PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marius Matei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Iverson
vs
Matei

190 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 14 - 0

182 cm
29
194 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
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 5 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dave Iverson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marius Matei!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iverson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Iverson gets the takedown into side control.
Iverson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Matei is trying to control Iverson's posture but Iverson avoids it.
Matei tries to buck Iverson off but Iverson is having none of it.
Matei struggling a bit here.
Matei is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ground and pound from Iverson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Iverson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Matei down.

Iverson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matei stops Iverson from passing to mount.
Iverson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Matei down.
Matei defending against the ground and pound.
Matei sneaks back into half guard.
Matei slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Matei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iverson is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matei escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Iverson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Iverson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Iverson wants to control from the top but Matei keeps moving.

Iverson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matei is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Matei sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Iverson defending well though.
Matei tries to pass the half guard into mount. Iverson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Iverson trying to hold on to Matei's head to control him but Matei postures up.
Matei wants to pass the guard but Iverson is defending well.
Iverson is in trouble now - Matei has advanced to mount!
Iverson taking shots to the head.

It looks like Dave Iverson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matei punishing his opponent with strikes.
Matei avoids the attempt from Iverson to control.
Matei with shots to the head and body - Iverson looks very uncomfortable down there.

Dave Iverson's cut is getting worse.
Iverson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Matei raining down hammerfists from mount.
Matei has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Iverson's face.

Iverson is rocked!

Jeez, Dave Iverson's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Dave Iverson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Marius Matei!
Marius Matei spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.