PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Matthews (ranked 2107 p4p, 2933 weight class) and Semen Voribiev (ranked 122 p4p, 172 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matthews
vs
Voribiev

185 cm
25
145
2 - 1 - 0

163 cm
25
135
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hugh Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Semen Voribiev!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews moves into the clinch.

Voribiev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matthews manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matthews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Voribiev postures up and lands a big shot to Matthews's brow.
Voribiev stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
Matthews is trying to keep Voribiev in close.
Voribiev stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
Voribiev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Matthews looking for a guillotine here but Voribiev defends easily.
Matthews wants to hit a sweep here but Voribiev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Matthews there!
Voribiev lands a big shot there that rocks Matthews but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Voribiev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Matthews is looking to improve his position.
Voribiev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Matthews is pressing down on Voribiev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matthews controls Voribiev momentarily but Voribiev frees himself.
Voribiev lands a couple of digs.
Voribiev stands up over Matthews, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Voribiev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Voribiev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matthews's head.
Voribiev trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voribiev throws a big elbow that misses.
Voribiev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matthews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Voribiev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Voribiev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Voribiev chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Voribiev trying to control here.

Matthews is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Voribiev controlling the position well.
Voribiev wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voribiev tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Matthews has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Matthews wants to finish this one by submission but Voribiev is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Matthews.
Matthews moves to take his opponent's back.
Voribiev tries to roll but Matthews sticks to his back.

Voribiev defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voribiev scoring with punches and elbows.
Matthews gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Matthews looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Voribiev working the head and body with strikes.
Matthews is pressing down on Voribiev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Voribiev preventing the sweep.
Matthews really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Voribiev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Voribiev working some strikes from top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Semen Voribiev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matthews drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Matthews tries for a kimura but Voribiev is defending well.

Matthews thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Voribiev wants to control but Matthews postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voribiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but Voribiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Voribiev is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Matthews has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Voribiev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Voribiev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Matthews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Voribiev is staying active underneath Matthews, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Voribiev is trying to control but can't.
Voribiev tries to roll over but Matthews keeps him under control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Voribiev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Voribiev is still trying to improve position.

Matthews is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Voribiev is just riding it out for now. Matthews eventually gives up the hold.

Matthews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voribiev tries to get to full guard but Matthews has control of the leg.

Matthews seems to be looking for submissions.
Voribiev wants to sweep but Matthews has passed to side control!

Matthews working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Matthews is trying to get an arm triangle but Voribiev is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matthews trying to control the position but Voribiev is working away.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matthews looking to control but instead Voribiev has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Voribiev is defending well.

Matthews is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Voribiev is just riding it out for now. Matthews eventually gives up the hold.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Voribiev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Voribiev wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

Matthews is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Voribiev defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matthews throws his legs up looking for a submission but Voribiev uses it to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voribiev taking a break here but Matthews is having none of it and regains half guard.
Matthews gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews looking to control.
Voribiev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Matthews's head.

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

Matthews is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Voribiev is aware though and is defending well.
Voribiev trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Voribiev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Voribiev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Voribiev with a nice head shot there.
Voribiev chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Voribiev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Voribiev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Voribiev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Voribiev won't allow Matthews to sweep him here.
Voribiev distracts Matthews with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Voribiev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Voribiev trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews wants to sweep here but Voribiev controlling him for the moment.
Voribiev lands a couple of digs.
Voribiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matthews looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voribiev connects with a couple of short punches.

Matthews is rocked!
Voribiev landing some decent shots from guard.
Oh Matthews is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Matthews is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Voribiev defends well.
Matthews seems to have got his legs back now.
Voribiev works over Matthews with some ground and pound from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matthews is on top in guard.

Voribiev pulls Matthews in close to prevent any damage.
Voribiev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthews's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matthews has momentary wrist control but Voribiev slips an elbow through the middle.
Voribiev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Voribiev manages to get himself to full guard.

Matthews wants to control from the top but Voribiev keeps moving.
Voribiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews stands and throws Voribiev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Voribiev is being controlled here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Semen Voribiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Voribiev 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Semen Voribiev!
Our winner, Semen Voribiev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.