PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joesph Matens (ranked 6046 p4p, 4998 weight class) and Paul Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 551 weight class). Paul Herrera looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Matens
vs
Herrera

191 cm
19
193
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Joesph Matens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Herrera!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Herrera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Matens!

Matens throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Herrera keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Herrera pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Matens back to the cage. Herrera follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herrera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joesph Matens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Herrera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matens sprawls well initially but Herrera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Herrera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Herrera is looking for a kimura here.

Herrera wants to work for an arm triangle but Matens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matens's coaches at Cozad MMA London have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera prevents Matens from improving his position.
Herrera wants to pass the guard but Matens is defending well.

Herrera is looking for a kimura here.
Herrera looks winded!
Matens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Matens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Matens has momentary wrist control but Herrera slips an elbow through the middle.

Matens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Herrera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Herrera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Matens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Herrera defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera advances to half guard.

Matens actively working from the bottom here.
Matens wants to control but Herrera is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matens is not content to let Herrera control the position.
Matens wants to control but Herrera is keeping busy.

Herrera postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Matens to stand up.
Matens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Herrera sprawls well. Herrera wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matens gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Herrera scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herrera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Herrera drives through with a takedown into Matens's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Matens is looking for a triangle here but Herrera uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Herrera working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Herrera taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Herrera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Matens is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Herrera defends well.
Herrera controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matens is keeping the position for now.

Matens is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Matens working for a triangle but Herrera defends it easily.
Herrera won't allow Matens to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Matens is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matens looking to control.
Herrera passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Check out the look on Herrera's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Herrera decides to stand back up.
Matens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Matens darts in looking for a takedown but Herrera gets double underhooks and turns Matens into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herrera manages to break the clinch.
Herrera lands a head kick. Matens smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Herrera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Matens was covering up waiting for the punch and Herrera finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Matens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Herrera defends it easily.

Herrera gets to his feet - Matens follows without any prompting.

Herrera manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matens on his heels. He'll look to pass Matens's guard now, I'm sure.
Herrera controlling from the top position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Matens looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Herrera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Herrera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herrera preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Herrera 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!

Herrera throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matens tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Herrera is in Matens's guard.

Matens escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Herrera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Matens is looking for a triangle but Herrera pushes his legs off easily.
Herrera wants to control from the top but Matens keeps moving.

Matens had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Herrera defends it easily.
Paul Herrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herrera lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Herrera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera wants to control from the top but Matens keeps moving.
Herrera throwing strikes from guard but Matens blocks nicely.
Herrera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Matens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Herrera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Herrera looking to sit in guard and control but Matens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Herrera is looking for a triangle but Matens pushes his legs off easily.
Matens controlling from the top position.
Matens forces his way into half guard.
Herrera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matens is working away from the top position though.
Matens looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Herrera with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Herrera is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matens is trying to control. Herrera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Matens is looking for a kimura but Herrera is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matens to get the leverage.
Joesph Matens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Herrera works his way to full guard. Good work.

Matens drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Herrera manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Matens has Herrera in his guard.

Herrera content to stall in guard here.
Herrera stopping the sweep attempt from Matens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Matens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Herrera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Herrera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paul Herrera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Matens has an active guard here but Herrera has managed to pass into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paul Herrera.
Well Herrera 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Herrera!