PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lars Kay (ranked 1040 p4p, 1755 weight class) and Roko Matijevic (ranked 114 p4p, 191 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kay
vs
Matijevic

177 cm
23
150
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
155
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Warrior's Way

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Kay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roko Matijevic!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matijevic moves out of range as Kay strikes.
Kay is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matijevic.
Matijevic throws out a powerful jab.
Kay scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kay shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matijevic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kay moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice shot by Matijevic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matijevic swings for the body but Kay moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Matijevic.
Matijevic loads up on a big right hand but Kay slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kay misses with a right hand
and Matijevic counters with a body kick.
Kay works the jab nicely.
Kay misses with a body punch
and Matijevic counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Lars Kay has been cut.
Matijevic takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lars Kay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kay avoids the body shot from Matijevic.

Matijevic cracks Kay with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Matijevic has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Kay to stand back up!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kay moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMatijevic.
Matijevic misses with a wild body shot.
Kay changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kay misses with a left hand

and Matijevic counters with a nice right hand that sends Kay toppling to the canvas! Kay scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Matijevic finish him?!

Kay is rocked!
Matijevic looks to land a left hand but Kay moved out of range nicely.
Kay attempts a counter takedown but Matijevic avoids it well and moves away.
Oh Kay is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kay tries to close the distance and clinch but Matijevic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic looks to throw the jab but Kay is out of range.
Kay seems to have got his legs back now.
Matijevic throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Kay there.
Matijevic slips under a jab.

Kay drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Matijevic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kay trying to control but Matijevic is working from the bottom.
Kay is looking to work some ground and pound but Matijevic has wrist control.
Matijevic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kay controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kay slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kay performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kay connects with a nice short shot to Matijevic's temple.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Matijevic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kay thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kay missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kay slips a nice elbow through Matijevic's hands, connecting with Matijevic's forehead.
Kay thows a huge punch but Matijevic dodges it nicely.

Kay wants to work for an arm triangle but Matijevic is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kay thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matijevic is in trouble now - Kay has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kay working the ground and pound effectively.
Kay thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kay has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
BOOM! Kay connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've been hearing that Kay has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Matijevic keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Kay working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kay breaks from Matijevic's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matijevic is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kay with the ground and pound from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roko Matijevic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lars Kay's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kay ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matijevic lands a glancing blow to the side of Kay's head.
Matijevic throws a body kick that misses.
Matijevic ducks under a wild hook from Kay.
Matijevic follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Matijevic takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kay throws a right hand that misses
and Matijevic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kay tries for a takedown but Matijevic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Matijevic is trying to counter with his kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matijevic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kay moves out of range as Matijevic throws a body kick.
Matijevic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kay takes a step back to recover.
Matijevic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kay throws out the jab.
It seemed like Matijevic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kay cracks a nice hook into Matijevic's ribs.
Kay takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matijevic avoids the body shot from Kay.
A big left from Matijevic misses.
Matijevic scores with a kick to the body.
Kay ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kay throws a poor cross that misses
and Matijevic counters with a straight right hand.
Kay displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matijevic throws out the jab.
Kay misses with an uppercut.
Kay looks to land a left hand but Matijevic moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kay throws a lazy uppercut
and Matijevic counters with a right hand to the body.
Matijevic throws a body shot but no joy.
Matijevic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kay looks to clinch
and Matijevic counters with a straight right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kay is defended easily by Matijevic.
Matijevic counters with a body kick.
Kay throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matijevic's waist but Matijevic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kay off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lars Kay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matijevic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic throws a hook but Kay avoids it easily.
Kay fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matijevic on the side of the head.
Matijevic throws out a powerful jab.
Nice jab there from Kay.
Matijevic avoids the body shot from Kay.
Kay swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kay takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kay cracks Matijevic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kay changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Kay scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Matijevic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kay. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kay not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kay is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kay trying to mount his opponent but Matijevic defends it.
Matijevic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kay is nestled in close to Matijevic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kay is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kay is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Matijevic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kay.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kay in particular looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lars Kay will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lars Kay's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Matijevic takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kay misses with a hook
and Matijevic counters with a nice kick to the body.
Matijevic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kay changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kay throws a hook but Matijevic avoids it easily.
Matijevic follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kay throws out a loose jab but Matijevic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kay scores with the left hand. Matijevic knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kay shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matijevic is trying to defend but Kay finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matijevic is not content to let Kay control the position.
Kay lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matijevic felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Kay is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kay is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matijevic taking some punishment here, with Kay in his half guard.
Matijevic trying to control here.
Matijevic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kay.

Kay is working for a submission of some sort.

Kay is trying for a kimura here. Matijevic looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kay wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lars Kay!
An out of breath Lars Kay thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.