PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mojo Jojo (ranked 4270 p4p, 3548 weight class) and Sam Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mojo Jojo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Jojo
vs
Matthews

150 cm
21
135
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
135
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mojo Jojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Summer Carpenter and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jojo's half guard.

Jojo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Matthews perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jojo is looking to improve his position.
Matthews stalling.
Matthews is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Jojo actively working from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jojo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Jojo looking for subs from the bottom but Matthews mounts him!
Matthews tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Jojo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Matthews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jojo is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jojo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Matthews is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jojo, into his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews is looking to stand up but Jojo won't let him.

Jojo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jojo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Matthews got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jojo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matthews has managed to get both his arms back between Jojo's legs - danger averted.

Jojo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jojo has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews controls from within his opponent's guard.

Jojo working for submissions but it's allowed Matthews to get to half guard.

Jojo with the active half guard here but Matthews passes nicely into side control.
Jojo looking for a sweep but Matthews has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Matthews controlling from mount.
Jojo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jojo is desperately trying to improve his position but Matthews has a good base and remains in mount.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet but Jojo is holding on tight.
Jojo tries to hold on but Matthews postures up.
Matthews working the ground and pound effectively.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matthews breaks from Jojo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jojo can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Matthews dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Matthews changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jojo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Matthews is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jojo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jojo is looking to regain half guard here but Matthews keeps moving and retains side control.
Matthews in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jojo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jojo is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews working away.
Jojo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matthews wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jojo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews raining down hammerfists from mount.
Matthews looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sam Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jojo is looking to improve his position but Matthews isn't that keen on the idea.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Matthews working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Matthews scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jojo is working to get back to half guard.
Jojo is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Matthews connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jojo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Matthews lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jojo tries to improve his position but instead Matthews has taken his back!

Matthews looking for the RNC.

Matthews is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Jojo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Jojo for a finish.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews lands with a hammerfist to the side of Jojo's head.
Jojo wants to escape the position.
Matthews is not going to allow Jojo to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jojo breaks Matthews's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Jojo tries to free his leg and advance position but Matthews is retaining full guard.
Jojo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Matthews is doing well to control the position and prevent Jojo from advancing to side control.
Jojo is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jojo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matthews knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Jojo wants to work for an arm triangle but Matthews is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews controlling the position for now.
Jojo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matthews knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Matthews throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Jojo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Jojo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Matthews doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jojo.
Jojo wants to pass to mount but Matthews is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Matthews shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Matthews was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Matthews landing a few strikes.
Matthews working the ground and pound from side control.
Matthews slows the pace down.
Matthews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jojo is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jojo tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Matthews prevents Jojo from getting the reversal.
Jojo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Matthews pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Matthews takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jojo is trying to reverse the position but instead Matthews has taken his back - oops!
Matthews is not going to allow Jojo to sit and survive in this position.
Matthews has the hooks in. Jojo is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Matthews controls the position.
Matthews is trying to stick to Jojo's back but Jojo is turning into Matthews. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Matthews's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jojo.
Jojo trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Jojo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jojo 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.

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

Matthews must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jojo is trying to hold Matthews in close to prevent damage but Matthews has managed to pass into half guard.
Matthews wants to stand up but Jojo is controlling the position.

Jojo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
Jojo is looking to control Matthews's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jojo avoid being mounted?
Matthews controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jojo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Jojo actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Matthews is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Mojo Jojo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jojo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jojo is proving hard to escape from.

Jojo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Matthews uses it to pass to side control.
Jojo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matthews's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jojo wants to sweep but Matthews has passed to side control!
Jojo is looking to regain half guard here but Matthews keeps moving and retains side control.
Matthews cracks Jojo with a big elbow.
Matthews is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Matthews is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Jojo to pass into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matthews 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Matthews!