PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branislav Boledovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boledovic has chosen Cannibal Corpse - Evidence In The Furnace as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matinheimo
vs
Boledovic

177 cm
23
197 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

187 cm
26
200 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paavo Matinheimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Branislav Boledovic!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boledovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matinheimo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Boledovic somewhat.
Matinheimo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boledovic looks to land a right hand but Matinheimo moved out of range.
Boledovic takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Boledovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Matinheimo is looking for a sweep. Boledovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boledovic thows a huge punch but Matinheimo dodges it nicely.
Boledovic wants to stand up but Matinheimo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Matinheimo is not content to let Boledovic control the position.
Boledovic stalling away here and it's allowed Matinheimo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boledovic wants to get up but he can't break Matinheimo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Matinheimo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matinheimo is pulling down on Boledovic's head to control his posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Boledovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Boledovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Matinheimo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Matinheimo tries to work over Boledovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Matinheimo breaks from the clinch.
Boledovic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matinheimo misses the shot to the body.
Boledovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Boledovic misses the body punch
enabling Matinheimo to counter with a crisp jab.
Boledovic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo scores with a hook to the body. Boledovic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matinheimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matinheimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boledovic moves away.
Matinheimo misses with the combination.
Boledovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matinheimo throws out a powerful jab.
Matinheimo scores with a shot to the body.
Boledovic misses with a takedown attempt
and Matinheimo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Boledovic.
Boledovic throws a lazy body kick
and Matinheimo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matinheimo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Boledovic closes the distance but Matinheimo moves to the side
and Matinheimo counters with a series of strikes. Boledovic will be more careful next time no doubt.
Matinheimo throws a body punch but Boledovic moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo lands a head shot.
Boledovic avoids the body shot from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo swings for the body but Boledovic moves out of range.
Boledovic misses with a combination
and Matinheimo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matinheimo lands an overhand right.

Boledovic shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matinheimo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Matinheimo is trying to get back to half guard.
Matinheimo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Matinheimo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Boledovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Boledovic's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matinheimo lands a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo struggling to keep hold of the position.
Matinheimo is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Matinheimo gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Matinheimo gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Matinheimo apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Branislav Boledovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matinheimo misses with a wild body shot.
Boledovic with a poor takedown
and Matinheimo counters with a nice body shot.
Boledovic looks gassed!
Matinheimo connects with a body shot.
Boledovic shoots and misses
and Matinheimo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boledovic has his takedown stuffed
letting Matinheimo counter with a right hand.
Boledovic throws a leg kick
and Matinheimo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Matinheimo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boledovic has hold of Matinheimo's hands but Matinheimo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matinheimo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matinheimo throws a lazy body kick

and Boledovic counters with a takedown into side control.
Matinheimo wants to control but Boledovic postures up.
Matinheimo is looking for a sweep.
Boledovic lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Matinheimo down.
Matinheimo is trying to get back to half guard.
Boledovic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matinheimo keeps working.
Matinheimo is trying to improve his position.

Boledovic swings around for an armbar but Matinheimo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Boledovic's guard.
Boledovic is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boledovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matinheimo wants to control from the top but Boledovic keeps moving.
Matinheimo throws and elbow that misses. Boledovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matinheimo's guard. Nice move by Boledovic!
Matinheimo is trying to control the position but Boledovic postures up.
Matinheimo controlling the position.

Boledovic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matinheimo, up you get!
Boledovic thuds his shin into the meat of Matinheimo's side.
Boledovic throws a lazy body kick
and Matinheimo counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boledovic looks to land a combination but Matinheimo avoids it well.
Boledovic darts in trying to clinch
and Matinheimo counters with a right hand to the body.
Matinheimo misses with an uppercut.
Boledovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Matinheimo counters with a right hand to the body.

Matinheimo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Matinheimo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Boledovic tries to hold on but Matinheimo postures up.
Matinheimo unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo with a couple of short strikes.
Matinheimo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Matinheimo tries to control but Boledovic wriggling away.

Matinheimo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Boledovic tries to hold on but Matinheimo postures up.
Boledovic sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boledovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Matinheimo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Boledovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matinheimo.
Matinheimo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boledovic defending well though.
Boledovic is looking to improve his position.
Boledovic wants to control but Matinheimo is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Branislav Boledovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matinheimo cracks a nice hook into Boledovic's ribs.
Matinheimo looks to land a right hand but Boledovic moved out of range.
Matinheimo checks the leg kick.
Matinheimo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Boledovic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Matinheimo misses.
Boledovic takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matinheimo misses the jab.
A combination from Matinheimo does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matinheimo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boledovic manages to avoid it.
Matinheimo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boledovic manages to avoid it.
Matinheimo lands a glancing blow to the side of Boledovic's head.
Boledovic shoots in and drives through. Matinheimo sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo misses with a straight right.
Boledovic throws a head kick that misses
and Matinheimo counters with a nice uppercut.
Boledovic shoots and misses
and Matinheimo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Boledovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Boledovic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Matinheimo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Boledovic.
Boledovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Matinheimo to counter with a crisp jab.
Matinheimo slips a jab and a cross from Boledovic.
Matinheimo clobbers Boledovic with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Matinheimo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Boledovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matinheimo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Matinheimo misses the target.
The crowd cheers as Matinheimo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Boledovic doesn't seem phased though.
Matinheimo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matinheimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Boledovic closes the distance looking to clinch
and Matinheimo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Branislav Boledovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matinheimo.
Boledovic walks into a jab.
Matinheimo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Matinheimo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matinheimo scores with a jab to the body.
Matinheimo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo lands a jab to the nose.
Matinheimo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Boledovic has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Boledovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matinheimo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Boledovic on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matinheimo lands a jab to Boledovic's midsection.
Boledovic walks into a straight right hand from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo looks to throw the jab but Boledovic is out of range.
Boledovic on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Boledovic shoots and misses
and Matinheimo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matinheimo.
Boledovic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Boledovic takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Matinheimo.
Matinheimo misses the body punch

and Boledovic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Matinheimo's guard.

Matinheimo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Boledovic defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matinheimo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Matinheimo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matinheimo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boledovic wants to pass the guard but Matinheimo is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Matinheimo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matinheimo 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Matinheimo!