PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Scuba Chris (ranked 2982 p4p, 136 weight class) and Usko Matonen (ranked 4355 p4p, 210 weight class). Usko Matonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chris
vs
Matonen

173 cm
24
144 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

165 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scuba Chris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chris loads up on a big right hand but Matonen slips the punch.
Matonen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Chris counters with a straight right hand.
Usko Matonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab from Matonen.
Chris tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Matonen has managed to clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Matonen.

Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Chris wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matonen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chris doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matonen throws a sloppy head kick and Chris moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Chris moves forwards but Matonen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matonen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Chris on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Matonen thuds his shin into the meat of Chris's side.
Matonen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chris's sensitive parts.
Chris misses with an uppercut
and Matonen counters with a thumping low kick.
Chris takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Chris moves out of range of the body kick from Matonen.
Matonen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matonen scores with a spinning back kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chris walks into a left hand.
Matonen misses with a kick to the body.
Chris misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Matonen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Matonen moves into the clinch.

Matonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matonen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Matonen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Chris's sensitive parts.
Matonen thumps Chris with a low kick.
Chris seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Matonen throws a sloppy head kick
and Chris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Matonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Matonen has Chris pressed against the cage, preventing Chris from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matonen.
Chris unloads a knee to the mid-section. Matonen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right hand to the body from Matonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matonen.

Chris wants the takedown. Matonen is fighting it off but Chris persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Matonen's guard against the cage.
Matonen seems keen to control Chris's posture.
Matonen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matonen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Chris.
Chris trying to control the position from guard on top but Matonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chris showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Chris throws a strike but Matonen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Matonen has passed into side control.
Matonen is looking to take a break and control but Chris is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee asks Matonen politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Matonen prefers to stall for the moment though.
Chris is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Chris pushes Matonen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Matonen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matonen is staying tight to Chris's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Chris manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matonen's best efforts.
Chris controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Usko Matonen dominated that round.
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.

Chris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chris throws a head kick that misses.
Crunch! Matonen slams his shin into Chris's torso.
Chris takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That kick from Matonen tenderised Chris's leg. Chris is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matonen misses with an uppercut
and Chris counters with a stiff right hand.
Matonen connects with an inside leg kick.
Chris misses with a combination
and Matonen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Matonen tenderised Chris's leg. Chris is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matonen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matonen scores with a jab. Chris acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Chris takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Scuba Chris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Chris is looking to counter punch.
Matonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Chris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen throws a leg kick but Chris moved away.
Chris throwing a counter right hand but Matonen manages to avoid it.
Chris is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Chris on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Chris takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Chris avoids the head kick by Matonen.
Matonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Chris connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chris checks a leg kick.
Usko Matonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matonen cracks Chris with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Chris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chris stalks Matonen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Matonen's face. Matonen staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Matonen.
Chris on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Chris takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Matonen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Matonen misses with a left hand
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matonen fakes the leg kick and cracks Chris in the body.
Chris stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matonen.

Matonen clinches up against the cage.
Matonen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Chris is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matonen lands a shot to the body.
Matonen misses with a punch on the inside.
Chris trying to control the position but instead, Matonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Chris into the cage.
Matonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matonen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Chris's calf.
Matonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chris.
Matonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Matonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Matonen rushes Chris and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Matonen gets underhooks to prevent Chris's takedown attempt.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Chris tries to break the clinch but Matonen is controlling the position.
A short left from Matonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris blocking some punches.
Chris drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matonen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Chris lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Chris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matonen.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Matonen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Matonen closes the distance and pushes Chris back into the cage.
Matonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Chris trying to land knees to the body.

Matonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matonen throws a hook but Chris avoids it easily.
Chris looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Chris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A good leg kick by Matonen.
A decent looking cross lands there for Matonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Usko Matonen 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! This is the final round!

Matonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matonen.
Matonen throws a leg kick
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matonen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Chris counters with a nice uppercut.
Chris jabs Matonen right on the nose. Matonen blinks but takes it well.
Matonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matonen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matonen misses with a left hand
and Chris counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chris moves out of range as Matonen throws a body kick.
Chris is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Chris on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Matonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chris throws a quick counter kick to the body but Matonen avoids it.
Matonen throws an off balance right hand
and Chris connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chris will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Chris swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Matonen throws a leg kick but Chris sees it coming and moves out of range.
Chris was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Matonen tried to score with a low kick but Chris checks it.
Chris throws a counter high kick but Matonen was just alert enough to avoid it.
Matonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Chris.
It looked like Chris was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Chris misses with an uppercut.
Matonen throws a head kick that misses
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matonen throws a head kick that half lands.
Chris takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Matonen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Chris misses the jab.
Matonen cracks Chris with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matonen looks to land a body kick but Chris moved away.
Matonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chris chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matonen can pounce on him.
Chris misses with a few strikes there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matonen lands a leg kick that knocks Chris off balance momentarily.
A low kick from Matonen misses
and Chris cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chris tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen lands with a slapping head kick.
Matonen throws a shot to the body.
Chris throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chris bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Chris appears to be looking for a big counter.
Matonen throws an off balance right hand
and Chris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matonen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Chris takes a step back to recover.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matonen.
Matonen misses with a low kick.
Matonen pushes Chris away with a front kick.
Matonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Matonen connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chris takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chris.
Matonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matonen tries to clinch but Chris moves out of range.
Matonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Donk. Matonen catches Chris right on the button with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matonen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chris moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Scuba Chris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Chris misses with a wild body shot.
Matonen throws a leg kick which misses Chris's front leg but catches the back leg as Chris tries to avoid it.
Usko Matonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Matonen clinches up with Chris and pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Usko Matonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Usko Matonen!
In his post fight interview, Usko Matonen started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.