to full guard but Ferguson has control of the leg.
Ferguson is thwarting Matikainen's attempts to control the position.
Ferguson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ferguson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ferguson stops Matikainen from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matikainen is looking for a sweep. Ferguson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ferguson not doing much here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matikainen throws a nice looking combination but Ferguson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ferguson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matikainen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ferguson looks gassed!
Matikainen has Ferguson pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matikainen is on top in guard.
Matikainen wanted to stand there but Ferguson had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Ferguson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ferguson dodges the punch combination from Matikainen.
Matikainen throws a hook to the side of Ferguson's head but Ferguson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matikainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matikainen throws a series of punches but Ferguson moves out of range.
Matikainen misses with a straight right.

Ferguson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ferguson gets to mount! Matikainen was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferguson looking to control but Matikainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matikainen wants to hold on but Ferguson pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Matikainen to take his back!
Matikainen is really stuck here.
Matikainen trying to control but not successfully.

Matikainen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ferguson gets his way!
Ferguson struggling to keep hold of the position.

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.
Matikainen wants to escape the position.
Matikainen breaks Ferguson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Matikainen won't allow Ferguson to sweep him here.

Matikainen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ferguson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matikainen has managed to get both his arms back between Ferguson's legs - danger averted.
Ferguson is controlling Matikainen's posture.
Ferguson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matikainen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ferguson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Matikainen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Matikainen decides to stand up.
Ferguson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matikainen tries to avoid it but Ferguson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matikainen to the ground. Matikainen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pentti Matikainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matikainen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ferguson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Matikainen.
Ferguson takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ferguson.
Matikainen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Matikainen missing with a left hand there. Ferguson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matikainen throws a right hand that Ferguson ducks under and follows up with a left that Ferguson also avoids with ease.
Ferguson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matikainen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ferguson staying out of range there.
Matikainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ferguson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson trying to control the pace.
Matikainen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Matikainen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Matikainen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matikainen misses with a few strikes there.
Pentti Matikainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matikainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matikainen looks to land a right hand but Ferguson moved out of range.
Matikainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Matikainen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ferguson.
Matikainen throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ferguson clinches up with Matikainen and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson tries to pull guard but Matikainen holds him up against the cage and eventually Ferguson drops back down to his feet.

Ferguson breaks the clinch.
Matikainen misses with a two punch combination.
Matikainen throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matikainen tries to keep at a distance but Ferguson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ferguson stalling against the cage.

Ferguson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Matikainen uses from the top position.
Ferguson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Matikainen has a hand on Ferguson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ferguson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Ferguson stands up from mount. Strange move.
Some wild striking there from Matikainen.

Ferguson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Matikainen's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen tries to get to full guard but Ferguson has control of the leg.
Matikainen wants to control but Ferguson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ferguson controlling the pace.
Ferguson tries to pass to full mount but Matikainen defends it.
Ferguson is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson wants to work for an arm triangle but Matikainen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ferguson stalling away here and it's allowed Matikainen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Matikainen trying to control the position.
Fergusonis looking to pass into half guard but Matikainen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matikainen is in guard.
Ferguson is looking to stand up but Matikainen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four 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.
Matikainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Ferguson is retaining full guard.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Matikainen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matikainen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Matikainen throws a nice looking combination but Ferguson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ferguson gets a takedown into half guard.
Matikainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Matikainen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Ferguson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ferguson 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Ferguson!