PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iwan Matwijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altaïr Ibn La Ahad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matwijenko comes to the cage accompanied by RANDORI!. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Matwijenko
vs
Ibn La Ahad

192 cm
29
218 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

188 cm
31
205 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Iwan Matwijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Altaïr Ibn La Ahad!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matwijenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ibn La Ahad connects with a solid leg kick.
Ibn La Ahad tries to score with a low kick but Matwijenko moves his leg out of the way.
Matwijenko throws a lazy body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ibn La Ahad on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matwijenko. Matwijenko obviously looking to wear him down.
Matwijenko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Matwijenko connects with a leg kick. Ibn La Ahad looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Matwijenko takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A low kick from Ibn La Ahad misses
and Ibn La Ahad takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matwijenko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matwijenko scores with a decent looking hook.

Oooh a lovely combination from Matwijenko sends Ibn La Ahad down but not out. Matwijenko dives into side control looking to finish.

Ibn La Ahad is rocked!
Ibn La Ahad is looking for a sweep.
Ibn La Ahad is still in real trouble! Can Matwijenko finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibn La Ahad is not content to let Matwijenko control the position.
Ibn La Ahad seems to have recovered his senses.
Ibn La Ahad taking a bit of punishment here - Matwijenko scoring with strikes.
Matwijenko tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibn La Ahad controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Matwijenko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matwijenko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ibn La Ahad is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matwijenko cracks Ibn La Ahad with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko cracks Ibn La Ahad with a big right hand but Ibn La Ahad just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Matwijenko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ibn La Ahad knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matwijenko trying to control the action but Ibn La Ahad is working from the bottom.
Ibn La Ahad is looking for a sweep.
Matwijenko fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Matwijenko sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ibn La Ahad is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ibn La Ahad's shoulder. That is not cool.
Matwijenko cracks Ibn La Ahad with a big right hand but Ibn La Ahad just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The strikes coming from Matwijenko are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ibn La Ahad taking a bit of punishment here - Matwijenko scoring with strikes.
Matwijenko tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibn La Ahad controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matwijenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ibn La Ahad keeps working.
Matwijenko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Matwijenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ibn La Ahad keeps working.
Ibn La Ahad dodges the ground and pound from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matwijenko throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko trying to control the position but Ibn La Ahad is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matwijenko tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibn La Ahad controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ibn La Ahad defending against the ground and pound.
Ibn La Ahad is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Matwijenko trying to control the position but Ibn La Ahad is working away.
Matwijenko scores with punches from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matwijenko tries to score with some ground and pound. Ibn La Ahad controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matwijenko scores with punches from side control.
Matwijenko is working Ibn La Ahad over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Matwijenko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ibn La Ahad delivers a nice body kick.
A shot to the liver by Matwijenko. Beautiful body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Matwijenko scores with a four punch combination!
Ibn La Ahad throws a body kick that misses.
Matwijenko throws a body kick that misses.
A punch lands to the side of Ibn La Ahad 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matwijenko checks a leg kick.
Ibn La Ahad scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matwijenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ibn La Ahad, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibn La Ahad misses with a low kick.
Matwijenko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matwijenko lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ibn La Ahad avoids a kick to the body.
Altaïr Ibn La Ahad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ibn La Ahad misses with the body kick

and Matwijenko counters with a left hand that sends Ibn La Ahad to the canvas!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ibn La Ahad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matwijenko landing with the ground and pound.
Matwijenko passes into half guard.
Ibn La Ahad is staying active underneath Matwijenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ibn La Ahad is defending against the submission attempts here by Matwijenko.
Matwijenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ibn La Ahad keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ibn La Ahad tries to roll over but Matwijenko keeps him under control.
Matwijenko throwing shots but Ibn La Ahad is blocking nicely.
Matwijenko is just content to waste time from the top position. Ibn La Ahad takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibn La Ahad is trying to keep Matwijenko in close.
Matwijenko throws an elbow that misses. Ibn La Ahad uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matwijenko's guard. Nice move by Ibn La Ahad!
Ibn La Ahad is looking to stand up but Matwijenko won't let him.

Matwijenko has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ibn La Ahad has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ibn La Ahad misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibn La Ahad avoiding damage as Matwijenko throws knees to the body.
Ibn La Ahad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matwijenko's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ibn La Ahad backwards.
Matwijenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ibn La Ahad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matwijenko avoids it.
Matwijenko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ibn La Ahad putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Matwijenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ibn La Ahad tries to land a knee to the head but Matwijenko blocks with his arms.
Ibn La Ahad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ibn La Ahad misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Matwijenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ibn La Ahad shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Ibn La Ahad misses
and Matwijenko counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Matwijenko dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibn La Ahad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matwijenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ibn La Ahad slips a straight right by Matwijenko.

Matwijenko cracks Ibn La Ahad with a big right hand and Ibn La Ahad goes down!
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!
Ibn La Ahad wants to stand and escape but Matwijenko is having none of it.
Matwijenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Matwijenko trying to control but Ibn La Ahad is working from the bottom.
Matwijenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Matwijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibn La Ahad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matwijenko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ibn La Ahad keeping moving, preventing Matwijenko from controlling successfully.

Iwan Matwijenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Matwijenko catches Ibn La Ahad napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Ibn La Ahad to the canvas!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matwijenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ibn La Ahad's guard.
Matwijenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ibn La Ahad wants to improve his position but Matwijenko is controlling well.
Matwijenko winds up and cracks Ibn La Ahad with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ibn La Ahad is refusing to be controlled, as Matwijenko sits in half guard.
Matwijenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ibn La Ahad's head.
Altaïr Ibn La Ahad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ibn La Ahad keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matwijenko trying to mount his opponent but Ibn La Ahad defends it.
Nice strikes from Matwijenko there.
Matwijenko wants to take a breather but Ibn La Ahad is having none of it.
Matwijenko trying to pass the guard but Ibn La Ahad defending well.
Matwijenko is trying to control the action in half guard but Ibn La Ahad is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Iwan Matwijenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Iwan Matwijenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ibn La Ahad misses with a series of wild punches.
Matwijenko scores with a hook to the body. Ibn La Ahad takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ibn La Ahad tried to score with a low kick but Matwijenko checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko throws a series of punches but Ibn La Ahad avoids them all with ease.
Matwijenko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ibn La Ahad tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Matwijenko avoids the body shot from Ibn La Ahad.
Matwijenko thuds his shin into the meat of Ibn La Ahad's side.
Ibn La Ahad misses with a low kick as Matwijenko jumps back.
Matwijenko scores with a body shot.
Matwijenko throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jab from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ibn La Ahad's sensitive parts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iwan Matwijenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matwijenko, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:25
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iwan Matwijenko!
Iwan Matwijenko decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.