PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Mathieu (ranked 14 p4p, 92 weight class) and Jason Hightower (ranked 1 p4p, 7 weight class). Mathieu's entrance music is F*ck Tha Police by NWA. A fine choice. Hightower is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Power. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Mathieu
vs
Hightower

200 cm
32
270
18 - 3 - 0

207 cm
31
252
32 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
© Trap House

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ernesto Mathieu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jason Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Hightower takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mathieu thows a leg kick but Hightower checks it
and Hightower counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Ernesto Mathieu has been cut.
Hightower throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mathieu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've been informed that Hightower 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.
Hightower checks a low kick from Mathieu.
Hightower thinks about the counter body kick.
Mathieu lands with a good body shot.
Mathieu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mathieu seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower throws a poor cross that misses
and Mathieu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A swing and a miss from Hightower.
It appears Mathieu was looking to counter with a kick there.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathieu throws a combination that misses
and Hightower makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mathieu tries to clinch up
and Hightower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
An inside leg kick lands from Mathieu.
Hightower throws a hook to the side of Mathieu's head but Mathieu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu lands a nice shot to the body.
Mathieu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Mathieu throws a wild body kick that Hightower sees coming a mile off.
Hightower thinks about the counter body kick.
Hightower lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Ernesto Mathieu's cut is getting worse.
Mathieu feints and then cracks Hightower's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hightower down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hightower thuds his right hand into Mathieu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hightower ducks right into an uppercut from Mathieu.
Hightower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Mathieu misses its target.
Mathieu throws the kick towards the body but Hightower avoids it.
Mathieu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hightower counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mathieu punishes Hightower's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu connects with a nice looking jab.
Mathieu lands a glancing blow to the side of Hightower's head.
Mathieu misses with the body kick
and Hightower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hightower rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mathieu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mathieu ducks under a wild hook from Hightower.
A counter left hand to the body from Mathieu misses its target.
Hightower swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mathieu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ernesto Mathieu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mathieu throws a lazy uppercut
and Hightower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mathieu wants to clinch
and Hightower counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Ernesto Mathieu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Mathieu connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mathieu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hightower slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathieu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mathieu throws a right and a left that Hightower avoids nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hightower! But no joy.
No joy there for Hightower, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Hightower, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Mathieu cracks Hightower with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Mathieu has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Hightower to stand back up!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathieu throws a leg kick
and Hightower counters with a series of strikes. Mathieu will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch lands to the side of Hightower 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mathieu throws a poor cross that misses
and Hightower counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hightower throws the left hand but Mathieu avoids the punch easily.
Mathieu quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Mathieu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mathieu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hightower.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu throws a right hand that misses
and Hightower counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Jeez, Ernesto Mathieu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Mathieu jabs Hightower right on the nose. Hightower blinks but takes it well.
Mathieu fakes the leg kick and cracks Hightower in the body.
Mathieu lands a nice looking body kick.
Hightower is breathing heavily.
A swing and a miss from Mathieu.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hightower! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower throws out a loose jab but Mathieu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mathieu appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Mathieu feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Hightower sprawling to the canvas! Hightower rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Mathieu finish him?!

Hightower is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hightower throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mathieu counters with a good, hard body kick but Hightower shrugs it off.
Hightower slips under a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mathieu. That's going to slow Hightower down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Mathieu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hightower misses with a right hand
and Mathieu counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Hightower misses.
It appears Mathieu was looking to counter with a kick there.
Mathieu blocks a jab.
Hightower throws a lazy uppercut
and Mathieu counters with a monster head kick that knocks Hightower out cold! He topples like fallen a tree, crashing to the mat! Timbeeeeeerrr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ernesto Mathieu!
Ernesto Mathieu retains his super heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Ernesto Mathieu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.