PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iwan Matwijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Montgomery Nagendra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matwijenko's entrance music is RANDORI!. A fine choice. Nagendra has chosen Mozart - Lacrimosa as his entrance music. Montgomery Nagendra 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!

Matwijenko
vs
Nagendra

192 cm
33
218 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

193 cm
33
223 lbs
20 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iwan Matwijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 24 - 0, fighting out of London, Montgomery Nagendra!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nagendra gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nagendra tries to score a body lock takedown but Matwijenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nagendra fails to pull guard.
Nagendra jumps guard but Matwijenko stands there with Nagendra around his waist. Nagendra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Iwan Matwijenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Montgomery Nagendra.
Nagendra tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matwijenko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matwijenko is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nagendra ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nagendra no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Matwijenko trying to control but Nagendra is working from the bottom.

Matwijenko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nagendra is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matwijenko wants to pass the guard but Nagendra is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matwijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagendra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nagendra will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nagendra looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matwijenko controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Matwijenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nagendra circles away quickly and effectively.
Nagendra avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And Nagendra tries to counter it with a takedown but Matwijenko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A telegraphed right hand from Matwijenko misses the target.
Nagendra moves away from the strike by Matwijenko.
Matwijenko throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Montgomery Nagendra has been cut.
Nagendra dives in and grabs Matwijenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matwijenko pushes down on Nagendra's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nagendra.
Iwan Matwijenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Nagendra.
Nagendra with the counter takedown but Matwijenko avoids it easily.
Iwan Matwijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nagendra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matwijenko but Matwijenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nagendra shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matwijenko as he avoids it easily.
Nagendra walks into a left hand.
Nagendra slips under a jab from Matwijenko.
Nagendra with the counter takedown but Matwijenko avoids it easily.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nagendra.
Matwijenko throws a hook to the side of Nagendra's head but Nagendra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matwijenko tries to bum rush Nagendra with a series of wild strikes but Nagendra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nagendra dives in and scores a takedown into Matwijenko's guard.
Nagendra is looking to work some ground and pound but Matwijenko has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagendra working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nagendra working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matwijenko's head.
Nagendra stops Matwijenko from standing up.
Nagendra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nagendra missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nagendra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nagendra with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matwijenko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matwijenko.
A telegraphed right hand from Matwijenko misses the target.
Nagendra feints the counter takedown.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Matwijenko misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nagendra counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nagendra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matwijenko's head.
Nagendra is pressing down on Matwijenko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matwijenko is holding on for now.

Nagendra is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Matwijenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nagendra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matwijenko's head.
Nagendra not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Matwijenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Montgomery Nagendra's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nagendra closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matwijenko to the mat! Matwijenko manages to get full guard.
Nagendra throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nagendra throwing strikes but missing.
Nagendra throws an elbow that misses. Matwijenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nagendra's guard. Nice move by Matwijenko!

Nagendra trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagendra is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Matwijenko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nagendra will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagendra keeping moving, preventing Matwijenko from controlling successfully.
Matwijenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Matwijenko trying to control but Nagendra is working from the bottom.

Nagendra is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matwijenko defends well.
Matwijenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nagendra wants to get back to his feet but Matwijenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matwijenko stuffs the takedown.
Matwijenko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matwijenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nagendra has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matwijenko misses the shot to the body.
Nagendra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matwijenko circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Matwijenko on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nagendra tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Matwijenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nagendra is out of range.
Nagendra tries for a takedown but Matwijenko circles away easily
and Matwijenko counters with a straight right hand.
Iwan Matwijenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Montgomery Nagendra.
Nagendra moves away from the strike by Matwijenko.
Matwijenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nagendra can do to turn this around?
A slow jab from Matwijenko misses its intended target.
Matwijenko misses with a few strikes there.
Montgomery Nagendra is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matwijenko throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko throws a jab when Nagendra was well out of range.
Nagendra wants to counter with a clinch but Matwijenko pushes him away.
Nagendra shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nagendra shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matwijenko defends it nicely.
Nagendra blocks a leg kick.
Matwijenko tries to work over Nagendra's front leg with a kick but Nagendra checks it.

Nagendra darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nagendra is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagendra not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Nagendra is looking for a kimura here.

Nagendra is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matwijenko sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nagendra throwing shots but Matwijenko is blocking nicely.
Nagendra looks to land a strike but Matwijenko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwan Matwijenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Montgomery Nagendra's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nagendra defending well as Matwijenko loads up on a big left hand.
Iwan Matwijenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Matwijenko as Nagendra shoots in.
A low kick from Matwijenko misses

and Nagendra counters with a takedown into side control.
Nagendra throwing strikes but Matwijenko manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Matwijenko throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Nagendra's face as Matwijenko controls the position.
Nagendra is looking for a sweep.
Montgomery Nagendra has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nagendra wants to control but Matwijenko postures up.
Nagendra tries to improve position but can't.
Matwijenko content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Matwijenko trying to control the action but Nagendra is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matwijenko remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nagendra wants to control but Matwijenko postures up.

That's two 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.
Nagendra tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matwijenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Matwijenko gets to mount! Nagendra was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matwijenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matwijenko controlling the position easily from mount.
Nagendra is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko looking to control but Nagendra is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nagendra keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nagendra is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Montgomery Nagendra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matwijenko scoring with strikes but Nagendra is staying in there.
Nagendra gets back to half guard.
Nagendra throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Matwijenko is pressing down on Nagendra's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nagendra is holding on for now.
Matwijenko stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagendra has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matwijenko is working away from the top position though.
Nagendra preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Iwan Matwijenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matwijenko wants to pass to mount but Nagendra is defending the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matwijenko is trying to control the action in half guard but Nagendra is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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

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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iwan Matwijenko!
Iwan Matwijenko was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.