PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Santana (ranked 21912 p4p, 369 weight class) and Usko Matonen (ranked 6246 p4p, 294 weight class). Santana kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Santana
vs
Matonen

155 cm
23
146 lbs
2 - 5 - 2

165 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Matonen gets a clinch.
Matonen is stalling here.
Matonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The referee calls for Matonen to work.
Santana lands a shoulder strike.
Matonen slows down the pace here.
Matonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Matonen.
Santana swings wildly with an uppercut but Matonen uses good head movement to avoid it.

Matonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Santana throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santana looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Matonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Santana sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matonen thumps Santana with a low kick.
Santana looks to land a combination. Matonen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santana moves into range and clinches up with Matonen.
A nice left hand lands by Matonen.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Matonen blocking some punches.

Matonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Santana instigates a clinch.
Santana lands with a light punch inside.
Matonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've been informed that Matonen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Santana swings wildly with an uppercut but Matonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matonen blocks an uppercut.
Matonen digs a right hand into Santana's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Santana's gas tank.
Matonen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matonen.
Matonen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Santana backwards.
Matonen misses with a body punch.

Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Santana gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matonen misses with some punches.
Matonen is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santana.
Matonen misses with the head strike.

Matonen manages to break the clinch.

Matonen gets tackled into the cage by Santana. Santana maintains the clinch.

Matonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good leg kick by Matonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matonen throws a hook but Santana blocks it.
Santana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santana wants to clinch
and Matonen counters with a low kick, right behind Santana 's knee.
Santana looks to clinch
and Matonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Santana wants to clinch but Matonen slips to the side
and Matonen counters with a nice uppercut.
Santana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice body kick there by Matonen.
Santana throws a head kick but Matonen moves out of range.
Santana is breathing heavily.
Matonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matonen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Decent striking displayed by Matonen there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matonen rushes Santana and presses him up against the cage.
Matonen blocks an uppercut.

Matonen manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Santana, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Santana takes one on the button.
Matonen slips a jab and a cross from Santana.
Santana wants to clinch up but Matonen keeps it at a distance.
Santana tries to clinch there but Matonen circles away.
Matonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santana misses with a combination
enabling Matonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Santana shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Santana tries to clinch but Matonen is having none of it.
Matonen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Santana is rocked!
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 cracks Santana on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Santana falls backwards against the cage. Matonen follows up with more strikes that drop Santana to his knees. Matonen keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Santana! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Usko Matonen!
Usko Matonen 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.