PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolay Matviyenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolay Matviyenko told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Eldridge
vs
Matviyenko

188 cm
28
220 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

188 cm
26
219 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Eldridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicolay Matviyenko!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eldridge scoring well with a low kick there.
Matviyenko blocks a jab.
Matviyenko moves in looking to clinch but Eldridge pushes him off.
Matviyenko tries to bum rush Eldridge with a series of wild strikes but Eldridge uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big left from Matviyenko misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Eldridge lands with a left to the head.
Matviyenko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Come on Eldridge - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Eldridge looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Eldridge prevents a body shot from Matviyenko.
Matviyenko managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Matviyenko misses with a punch to the body.
Matviyenko misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge has Matviyenko pushed against the cage.
Eldridge missing with knees to the body.
Eldridge looking to stall.

Matviyenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Eldridge pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matviyenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Eldridge swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Eldridge misses with a low kick as Matviyenko jumps back.
Matviyenko keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Eldridge tries to bum rush Matviyenko with a series of wild strikes but Matviyenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Eldridge throws a leg kick which misses Matviyenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Matviyenko tries to avoid it.
Eldridge lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matviyenko's sensitive parts.
Matviyenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Eldridge throws a right hand that misses
and Matviyenko counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands a nice hook to Matviyenko's body. Matviyenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eldridge tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matviyenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matviyenko is looking to clinch but Eldridge is avoiding it.
Michael Eldridge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Eldridge swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matviyenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Eldridge swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matviyenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Eldridge tries to clinch up
and Matviyenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Matviyenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Eldridge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Matviyenko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Matviyenko stands up and beckons Eldridge to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matviyenko tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Matviyenko moves in looking to clinch but Eldridge pushes him off.
Eldridge throws a leg kick which misses Matviyenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Matviyenko tries to avoid it.
Matviyenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Eldridge.
Sloppy strikes from Matviyenko. Those never looked like landing.
Eldridge avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matviyenko is looking to clinch but Eldridge is avoiding it.
Matviyenko throws a series of punches but Eldridge moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Eldridge keeps the fight on the outside.
Eldridge misses the shot to the body.
Eldridge throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Matviyenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but Eldridge is having none of it.
Eldridge lands with a slapping head kick.
Matviyenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Nicolay Matviyenko has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but Eldridge moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eldridge throws a leg kick but Matviyenko checks it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Eldridge.
Matviyenko moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicolay Matviyenko's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matviyenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Eldridge counters with a head kick.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but Eldridge moves out of range.
Matviyenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matviyenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Eldridge circles away.
Nice body kick from Eldridge.
A head kick from Eldridge lands but Matviyenko takes it in his stride.
Eldridge lands a nice looking body shot.
Matviyenko blocks a head kick by Eldridge.
Michael Eldridge is winning the standup battle so far.
Matviyenko moves out of range as Eldridge strikes.
Eldridge moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matviyenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
An inside leg kick from Eldridge misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eldridge scores with a head kick. Matviyenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Eldridge missing with a left hand there. Matviyenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matviyenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Eldridge sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matviyenko tries to clinch there but Eldridge circles away.
Matviyenko slips under a jab.
Eldridge swats away the attempt to clinch by Matviyenko.

Matviyenko clinches up with Eldridge and pushes him back against the cage.
Matviyenko working aggressively here.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyenko is defending well for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside that Matviyenko shrugs off.
Matviyenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eldridge fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Matviyenko breaks the clinch.
Matviyenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Eldridge dips to his left and cracks Matviyenko with an uppercut!
Eldridge swats away the attempt to clinch by Matviyenko.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matviyenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matviyenko swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matviyenko moves in looking to clinch but Eldridge pushes him off.
Eldridge cracks the inside of Matviyenko's front leg.
Eldridge throws a chopping leg kick but Matviyenko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Eldridge counters with a nice kick to the body.
Eldridge throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eldridge throws a sloppy head kick and Matviyenko moves out of range easily.
Matviyenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Eldridge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Matviyenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Eldridge, pushing him back against the cage.
Matviyenko wants a takedown but no success here.
Eldridge lands an elbow that stopped Matviyenko in his tracks for a moment.
Eldridge comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge pushes off an throws an elbow but Matviyenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Eldridge creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Eldridge misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matviyenko can't find room to land a body shot as Eldridge controls the action.
Matviyenko has had enough of the clinch but Eldridge keeps him there for the moment.
Matviyenko misses with a body punch.
Eldridge displaying some good clinch control by pressing Matviyenko up against the cage.
Eldridge lands an elbow just above Matviyenko 's eye.
Matviyenko tries to pull guard but Eldridge forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matviyenko takes an elbow to the forehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matviyenko tries to pull guard but Eldridge forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Michael Eldridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolay Matviyenko.
Matviyenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Eldridge pushes off an throws an elbow but Matviyenko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Eldridge is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matviyenko is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Eldridge dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nicolay Matviyenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Eldridge moves in looking to clinch but Matviyenko pushes him off.

Eldridge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matviyenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Matviyenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Eldridge uses good head movement to avoid it.
Eldridge blocks an uppercut.
Matviyenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Eldridge misses with an elbow over the top.
Michael Eldridge has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matviyenko managing to block the knees to the body from Eldridge.
Eldridge trying to control the position but instead, Matviyenko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Eldridge into the cage.
Matviyenko misses with a punch to the body.
Eldridge throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Eldridge is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyenko is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge lands an elbow inside that Matviyenko shrugs off.
Eldridge trying to land knees to the body.
Eldridge lands an elbow that stopped Matviyenko in his tracks for a moment.

That has opened up Nicolay Matviyenko's cut even more.
Eldridge stalling in the clinch but Matviyenko improves position.
Matviyenko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Matviyenko has had enough of the clinch but Eldridge keeps him there for the moment.
Eldridge stalling in the clinch but Matviyenko improves position.
Eldridge can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Matviyenko is trying to pull guard but Eldridge has him pressed against the cage.
Matviyenko misses with a body punch.
Matviyenko tries a body shot but Eldridge blocks it.
Matviyenko has a couple of punches blocked by Eldridge.
Eldridge working aggressively here.
Eldridge effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge lands a good knee to the midsection. Matviyenko won't want to take too many of those.
Eldridge pressing his opponent against the cage.
Eldridge seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Michael Eldridge.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but Eldridge moves out of range.
Eldridge scores with a nice right hand.
Eldridge attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
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!
Eldridge throws a low kick but Matviyenko avoids it.
Matviyenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eldridge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Eldridge tries a low kick but Matviyenko avoids it.
Nicolay Matviyenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matviyenko clinches.
Matviyenko is looking to break free of the clinch but Eldridge has double underhooks.

Matviyenko decides to pull guard.
Matviyenko trying to keep a closed guard but Eldridge is proving a slippery customer.
Eldridge tries to free his leg and advance position but Matviyenko is retaining full guard.
Eldridge has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Matviyenko is proving hard to escape from.
Eldridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Matviyenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matviyenko keeping full guard, as Eldridge tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Eldridge trying to control but Matviyenko is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Eldridge wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Matviyenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Eldridge's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matviyenko under the eye.
Matviyenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Nicolay Matviyenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eldridge throws a sloppy head kick and Matviyenko moves out of range easily.
A jab from Eldridge finds it's way through Matviyenko's defenses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matviyenko is looking to clinch but Eldridge is avoiding it.
Matviyenko darts in trying to clinch
and Eldridge counters with a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Eldridge showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Eldridge, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Eldridge!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Michael Eldridge made sure he mentioned [EVO] Koffin Inc. *Laundry Available*, along with how happy he was to win his fight.