PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Mattson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luka Vainio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mattson
vs
Vainio

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
246 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Mattson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luka Vainio!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mattson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mike Mattson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mattson tries to keep at a distance but Vainio has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vainio tightens his grip and picks Mattson up, before dumping him to the ground. Mattson manages to land in guard.
Mattson trying to keep a closed guard but Vainio is proving a slippery customer.
Vainio won't allow Mattson to sweep him here.

Vainio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vainio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vainio wanted to stand there but Mattson had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mattson is on top in guard.
Mattson cracks Vainio with a solid left hand.
Mattson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vainio is keeping the position for now.

Vainio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mattson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mattson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mattson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vainio trying to keep a closed guard but Mattson is proving a slippery customer.
Mattson passes Vainio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mattson lands a nice short elbow.
Mattson lands with a punch from half guard.
Vainio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mattson.

Vainio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vainio looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mattson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mattson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vainio to regain full guard.

Mattson stands and steps away. Vainio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Vainio has managed to clinch.
Mattson stops a takedown attempt from Vainio.
Mattson is trying to break free.
Mattson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vainio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mattson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Vainio gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mattson regains guard.

Mattson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vainio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vainio manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vainio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vainio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vainio postures up in Mattson's guard and throws a big left but Mattson blocks it.
Vainio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mattson looking for subs off his back but Vainio has passed one foot through into half guard.

Vainio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Vainio wants to free his trapped foot but Mattson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mattson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vainio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mattson is looking to control Vainio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mattson avoid being mounted?
Vainio is looking to take a break and control but Mattson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mattson is looking for a sweep. Vainio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mattson gets back to full guard.
Mattson looking for a sweep. Not yet Mattson, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Mattson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mattson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mattson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vainio checks the leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mattson.

Vainio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Vainio wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mattson, who protects the arm well.
Mattson is looking for a sweep.
Mattson is not content to let Vainio control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mattson tries to buck Vainio off but Vainio is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vainio trying to control the action but Mattson is working from the bottom.
Mattson tries to improve position but can't.
Vainio is working Mattson over with some ground and pound from side control.

Vainio tries for a kimura but Mattson is defending well.
Mattson sneaks back into half guard.
Mattson has his hands clasped together around Vainio's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mattson tries to roll over but Vainio keeps him under control.
Mattson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Vainio has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Vainio is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Mattson closes the distance and clinches.

Vainio lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Vainio wants to pass to mount but Mattson is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vainio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mattson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vainio stopping the sweep attempt from Mattson.

Mattson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mattson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vainio advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mattson is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mattson regains half guard.
Vainio trying to control the action but Mattson is working from the bottom.
Mattson is looking for a sweep. Vainio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vainio is looking to take a break and control but Mattson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mattson gets full guard.
Mattson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vainio's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Vainio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vainio closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vainio lands in his opponent's guard.
Vainio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mattson wants to sweep here but Vainio controlling him for the moment.

Mattson looking for a guillotine here but Vainio defends easily.

Vainio gets to his feet. Mattson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Vainio moves into the clinch.

Vainio gets control of Mattson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vainio will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vainio's guard.
Vainio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mattson.
Vainio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vainio keeping moving, preventing Mattson from controlling successfully.
Mattson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mattson trying to control but Vainio is working from the bottom.
Vainio is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mattson misses with a takedown attempt

and Vainio counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mattson won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mattson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vainio's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
It looks like Vainio is going to stand back up.
Luka Vainio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mattson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mattson.
Mattson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vainio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mattson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vainio trying to control but Mattson is working from the bottom.
Mattson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mattson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vainio tries to clinch but Mattson moves away

and Mattson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vainio won't be happy with that.
Vainio is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vainio is being controlled here.
Vainio prevents Mattson from improving position.
Mattson avoids the strikes from the bottom by Vainio.

Mattson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Vainio is not content to let Mattson control the position.
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.
Vainio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mattson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mattson grinds an elbow into Vainio's temple.
Vainio throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Mattson landing strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vainio is looking to clinch but Mattson is avoiding it.
Vainio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mattson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luka Vainio.
Well Vainio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Vainio!