PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwan Matwijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matwijenko has chosen RANDORI! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Iwan Matwijenko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rock Gracie 's chin.

Gracie
vs
Matwijenko

190 cm
32
219 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

192 cm
43
218 lbs
29 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rock Gracie !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iwan Matwijenko!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matwijenko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie 's sensitive parts.
Matwijenko throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Matwijenko misses with a hook
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matwijenko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.
Matwijenko misses with a straight left.
Gracie misses with a looping left.
Matwijenko looks to throw a body kick
and Gracie counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie loads up on a big right hand but Matwijenko slips the punch.
Matwijenko throws an off balance right hand
and Gracie counters with a right hand to the body.
Matwijenko scores with a body shot.
Matwijenko fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matwijenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Matwijenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Iwan Matwijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matwijenko misses with a hook
and Gracie counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Matwijenko.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Gracie to counter with a crisp jab.
Matwijenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matwijenko misses with a right hand
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Matwijenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie .
Gracie wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Matwijenko throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Gracie quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Matwijenko moved out of range nicely.
Matwijenko misses with a jab to the body
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie moves forwards but Matwijenko connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matwijenko tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matwijenko to the ground. Matwijenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matwijenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matwijenko throws an off balance right hand

and Gracie counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gracie .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matwijenko creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Matwijenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie .
Matwijenko trying to land knees to the body.
Matwijenko tries to throw a body punch but Gracie avoids it by throwing Matwijenko back against the cage.
Gracie blocks an elbow strike.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Matwijenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Matwijenko throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Matwijenko misses with a hook
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matwijenko throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Gracie is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Gracie connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
Matwijenko misses with a kick to the body
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matwijenko throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie looks to clinch
and Matwijenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Matwijenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matwijenko misses with a wild combination.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matwijenko.
Gracie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matwijenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice takedown defense from Matwijenko. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Gracie . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Matwijenko against the cage.
Matwijenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matwijenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Gracie avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matwijenko breaks from the clinch.
Matwijenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie throws a counter high kick but Matwijenko was just alert enough to avoid it.
Matwijenko misses with a hook
and Gracie counters with a head kick that crumples his opponent - he's in a world of trouble! Gracie looks at the referee who does nothing so Gracie lands a crushing right that sends Matwijenko to the floor! This time the ref steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rock Gracie !