PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iwan Matwijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davor Langerholc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matwijenko comes into the arena with RANDORI! blaring out of the sound system. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Matwijenko
vs
Langerholc

192 cm
31
218 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
208 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iwan Matwijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Davor Langerholc!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Langerholc uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Pihkalan Sali in the buildup to the fight.
Matwijenko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matwijenko dips to his left and cracks Langerholc with an uppercut!
Matwijenko misses with a leg kick

and Langerholc counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matwijenko won't be happy with that.
Matwijenko defending against the ground and pound.
Langerholc is working Matwijenko over with some ground and pound from side control.

Langerholc tries for a kimura but Matwijenko is defending well.
Langerholc fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Langerholc trying to control the position but Matwijenko is working away.

Langerholc is trying to get an arm triangle but Matwijenko is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Langerholc are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Matwijenko dodges the ground and pound from Langerholc.
Langerholc has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Langerholc scores with a couple of short elbows.
Langerholc working the ground and pound.
Langerholc tries to score with some ground and pound. Matwijenko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matwijenko is not content to let Langerholc control the position.
Langerholc working the strikes but Matwijenko uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc stops Matwijenko from getting back to his feet.
Langerholc not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Langerholc throwing shots but Matwijenko is blocking nicely.
Langerholc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Langerholc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matwijenko wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko loads up on a big right hand but Langerholc slips the punch.
Matwijenko scores with a punch to the head.
Matwijenko misses with a looping right.
Matwijenko is looking to chop away at Langerholc's legs.
Matwijenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Langerholc.
A big right from Matwijenko misses.
Iwan Matwijenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matwijenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matwijenko throws a lazy uppercut

and Langerholc counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Langerholc is trying to control the action in half guard but Matwijenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Langerholc prevents Matwijenko from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Langerholc missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Langerholc is trying to work for a kimura but Matwijenko is defending well.
Langerholc wants to control but Matwijenko is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matwijenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matwijenko misses with a body shot

and Langerholc counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Langerholc looking to sit in guard and control but Matwijenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davor Langerholc dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matwijenko throws a series of punches but Langerholc moves out of range.
Matwijenko misses with a hook. Langerholc ducked under it nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko swings widly with a right hand

and Langerholc counters with a shoot takedown. Matwijenko fights it but they end up in guard.

Matwijenko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Langerholc takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matwijenko is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A leg kick checked by Langerholc.
Langerholc moves away from the strike by Matwijenko.
Langerholc uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matwijenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matwijenko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matwijenko misses the jab.
Matwijenko lands the left hand.
Langerholc blocks a leg kick.
Matwijenko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
An inside leg kick from Matwijenko misses.
Matwijenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Iwan Matwijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Langerholc moves out of range of the strikes.
Matwijenko with a hook.
Matwijenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko looks to throw the jab but Langerholc is out of range.
Langerholc ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matwijenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Langerholc.
Matwijenko tests Langerholc's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A swing and a miss from Matwijenko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matwijenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Langerholc sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matwijenko clobbers Langerholc with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Langerholc checks the leg kick.
Matwijenko misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko misses with a straight left.
Matwijenko misses with a looping left.
A swing and a miss from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko throws a low kick but Langerholc avoids it.
Iwan Matwijenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Langerholc steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Langerholc.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko misses with a jab to the body

and Langerholc counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matwijenko keeping full guard, as Langerholc tries to pass.
Matwijenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Langerholc pushes down on Matwijenko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Langerholc missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Langerholc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Langerholc trying to work for an americana but Matwijenko has managed to regain full guard.
Matwijenko wants to stand but Langerholc is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Matwijenko dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Matwijenko lands with a hook. Langerholc tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A jab from Matwijenko misses.
Langerholc defending well as Matwijenko loads up on a big left hand.
Matwijenko throws an overhand right that lands on Langerholc's shoulder, as Langerholc tries to avoid the shot.
Matwijenko throws a shot from downtown. Langerholc moves away and avoids it.
Matwijenko looks to land a combination but Langerholc avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matwijenko takes a swing at Langerholc's ribcage but misses.
Matwijenko misses with a straight left.
Matwijenko misses with a double jab.
Matwijenko misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matwijenko attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Matwijenko.
Langerholc blocks a jab.
Matwijenko misses with a hook. Langerholc ducked under it nicely.
A shot to the body from Matwijenko misses

and Langerholc counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Langerholc.
Langerholc pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matwijenko is keeping the position for now.
Langerholc slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langerholc landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Langerholc missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Langerholc is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Langerholc not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matwijenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matwijenko is refusing to be controlled, as Langerholc sits in half guard.
Matwijenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Langerholc.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Langerholc throws a big right hand that misses.
Langerholc throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matwijenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Langerholc landing with the ground and pound.
Davor Langerholc has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matwijenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Langerholc wants to control from the top but Matwijenko keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matwijenko thuds his shin into the meat of Langerholc's side.
Matwijenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Langerholc keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Langerholc staying out of range there.
Matwijenko looks for the body kick but Langerholc saw that one coming.
A left and a right from Matwijenko both land. Nice combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matwijenko throws out a loose jab but Langerholc uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matwijenko misses with a lunging right hand

and Langerholc counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matwijenko won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Iwan Matwijenko.
I think Matwijenko 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Iwan Matwijenko!
In his post fight interview, Iwan Matwijenko started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Davor Langerholc spoke after the fight, saying 'My vengeance will be torture and murder.'.