PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peekah Chou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peekah Chou will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Matinheimo
vs
Chou

177 cm
26
184 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

225 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 12 - 11 - 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 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peekah Chou!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chou lands with a straight right. Matinheimo didn't see that one coming.
Matinheimo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Chou closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matinheimo circles away.
Chou swings for the body but Matinheimo moves out of range.
Matinheimo wants to clinch.
Matinheimo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
No luck for Chou with that takedown attempt.

Chou shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matinheimo's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chou is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Chou is in close to Matinheimo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matinheimo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chou thows a big elbow that misses.
Matinheimo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chou working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matinheimo has momentary wrist control but Chou slips an elbow through the middle.
Chou postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chou with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chou controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matinheimo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chou is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Chou in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chou wants to control from the top but Matinheimo keeps moving.
Chou is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Chou is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Chou trying to control the position from guard on top but Matinheimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chou is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chou trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chou trying to control but Matinheimo is working from the bottom.
Chou is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Chou throwing strikes but missing.
Chou trying to control the position from guard on top but Matinheimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Peekah Chou hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Chou throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chou tries to clinch there but Matinheimo circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chou moves in looking to clinch but Matinheimo pushes him off.
Chou tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matinheimo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chou somewhat.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peekah Chou.

Chou shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Chou was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A nice elbow there by Chou.
Chou landing strikes from the mount and Matinheimo is in trouble!
Chou punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Chou connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Chou cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Matinheimo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peekah Chou dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Chou dives in and grabs Matinheimo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matinheimo pushes down on Chou's head and hops out.
Matinheimo moves in looking to clinch but Chou pushes him off.
Chou defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matinheimo.
Chou tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matinheimo swivels and escapes.
Chou shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matinheimo as he avoids it easily.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peekah Chou.
Chou shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matinheimo pinned against the cage. Matinheimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matinheimo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chou.
Chou shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matinheimo as he avoids it easily.

Chou looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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. Chou connects with a nice short shot to Matinheimo's temple.
Chou thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matinheimo's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chou throwing shots but Matinheimo is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chou is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Chou lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matinheimo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chou.
Matinheimo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matinheimo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chou.
Chou wants to free his trapped foot but Matinheimo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Chou seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matinheimo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chou trying to pass the guard but Matinheimo defending well.
Chou missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chou working the head and body with strikes.
Matinheimo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Chou.
Matinheimo is staying active underneath Chou, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chou slips a nice elbow through Matinheimo's hands, connecting with Matinheimo's forehead.
Chou lands strikes from half guard.
Chou thows a huge punch but Matinheimo dodges it nicely.
Peekah Chou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chou takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chou thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matinheimo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Chou.
Chou sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Chou scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chou not doing much here.
Chou trying to mount his opponent but Matinheimo defends it.
Chou wants to control but Matinheimo is keeping him busy.
Chou has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice strikes from Chou there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chou is keen to just control but Matinheimo is a slippery customer.
Chou winds up and cracks Matinheimo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Chou throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peekah Chou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Chou shoots for a takedown but Matinheimo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck for Chou with that takedown attempt.

Matinheimo clinches up against the cage.
Chou drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matinheimo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paavo Matinheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peekah Chou.
Matinheimo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matinheimo stuffs the takedown attempt from Chou. Chou gets slowly back to his feet.
Paavo Matinheimo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chou tries for a takedown but Matinheimo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Matinheimo clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matinheimo goes for a takedown attempt but Chou pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chou is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matinheimo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Peekah Chou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Matinheimo.
Chou shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matinheimo as he avoids it easily.
Chou closes the distance and clinches up with Matinheimo, looking for a takedown. Chou pushes Matinheimo against the cage but Matinheimo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matinheimo is looking to clinch.

Matinheimo has closed the distance and engaged Chou in a clinch.
Chou has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matinheimo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Matinheimo lands a takedown into guard.
Matinheimo wants to control from the top but Chou keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chou wants to stand and escape but Matinheimo is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Chou can do anything to dispel that myth.
Chou can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matinheimo controls the pace.
Matinheimo wants to control from the top but Chou keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paavo Matinheimo just wasn't active enough.
Matinheimo tries to clinch but Chou is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matinheimo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Chou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Paavo Matinheimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chou is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matinheimo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matinheimo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Chou under the eye.
Chou tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matinheimo swivels and escapes.
Chou doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Matinheimo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matinheimo works his way into full mount!
Matinheimo thowing shots but they're missing.
Matinheimo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chou blocking the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matinheimo wants to control but Chou has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Matinheimo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peekah Chou is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matinheimo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chou's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matinheimo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matinheimo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Matinheimo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Chou 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peekah Chou!