PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lynwood Pace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matija Matijic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pace
vs
Matijic

206 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

187 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lynwood Pace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matija Matijic!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Matijic.
Pace tries to buck Matijic off but Matijic is having none of it.
Matijic taking a break here but Pace is having none of it and regains half guard.
Pace is refusing to be controlled, as Matijic sits in half guard.

Matijic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pace has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matijic is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matijic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Matijic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pace!
Pace tries to lock up and control but Matijic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matijic throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Matijic looking to ground and pound but Pace is blocking nicely.
Pace holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Matijic tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pace really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pace is trying to escape the mount.
Matijic wants to control but instead Pace manages to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matijic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pace is just riding it out for now. Matijic eventually gives up the hold.
Matijic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pace manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matijic wants to get up but he can't break Pace's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Matijic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pace, up you get!

Matijic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pace's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matijic passes Pace's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Matijic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pace has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pace has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matijic is working away from the top position though.
Pace is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Matijic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matijic controlling the pace.
Matijic wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matijic is keen to just control but Pace is a slippery customer.
Pace desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Pace is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matijic thows a leg kick but Pace checks it
and Pace counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Matijic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matijic wants to clinch up but Pace keeps it at a distance.

Matijic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pace's guard.
Pace is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matijic won't allow Pace to sweep him here.
Pace is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matijic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matija Matijic has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matijic trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matijic has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pace is proving hard to escape from.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pace is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Matijic feints and as Pace raises his hands in defense, Matijic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matijic trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matijic looking to pass the guard.
Matijic stops Pace from standing up.
Pace will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijic trying to control but Pace is working from the bottom.
Matijic wants to pass the guard but Pace is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matijic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pace pulls Matijic in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matijic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pace's guard.
Pace has his hands on Matijic's head, controlling the position.
Matijic wants to pass the guard but Pace is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matijic trying to control the position from guard on top but Pace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pace pulls Matijic in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pace is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matijic stays in close to Pace's body and controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Matijic feints and as Pace raises his hands in defense, Matijic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Matijic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matijic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pace keeps Matijic under control for a moment.
Matijic controlling the position.
Pace tries to buck Matijic off but Matijic is having none of it.
Matijic working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pace tries to escape but Matijic is in control.
Pace can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pace is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pace moves in looking to clinch but Matijic pushes him off.

Matijic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Matijic performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Matijic is trying to work for a kimura but Pace is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijic is taking a breather. Pace says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Matijic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pace!
Matijic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pace reaches up to try and control the position but Matijic seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Pace rolls and tries to escape and now Matijic has his back!
Will Matijic go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Pace trying to control the action but Matijic just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matijic controlling from the back.
Matijic avoiding Pace 's attempts to control his hands.
Pace is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pace trying to control the hands but Matijic won't let him.
Pace is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Pace covering up well and avoiding damage.
I would not like to be Pace right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pace trying to control the position but Matijic manages to sink in the hooks.
Lynwood Pace has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matija Matijic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matijic trying to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matija Matijic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matijic winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matija Matijic!