PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martin Metaxa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Negreanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metaxa comes to the cage accompanied by •99• The Haunted🔫. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Metaxa
vs
Negreanu

185 cm
26
218 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

184 cm
33
215 lbs
26 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
Granite chin

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Metaxa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Negreanu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Metaxa clinches up with Negreanu and pushes him back against the cage.
Metaxa lands with a light punch inside.
Negreanu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Metaxa prevents the takedown attempt.

Negreanu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Negreanu scores with a spinning back kick!
Metaxa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
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!
Metaxa misses with a head kick.
Metaxa is breathing heavily.

Metaxa darts in and clinches Negreanu up against the cage.
Negreanu working hard to break the clinch.
Negreanu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Negreanu.

Negreanu breaks from the clinch.
Metaxa takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Negreanu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Negreanu swings for the body but Metaxa moves out of range.
Metaxa throws a push kick but Negreanu slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negreanu connects with a solid leg kick.
Metaxa checks the leg kick.
Metaxa throws a sloppy head kick and Negreanu moves out of range easily.
Negreanu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Negreanu misses.
Metaxa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Negreanu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Metaxa tries to clinch up but Negreanu circles away and keeps his distance.

Negreanu bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Negreanu tries for a kimura but Metaxa is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Negreanu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Metaxa defending against the ground and pound.

Negreanu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Metaxa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Negreanu goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Metaxa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Negreanu's guard! Nice work there by Metaxa!
Metaxa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Metaxa gets to mount! Negreanu was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Metaxa controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu is working to get back to half guard.
Metaxa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Negreanu can't escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Negreanu wants to hold on but Metaxa pushes him away.
Metaxa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Negreanu fails with a takedown attempt.
Metaxa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Negreanu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martin Metaxa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Metaxa moves into the clinch successfully.
Negreanu has had enough of the clinch but Metaxa keeps him there for the moment.

Negreanu has hold of one of Metaxa's legs. Metaxa is fighting the takedown attempt but Negreanu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Metaxa controlling Negreanu's posture.
Metaxa keeping full guard, as Negreanu tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Negreanu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metaxa wants to sweep here but Negreanu controlling him for the moment.
Metaxa controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Metaxa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Negreanu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Negreanu wants to stand but Metaxa is controlling his posture from full guard.

Metaxa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Metaxa looks to clinch
and Negreanu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Metaxa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Negreanu pushes Metaxa away with a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Negreanu throws a head kick but Metaxa moves out of range.
Negreanu circles away from the clinch attempt

and Negreanu counters with a shoot takedown. Metaxa fights it but they end up in guard.

Negreanu gets to his feet. Metaxa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Metaxa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Negreanu.
Negreanu scores with a push kick.
Negreanu looks to land a right hand but Metaxa moved out of range.
Negreanu circles away from the clinch attempt
and Negreanu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Negreanu or perhaps it was just good defense by Metaxa which made him look bad.
Martin Metaxa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Negreanu.
Negreanu with a jab.
Negreanu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Negreanu throws an off balance right hand
and Metaxa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Negreanu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Metaxa misses with a head kick.
Metaxa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu wants to get back to striking at distance but Metaxa won't allow it.
Negreanu takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice left hand lands by Metaxa.

Negreanu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Metaxa looking to pass the guard.
Metaxa is working hard here to advance position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Negreanu looking to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Negreanu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Negreanu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Metaxa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Negreanu is defended easily by Metaxa.
Negreanu tries to work over Metaxa's front leg with a kick but Metaxa checks it.
A head kick misses from Metaxa.
The fight stays on the outside here - Metaxa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Metaxa is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Metaxa rushes Negreanu and presses him up against the cage.
Metaxa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Metaxa lands a nice elbow.
Metaxa lands a nice elbow.
Metaxa lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metaxa misses with an elbow over the top.
Metaxa lands a hook that snaps the head of Negreanu backwards.
Metaxa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Metaxa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Metaxa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Metaxa lands an elbow inside that Negreanu shrugs off.
Negreanu misses with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Metaxa throws an elbow but misses.
Martin Metaxa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Negreanu tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Negreanu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Negreanu pushes Metaxa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Metaxa.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Metaxa.
Negreanu misses with a punch on the inside.
Metaxa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Negreanu's defenses.
Negreanu blocks a body shot from Metaxa.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Metaxa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Negreanu's brow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Metaxa lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Negreanu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Metaxa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Negreanu fails to pull guard.
Martin Metaxa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Negreanu.
Negreanu tries to throw a body punch but Metaxa avoids it by throwing Negreanu back against the cage.
Metaxa scores with a shot to the side of Negreanu's head.
Negreanu blocks an elbow strike.
Metaxa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Metaxa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Negreanu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Metaxa smiles and moves away.
Metaxa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice defenses there by Metaxa.
Negreanu throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Metaxa closes the distance and pushes Negreanu back into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Metaxa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Negreanu's brow.
Metaxa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Negreanu avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Negreanu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Martin Metaxa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Negreanu working hard to break the clinch.

Negreanu manages to break the clinch.
Negreanu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Metaxa doesn't manage to clinch there - Negreanu circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Negreanu misses the target.
Metaxa is looking to clinch.
Metaxa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Negreanu throws a right hand that misses
letting Metaxa counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa moves in looking to clinch but Negreanu pushes him off.
Metaxa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Negreanu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Negreanu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Metaxa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Metaxa dodges the punch combination from Negreanu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Negreanu just misses with a punch to the body.
Negreanu misses with a takedown attempt - Metaxa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Metaxa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Negreanu 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Negreanu!
Daniel Negreanu decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.