PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anton Matilla (ranked 1662 p4p, 1993 weight class) and KT Panda (ranked 241 p4p, 279 weight class). KT Panda is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Matilla
vs
Panda

190 cm
24
229
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
288
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anton Matilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, KT Panda!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda tries to land a body kick
enabling Matilla to counter with a crisp jab.
Matilla lands a jab to the head.
Matilla throws a head kick that misses.
Panda throws a head kick but Matilla moves out of range.
Matilla swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Panda counters with a body kick that stops Matilla in his tracks momentarily.
Panda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
KT Panda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matilla checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matilla tried to counter with a leg kick but Panda avoided it.
Panda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matilla.
An attempted straight right counter from Matilla misses the target.
Panda misses with a body shot
and Matilla counters with a slapping leg kick.
Matilla has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bone on bone clash there as Matilla blocks the leg kick.
Panda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Panda is looking to chop away at Matilla's legs.
And Matilla counters with a quick kick to the body but Panda blocks it.
Panda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Matilla misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matilla walks into a straight right hand from Panda.
Panda fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matilla on the side of the head.
KT Panda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matilla shoots in and gets a takedown into Panda's guard.
Matilla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Panda is keeping the position for now.
Panda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matilla manages to get himself to full guard.

Matilla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Panda is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Matilla looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Panda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matilla seems keen to control Panda's posture.
Panda wants to get up but he can't break Matilla's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Matilla pulls Panda in close to his closed guard and prevents Panda from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matilla is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Matilla has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Panda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Panda is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda won't allow Matilla to sweep him here.

Matilla is looking for a triangle but Panda pushes his legs off easily.
Panda controlling from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matilla is on top in guard.

Matilla wants to control from the top but Panda keeps moving.
Matilla postures up in Panda's guard and throws a big left but Panda blocks it.
Matilla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Panda is keeping the position for now.
Matilla missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matilla trying to control but Panda is working from the bottom.
Matilla missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Panda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Panda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matilla is one step ahead there.
Matilla sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Matilla won't allow Panda to sweep him here.
Matilla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Panda is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Panda is controlling Matilla's posture.
Panda keeping full guard, as Matilla tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anton Matilla will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matilla misses with a hook to the body
enabling Panda to counter with a crisp jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Panda.
Panda misses with a body kick.
Matilla gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Panda.
Matilla staying out of range there.
KT Panda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Panda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matilla moves away.
Matilla fires out a quick counter leg kick but Panda just manages to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Panda. Beautiful body shot.
Panda throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matilla counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matilla moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Panda misses.
Matilla keeps the fight on the outside.
Panda connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matilla manages to avoid it.
Panda swings for the body but Matilla moves out of range.
Panda lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Panda throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Matilla to counter with a crisp jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Panda.
Panda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matilla tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Panda was well out of range. Poor timing from Matilla.
Matilla gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Panda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Panda.
Panda fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matilla checks it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matilla connects with a right hand. Panda shakes it off.
Panda lands a right hook to the body.

Panda has Matilla up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Panda tries a body shot but Matilla blocks it.
Panda blocks a body shot from Matilla.
Panda lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Panda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matilla lands a nice shot to the body.
Panda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matilla is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Matilla is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anton Matilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Panda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Matilla.
A head punch on the inside from Panda fails to land.

Matilla decides to pull guard.
Panda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Panda showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Panda trying to control but Matilla is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matilla is controlling Panda's posture.

Matilla is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matilla working a defensive guard here.
Panda engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Matilla trying to keep a closed guard but Panda is proving a slippery customer.
Panda sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Matilla is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Panda defends well.

That's four 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.

Matilla working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Panda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Panda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panda sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Matilla is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Matilla is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Panda is aware though and is defending well.
Panda postures up.
Panda slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

KT Panda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Matilla takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matilla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Panda moves away.
Panda is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Matilla slips under a jab from Panda.
Panda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matilla.
Panda doesn't manage to clinch there - Matilla circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Matilla on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Panda looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matilla is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda tries to land a body kick
and Matilla counters with a body kick.
Panda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matilla paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It appears Matilla was looking to counter with a kick there.
Matilla shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Panda but Panda pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matilla scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick from Panda, right into the meat of the thigh.
Panda scores with a three punch combo!
Matilla lands with a nice body punch.
Panda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matilla walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Panda takes a swing at Matilla's ribcage but misses.
Panda throws a shot from downtown. Matilla moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Matilla was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Matilla has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Panda finds it's way round the side to connect with Matilla's head.
Matilla misses with a wild body shot.
Panda throws a series of punches but Matilla moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Panda.
Panda throws out a loose jab but Matilla uses good head movement to avoid it.
Panda throws a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matilla throws a head kick that Panda semi-blocks.
Panda clobbers Matilla with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Panda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Matilla rather than just go for the knockout.
Matilla keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Matilla misses its target.
Panda wants to clinch up but Matilla keeps it at a distance.
Matilla shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Panda misses with a straight left.
Matilla throwing a counter right hand but Panda manages to avoid it.
Panda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Matilla on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Matilla.
Panda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Panda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Panda throws a shot from downtown. Matilla moves away and avoids it.
Panda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matilla tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Panda swivels and escapes.
Matilla checks the leg kick nicely there.
It looked like Matilla wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matilla looks to score with a jab to the body but Panda is just out of range.
Matilla swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Panda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Panda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matilla misses with an uppercut
and Panda makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda lands a head kick. Matilla smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A thudding body kick lands there by Panda!
Panda lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Panda.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Panda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Matilla on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Panda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Panda throws a head kick but Matilla moves out of range.
Matilla throws a sloppy head kick and Panda moves out of range easily.
Panda throws the kick towards the body but Matilla avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Matilla misses the target.
Panda fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matilla on the side of the head.
Panda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matilla cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
KT Panda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Panda 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KT Panda!