PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Usko Matonen (ranked 608 p4p, 38 weight class) and Nuri Jafar (ranked 740 p4p, 80 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Matonen
vs
Jafar

165 cm
29
140 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

175 cm
27
145 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nuri Jafar!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jafar looks to land a left hand but Matonen moved out of range nicely.
Jafar tries to close the distance and clinch but Matonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jafar.
Matonen throws a nice head kick!
Matonen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Matonen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matonen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A good leg kick by Matonen.

Jafar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Jafar struggles to land a body shot inside as Matonen controls his hands.
Jafar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jafar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Matonen fails to land.
Jafar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matonen's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jafar working aggressively here.
Matonen tries to throw a body punch but Jafar avoids it by throwing Matonen back against the cage.
Jafar misses with a punch to the body.
Jafar throws a head punch that misses.
Jafar throws a punch but it's blocked by Matonen.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Jafar has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jafar misses with a punch on the inside.
Matonen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Matonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jafar is keeping busy.
Jafar lands a nice uppercut.
Jafar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matonen working aggressively here.
Matonen stalling in the clinch.
Jafar misses with a punch on the inside.
Matonen has a couple of punches blocked by Jafar.
Jafar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jafar working aggressively here.
A short left from Matonen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matonen.
Matonen blocking some punches.
Jafar pushes Matonen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jafar blocking some punches.
Matonen effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matonen is struggling to control the position.
A head punch on the inside from Matonen fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jafar.
Matonen lands a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Jafar - that landed with a thud.
Matonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jafar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jafar swings wildly with an uppercut but Matonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matonen misses with a body punch.
Jafar misses with a body punch.
Matonen prevents a body shot from Jafar.
A short uppercut from Jafar.
Matonen working aggressively here.
Matonen looking to stall.
Matonen lands a nice shot to the body.
Matonen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jafar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Matonen looking to stall.
Matonen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jafar backwards.
Jafar lands a left hand.
A short right from Jafar on the inside.
Jafar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Matonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Jafar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jafar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jafar working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Jafar tries to throw a body punch but Matonen avoids it by throwing Jafar back against the cage.
Jafar lands an uppercut.
Jafar misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matonen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matonen blocks an uppercut.
Jafar working aggressively here.
Matonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jafar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen prevents a body shot from Jafar.
A short body shot lands from Jafar as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matonen.
Matonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jafar throws a punch but it's blocked by Matonen.
Matonen takes a shot to the head.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matonen throws a head punch that misses.
Jafar scores with a shot to the side of Matonen's head.
Matonen is trying to maintain a safe position but Jafar gets an underhook and turns Matonen into the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jafar.
Matonen blocking some punches.
Jafar tries to throw a body punch but Matonen avoids it by throwing Jafar back against the cage.

Matonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jafar fails in his attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Matonen is predictable there
and Jafar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jafar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jafar waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuri Jafar dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matonen takes one to the chin there.
Matonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Jafar circles away.
Matonen tries a low kick but Jafar avoids it.
Matonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jafar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jafar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Jafar counters with a nice body shot.
Jafar has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matonen.
Matonen moves forwards but Jafar connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matonen misses with a hook. Jafar ducked under it nicely.
Matonen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jafar in his tracks.
Jafar cracks Matonen with an open hand slap.
Matonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jafar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jafar scores with a nice right hand.
Jafar checks a low kick from Matonen.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Jafar! But no joy.
Matonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jafar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jafar slips under a jab from Matonen.
Jafar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Matonen misses with a looping right.
Jafar missing with a left hand there. Matonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matonen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jafar tests Matonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jafar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jafar looks to land a right hand but Matonen moved out of range.
Matonen takes a swing at Jafar's ribcage but misses.
Matonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jafar scores with a jab to the body.
Jafar lands with a hook. Matonen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jafar tries to clinch but Matonen is having none of it.
Jafar throws a looping overhand right but Matonen ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Matonen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matonen tries to clinch but Jafar moves out of range.
Matonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matonen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Jafar's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jafar swats away the attempt to clinch by Matonen.
Jafar takes a swing at Matonen's ribcage but misses.
Nuri Jafar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matonen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matonen is looking to chop away at Jafar's legs.
Jafar blocks a head kick by Matonen.
Jafar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matonen manages to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Jafar blocks the leg kick.
Matonen tries to clinch but Jafar is having none of it.
Jafar scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Good leg kick by Matonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matonen moves away from the strike by Jafar.
Matonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jafar blocks a head kick by Matonen.
Jafar throws a hook to the side of Matonen's head but Matonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jafar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matonen tries to work over Jafar's front leg with a kick but Jafar checks it.
Matonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jafar.
Jafar scores with a jab to the head.
Jafar scores with a jab to the head.
Matonen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jafar checks it well.
Jafar digs a good body shot into Matonen's ribs.
A leg kick checked by Jafar.
Jafar lands with a nice body punch.
Jafar misses with a wild body shot.

Matonen instigates a clinch.
Matonen blocks an uppercut.
Matonen blocking some punches.
Matonen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Matonen lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jafar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matonen backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matonen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jafar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Jafar has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jafar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jafar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jafar throws a head punch that misses.
Matonen lands with a short shot to the head.
Matonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matonen.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matonen cracks Jafar with a nice body shot.
Jafar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Matonen manages to break the clinch.
Matonen darts in trying to clinch
and Matonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuri Jafar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Matonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Jafar circles away.
Matonen avoids the body shot from Jafar.
Matonen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jafar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matonen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jafar.
Jab from Matonen.
Jafar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matonen.
Good standup being displayed there by Jafar as he connects with a hook.
Jafar misses with a looping left.
Jafar checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jafar jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jafar throws a hook but Matonen avoids it easily.
Matonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jafar.
Jafar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matonen.
Matonen throws a head kick that Jafar semi-blocks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matonen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A punch lands to the side of Matonen 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jafar moves into the clinch.
Jafar pushes Matonen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Jafar.
Jafar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matonen blocks an uppercut.
Jafar lands a body shot.
Matonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Matonen trying to control the position but instead, Jafar has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matonen into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Jafar.
Matonen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jafar scores with a nice hook to the head.
Matonen lands a hook that snaps the head of Jafar backwards.
Jafar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jafar misses with the head strike.
Jafar lands a body shot.
Jafar working aggressively here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jafar lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matonen backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Jafar.
Matonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matonen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jafar's elbow.
Jafar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jafar lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matonen backwards.
Jafar lands a nice uppercut.
Jafar misses with a punch to the body.
Jafar lands a right hand.
Jafar blocks a body shot from Matonen.
Matonen blocking some punches.
Nuri Jafar seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Jafar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jafar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matonen's elbow.
Jafar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jafar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matonen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Matonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jafar throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Usko Matonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Matonen moves into the clinch.
Jafar is leaning against Matonen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Matonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A bit of stalling here from Matonen.
Matonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Jafar uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jafar swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jafar.
Matonen stalling in the clinch.
Matonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Matonen.
Jafar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nuri Jafar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jafar misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Jafar.
Matonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jafar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Matonen or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jafar lands an uppercut.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jafar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Jafar.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matonen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jafar's elbow.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jafar.
Jafar fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jafar misses with the head strike.
Jafar misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matonen stalling against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jafar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jafar misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jafar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jafar prevents a body shot from Matonen.
Matonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuri Jafar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jafar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuri Jafar!
An intense looking Nuri Jafar took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'where's my money'.