PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simo Rantalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simo Rantalainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rantalainen
vs
Matinheimo

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Rantalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Matinheimo!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matinheimo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rantalainen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matinheimo throws a right and a left that Rantalainen avoids nicely.
Rantalainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rantalainen shoots in for a double leg but Matinheimo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good standup being displayed there by Matinheimo as he connects with a hook.
Nice jab there from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matinheimo!

It looks like Simo Rantalainen has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oh, that's a big right hand from Matinheimo and Rantalainen goes tumbling to the canvas! Matinheimo follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Rantalainen is rocked!
Rantalainen is in trouble now - Matinheimo has advanced to mount!
Rantalainen is breathing heavily.
Rantalainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rantalainen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rantalainen tries to improve his position but instead Matinheimo has taken his back!
Rantalainen prevents Matinheimo from getting a body triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Rantalainen do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Matinheimo is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rantalainen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Matinheimo is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Matinheimo wants to control but Rantalainen manages to buck him off and is now in Matinheimo's guard! Nice work there by Rantalainen!
Rantalainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rantalainen stopping the sweep attempt from Matinheimo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rantalainen won't allow Matinheimo to sweep him here.

Matinheimo had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rantalainen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Matinheimo Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rantalainen's back instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rantalainen staying busy and making it hard for Matinheimo to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Matinheimo controlling the position well here. Rantalainen rolled but Matinheimo kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Matinheimo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Matinheimo is controlling the position but Rantalainen somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matinheimo is working for a kimura but Rantalainen is defending it quite comfortably.
Rantalainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simo Rantalainen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matinheimo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matinheimo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matinheimo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rantalainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Matinheimo circles away.
Matinheimo misses with a series of wild punches.
Matinheimo looks to land a combination but Rantalainen avoids it well.
Rantalainen lands a head kick!
Rantalainen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matinheimo circles away.
Matinheimo lands a two punch combo.
Rantalainen throws a shot from downtown. Matinheimo moves away and avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matinheimo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rantalainen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matinheimo digs a good body shot into Rantalainen's ribs.
Rantalainen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matinheimo misses with a two punch combination.
Rantalainen connects with a body shot.
Matinheimo looks to land a combination. Rantalainen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Rantalainen forces Matinheimo back against the cage and clinches.
Rantalainen lands a shoulder strike.

Rantalainen breaks the clinch.
Matinheimo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Rantalainen moves into the clinch successfully.
Matinheimo working aggressively here.
Matinheimo swings wildly with an uppercut but Rantalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rantalainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matinheimo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rantalainen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rantalainen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rantalainen.
Rantalainen misses with a head kick.
Matinheimo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Left hook, right uppercut from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rantalainen moves in looking to clinch but Matinheimo pushes him off.
Rantalainen moves in looking to clinch but Matinheimo pushes him off.
Matinheimo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rantalainen wants to clinch up but Matinheimo keeps it at a distance.
Rantalainen slips a jab and a cross from Matinheimo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen shoots in but no luck this time.
Matinheimo throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rantalainen counters with a two punch combo.
Rantalainen closes the distance and clinches up with Matinheimo, looking for a takedown. Rantalainen pushes Matinheimo against the cage but Matinheimo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simo Rantalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matinheimo throws a good cross that connects.
Matinheimo fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rantalainen!
Matinheimo misses with a double jab

and Rantalainen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rantalainen prevents Matinheimo from breaking the clinch.

Rantalainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rantalainen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matinheimo pinned against the cage. Matinheimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matinheimo throws a series of strikes that have Rantalainen backpedaling.
Simo Rantalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen fails with the takedown.
Matinheimo misses with a leg kick
and Rantalainen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rantalainen tries to clinch up.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rantalainen. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Rantalainen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Matinheimo.

Rantalainen closes the distance and clinches.
Matinheimo throws a head punch that misses.
Come on Rantalainen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rantalainen has Matinheimo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matinheimo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Matinheimo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Matinheimo looking to slow down the pace here.
Rantalainen wants a takedown but no success here.

Matinheimo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rantalainen shoots for a takedown but Matinheimo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rantalainen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simo Rantalainen's cut.
That's time! Rantalainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matinheimo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matinheimo throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rantalainen closes the distance and clinches.
Matinheimo letting Rantalainen take a breather here.
Rantalainen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Matinheimo wants to break free but Rantalainen has control.
Matinheimo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matinheimo is trying to maintain a safe position but Rantalainen gets an underhook and turns Matinheimo into the cage.
Matinheimo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matinheimo working aggressively here.

Rantalainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matinheimo misses with a combination

and Rantalainen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Matinheimo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matinheimo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rantalainen stacks Matinheimo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rantalainen!
Matinheimo is trying to escape the position but Rantalainen is controlling the position.
Matinheimo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rantalainen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rantalainen tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Matinheimo trying to control here.

That's two 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.
Matinheimo gets full guard.
Matinheimo trying to control the position.
Rantalainen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Matinheimo's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Matinheimo looking for a guillotine here but Rantalainen defends easily.

Matinheimo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rantalainen passes into half guard.
Rantalainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matinheimo on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rantalainen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rantalainen shoots in but Matinheimo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rantalainen moves in looking to clinch but Matinheimo pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A left and a right from Matinheimo both land. Nice combination.
Matinheimo misses with a series of wild punches.
Rantalainen is looking to clinch.
Matinheimo scores with a nice head shot.
Matinheimo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Danga de danga de dang - Rantalainen scores with a four punch combination!
Matinheimo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rantalainen counters with a good low kick that Matinheimo was not able to check.
Rantalainen is looking to clinch.
Paavo Matinheimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matinheimo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Simo Rantalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paavo Matinheimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matinheimo catches Rantalainen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

And that's the end of the fight!
Simo Rantalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matinheimo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Matinheimo!