PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wolfman Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wolfman Jack has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jack
vs
Matinheimo

192 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wolfman Jack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Matinheimo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jack closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jack.

Jack has clasped his hands together around Matinheimo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Matinheimo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jack wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jack tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Jack is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matinheimo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jack passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Matinheimo!

Jack working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Jack wants to finish this one by submission but Matinheimo is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Jack.
Matinheimo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jack avoids the attempt from Matinheimo to control.
Matinheimo working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jack looking for a guillotine from mount but Matinheimo is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matinheimo gets back to half guard.
Jack trying to control from half guard but Matinheimo is working away.
Matinheimo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matinheimo is trying to control but can't.
Jack passes to full mount!
Jack working Matinheimo over with strikes here.
Matinheimo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Jack working for a guillotine from mount but Matinheimo is in no mood to give up.

Jack looking to secure an arm triangle but Matinheimo defends it well.
Jack is breathing heavily.
Jack wants to control the pace but Matinheimo is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack moves to the back position.
Matinheimo tries to break free.
Jack doesn't have the hooks in and Matinheimo manages to turn into his guard.
Matinheimo wants to pass the guard but Jack is keeping the position.

Jack had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Matinheimo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jack Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Matinheimo's back instead.
Matinheimo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Jack jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Matinheimo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Matinheimo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jack off and has taken his back!

Matinheimo has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Matinheimo connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Jack to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack trying to control but not successfully.

Matinheimo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Jack is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Matinheimo gets his way!
Matinheimo is landing with strikes from the back.
Matinheimo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Jack rolls, trying to escape but Matinheimo keeps control of the position.
Matinheimo punishes Jack with strikes from the back mount.

Matinheimo working for the choke.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jack manages to reverse the position and now he's in Matinheimo's guard. Nice work there by Jack.
Matinheimo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Matinheimo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matinheimo is keeping the position for now.
Jack trying to control but Matinheimo is working from the bottom.
Matinheimo looking to control.
Jack trying to control the position from guard on top but Matinheimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jack keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
No luck for Jack with that takedown attempt.
Jack slips a jab from Matinheimo.
Matinheimo lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Wolfman Jack has been cut.
Matinheimo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matinheimo throws a lazy right hand but Jack sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Matinheimo.

Jack feints and as Matinheimo raises his hands in defense, Jack changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jack trying to control the position from guard on top but Matinheimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Matinheimo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wolfman Jack's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matinheimo wants to clinch up but Jack keeps it at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Matinheimo.
Nice defenses there by Jack.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Jack closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Matinheimo tries to roll over but Jack keeps him under control.
Matinheimo lands with a few short shots to the body.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Matinheimo looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Jack pushes past his half guard into mount!
Matinheimo gets back to half guard.
Matinheimo gets back to full guard.

Matinheimo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jack forces his way into half guard.
Matinheimo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Matinheimo looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matinheimo is not content to let Jack control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matinheimo is staying active underneath Jack, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Jack is trying to work for a kimura but Matinheimo is defending well.
Matinheimo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matinheimo wants to sweep but no luck.
Jack wants to pass the guard but Matinheimo is keeping the position.
Matinheimo looking for a sweep. Not yet Matinheimo, not yet.

Jack is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two 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.
Matinheimo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jack is one step ahead there.

Matinheimo is looking for a triangle but Jack pushes his legs off easily.

Jack is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Matinheimo shoots in and bounces Jack off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jack preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jack wants to sweep but no luck.

Jack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matinheimo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jack looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Jack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matinheimo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Matinheimo from controlling successfully.
Jack is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matinheimo scores with a body shot.
Matinheimo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Matinheimo. That snapped Jack's head back.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jack swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matinheimo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Jack counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jack wants to control from the top but Matinheimo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matinheimo looking for subs off his back but Jack has passed one foot through into half guard.
Matinheimo wants to get back to full guard.

Matinheimo looking for submissions off his back.

Jack seems to be working for a kimura but Matinheimo defends the submission attempt.
Matinheimo tries to roll over but Jack keeps him under control.

Jack is looking for a kimura here.

Jack is working for a kimura but Matinheimo is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Matinheimo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wolfman Jack's cut.
That's time! Jack's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Matinheimo connects with a nice looking jab.

Jack shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Matinheimo trying to control here.
Matinheimo wants to improve his position but Jack is controlling well.

Jack seems to be looking for submissions.
Matinheimo tries to roll over but Jack keeps him under control.

Jack is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matinheimo tries to roll over but Jack keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matinheimo moves into full guard.
Jack stopping the sweep attempt from Matinheimo.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Jack with that takedown attempt.
Matinheimo lands a with a good body shot.
Jack blocks a jab.
Wolfman Jack is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matinheimo misses with a straight right.
Nice sprawl there from Matinheimo as Jack shoots in.
Matinheimo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matinheimo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jack uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matinheimo.
Jack defending well as Matinheimo loads up on a big left hand.
Nice straight punches there by Matinheimo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matinheimo.
Matinheimo misses with a hook. Jack ducked under it nicely.
Wolfman Jack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo missing with a left hand there. Jack was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matinheimo jabs at Jack's body.
Jack slips under a jab.
Matinheimo is looking to clinch.
Matinheimo throws a lazy right hand but Jack sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck for Jack with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wolfman Jack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jack fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matinheimo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jack staying out of range there.
Matinheimo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jack slips under a jab.

Matinheimo gets caught flat footed, as Jack shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matinheimo keeping full guard, as Jack tries to pass.
Matinheimo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Matinheimo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jack manages to get himself to full guard.

Jack looking for a guillotine here but Matinheimo defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jack working for a triangle but Matinheimo defends it easily.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Matinheimo from controlling successfully.

Jack escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matinheimo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matinheimo postures up in Jack's guard and throws a big left but Jack blocks it.
Matinheimo works over Jack with some ground and pound from guard.
Matinheimo wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.

Jack manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Matinheimo throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jack closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matinheimo circles away.
Matinheimo throws the left hand but Jack avoids the punch easily.
Matinheimo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matinheimo loads up on a big right hand but Jack slips the punch.
Matinheimo looks to throw the jab but Jack is out of range.
Jack looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matinheimo is fending him off so far but Jack persists. Nope, Matinheimo circles away and we're back to standing.
Jack moves out of range as Matinheimo strikes.
Paavo Matinheimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matinheimo misses with a straight left.
Jack misses with a takedown attempt - Matinheimo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Jack shoots in and bounces Matinheimo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jack won't allow Matinheimo to sweep him here.
Jack slips nicely into half guard.
Jack moves nicely into side control.

Jack thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wolfman Jack showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matinheimo 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Matinheimo!