PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwan Matwijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels comes into the arena with Gimme Shelter blaring out of the sound system. Matwijenko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. RANDORI! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Karl Michaels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Michaels
vs
Matwijenko

187 cm
36
212 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

192 cm
35
218 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iwan Matwijenko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matwijenko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Michaels momentarily.

It looks like Karl Michaels has been cut.
Matwijenko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Michaels keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matwijenko.
Michaels throws a shot from downtown. Matwijenko moves away and avoids it.
Matwijenko tries to land a front kick but Michaels steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Matwijenko misses with a hook.
Good work by Matwijenko as he checks the leg kick.
Michaels uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matwijenko.
We've been told by Michaels's head coaches at B.P.A.: 3230+ SKILL PTS COACHES + 160Q SUPPLEMENT that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Michaels.
Matwijenko slips a jab from Michaels.
It seemed like Matwijenko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Michaels connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Michaels on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Michaels slips under a jab.
Michaels throws a hook but Matwijenko blocks it.
Matwijenko throws a counter combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michaels misses with a body shot.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Iwan Matwijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matwijenko throws a nice looking combination but Michaels bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matwijenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Michaels's head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Michaels lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Matwijenko has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Matwijenko and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Matwijenko throws a right and a left that Michaels avoids nicely.
Good exchange - Michaels coming out on top.
Matwijenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A slow jab from Matwijenko misses its intended target.
Matwijenko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Michaels eats them both and turns towards Matwijenko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Matwijenko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Michaels at a distance.
Matwijenko throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Michaels to counter with a crisp jab.
Matwijenko closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Michaels! Matwijenko dives in looking to finish! Michaels is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iwan Matwijenko!
Iwan Matwijenko spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.