PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lothar Matthaus (ranked 5381 p4p, 3730 weight class) and Kyrylo Lyashenko (ranked 548 p4p, 474 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Matthaus
vs
Lyashenko

182 cm
19
208
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
214
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

IC&E 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lothar Matthaus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kyrylo Lyashenko!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lyashenko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lyashenko tries to throw a body punch but Matthaus avoids it by throwing Lyashenko back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lyashenko.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Matthaus takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lyashenko blocks a body shot from Matthaus.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
Matthaus prevents a body shot from Lyashenko.
Lyashenko scores with a shoulder strike.
Lyashenko has Matthaus pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lyashenko.
Lyashenko receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Lyashenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matthaus goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthaus.
Matthaus swings wildly with an uppercut but Lyashenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthaus lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lyashenko swings wildly with an uppercut but Matthaus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthaus takes a shot to the head.
Matthaus makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lyashenko stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthaus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthaus misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
Matthaus lands a body punch.
Matthaus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lyashenko is trying to stall.
Matthaus works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lyashenko.
Lyashenko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Matthaus up against the cage.
Lyashenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matthaus lands with a light punch inside.
Lyashenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lyashenko struggles to land a body shot inside as Matthaus controls his hands.
A short right from Matthaus on the inside.
Matthaus misses with some punches.
Lyashenko is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lyashenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthaus scores with a shot to the side of Lyashenko's head.
Matthaus tries to work over Lyashenko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matthaus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lyashenko backwards.
Matthaus misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthaus.
Matthaus lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lyashenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Matthaus gets an underhook and turns Lyashenko into the cage.
Matthaus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matthaus lands a left hand.
Lyashenko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lyashenko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Matthaus - that landed with a thud.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
Matthaus tries a body shot but Lyashenko blocks it.
Matthaus swings wildly with an uppercut but Lyashenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthaus lands a shoulder strike.
Lyashenko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Matthaus has a couple of punches blocked by Lyashenko.
Matthaus misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyashenko lands a left hand.
Lyashenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Matthaus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
Matthaus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lyashenko misses with a body punch.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
We've been informed that Lyashenko has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lyashenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lyashenko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Matthaus.
Matthaus lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lyashenko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Matthaus is trying to stall.
Lyashenko lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Lyashenko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyashenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Matthaus lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lyashenko looking to stall.
Lyashenko cracks Matthaus with a nice body shot.
Matthaus pushes Lyashenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Matthaus misses with some punches.
Matthaus misses with some punches.
Lyashenko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.
Lyashenko slows down the pace here.
Matthaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Matthaus lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Matthaus.
Matthaus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lyashenko.
Matthaus misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matthaus connects with a crisp jab.
Lyashenko misses with a straight right.
Matthaus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Matthaus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lyashenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
Lyashenko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lyashenko stalls.
Matthaus working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lyashenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Matthaus gets an underhook and turns Lyashenko into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
Matthaus goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matthaus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matthaus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lyashenko can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthaus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matthaus working aggressively here.
Lyashenko's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lyashenko working aggressively here.
Lyashenko scores with a shot to the side of Matthaus's head.
Lyashenko stalling in the clinch.
Lyashenko misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyashenko's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lyashenko stalling in the clinch but Matthaus improves position.
Matthaus being controlled against the cage.
Matthaus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Matthaus.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.
Matthaus working aggressively here.
Matthaus can't find room to land a body shot as Lyashenko controls the action.
Matthaus lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Matthaus lands a left hand.
Matthaus working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Matthaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Lyashenko lands a left hand.

It looks like Lothar Matthaus has been cut.
Matthaus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lyashenko controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthaus makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Matthaus throws a punch but it's blocked by Lyashenko.
Matthaus lands with a left to the head.
Matthaus takes a shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Matthaus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matthaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Lyashenko leaning against his opponent.
Matthaus lands a body punch.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
Lyashenko lands a left hand.
Matthaus struggles to land a body shot inside as Lyashenko controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Lyashenko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lyashenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matthaus prevents a body shot from Lyashenko.
A bit of stalling here from Matthaus.
Matthaus throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matthaus creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.
Lyashenko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lyashenko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lyashenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matthaus misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Lyashenko on the inside.
Lyashenko has Matthaus pushed against the cage.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Lyashenko.
Lyashenko lands a nice uppercut.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
Lyashenko cracks Matthaus with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lyashenko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matthaus backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Matthaus fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthaus working aggressively here.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
Lyashenko stalling in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lyashenko lands a body punch.
Lyashenko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lyashenko just leaning against Matthaus, taking a breather.
Matthaus has a couple of punches blocked by Lyashenko.
Matthaus taking a breather.
Lyashenko lands an uppercut.
Matthaus can't find room to land a body shot as Lyashenko controls the action.
Lyashenko stalling in the clinch.
Lyashenko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lyashenko controlling the action here for a moment.
Lyashenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Matthaus takes a shot to the head.
Matthaus working aggressively here.
Lyashenko manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
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 Lothar Matthaus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lothar Matthaus's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lyashenko is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Lyashenko misses the target.
Lyashenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lyashenko misses with a looping right.
Matthaus scores with a jab to the body.
Matthaus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lyashenko. Matthaus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lyashenko wants to clinch.
Matthaus went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Matthaus pushes Lyashenko up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Matthaus.
Matthaus is looking to control Lyashenko's arms but Lyashenko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Matthaus has his back to the cage.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
Lyashenko stalls.
Matthaus struggles to land a body shot inside as Lyashenko controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyashenko looking to stall.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
Matthaus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lyashenko blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Matthaus.
Matthaus lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lyashenko wants to stall.
Matthaus trying to stall but Lyashenko improves his position.
Lyashenko taking a breather.
Lyashenko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Matthaus misses with the head strike.
Matthaus tries a body shot but Lyashenko blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lyashenko.
Matthaus tries to throw a body punch but Lyashenko avoids it by throwing Matthaus back against the cage.
Matthaus lands a body punch.
Matthaus misses with a body punch.
Lyashenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthaus blocks a body shot from Lyashenko.
Lyashenko misses with a body punch.
Lyashenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lyashenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lyashenko lands with a short shot to the head.
Lyashenko trying to stall but Matthaus improves his position.
Matthaus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matthaus blocking some punches.
Matthaus can't find room to land a body shot as Lyashenko controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lyashenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lyashenko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthaus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lyashenko is leaning against Matthaus and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lyashenko stalling.
Lyashenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matthauss head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lyashenko struggles to land a body shot inside as Matthaus controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matthaus.
A right hook to the body lands for Matthaus.
Lyashenko is looking to control Matthaus's arms but Matthaus gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lyashenko has his back to the cage.
Matthaus throws a punch but it's blocked by Lyashenko.
Lyashenko works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lyashenko scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lyashenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.
Lyashenko's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kyrylo Lyashenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lyashenko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Matthaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Lyashenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Lyashenko as the two fighters clinch.
Lyashenko misses with a body punch.
Lyashenko pushes Matthaus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Lyashenko.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Lyashenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matthauss head.
Matthaus presses Lyashenko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lyashenko blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lyashenko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lyashenko is pushing Matthaus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lothar Matthaus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lyashenko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Matthaus throws a punch but it's blocked by Lyashenko.
A shot in the inside from Lyashenko.
A short left from Lyashenko.

Matthaus is rocked!
Matthaus stalling in the clinch but Lyashenko improves position.
Oh Matthaus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A left hand lands to the body for Matthaus.
Lyashenko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matthaus backwards.
Lyashenko lands an uppercut.
Lyashenko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matthauss head.
Lyashenko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lyashenko lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Matthaus to his knees! Lyashenko keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kyrylo Lyashenko!
Kyrylo Lyashenko gave a mention to IC&E Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).