PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willy Mataitai (ranked 455 p4p, 486 weight class) and Wille Thai (ranked 71 p4p, 78 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.

Mataitai
vs
Thai

195 cm
32
215
23 - 10 - 1

195 cm
32
212
22 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
World class MT
KO power

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Willy Mataitai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mataitai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mataitai's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mataitai duly obliges.

It looks like Wille Thai has been cut.
Thai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mataitai swivels and escapes.
Mataitai throws the left hand but Thai avoids the punch easily.
Mataitai connects with a nice looking jab.
Mataitai swings widly with a right hand
and Thai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mataitai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Willy Mataitai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mataitai thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai dives in and grabs Mataitai's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mataitai pushes down on Thai's head and hops out.
Thai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mataitai.
A telegraphed right hand from Mataitai misses the target.
Thai feints the counter takedown.
The fighters circling - Mataitai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Mataitai.
Mataitai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Mataitai stuns Thai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mataitai throws a looping overhand right but Thai ducks down to avoid it.
Mataitai misses with a hook

and Thai counters with a takedown into side control.
Mataitai stops Thai from passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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

Thai goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mataitai has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Thai but great work by Mataitai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai sneaks back into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mataitai stands up and beckons Thai to join him on the feet.
Mataitai throws a lazy right hand but Thai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mataitai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mataitai tries to avoid it but Thai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mataitai to the ground. Mataitai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mataitai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Willy Mataitai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wille Thai.
Mataitai throws out a loose jab but Thai uses good head movement to avoid it.

Thai looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thai pushing down on Mataitai's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thai moves into full mount! Mataitai won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thai swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Mataitai is now in Thai's guard. A big mistake from Thai there, giving up the dominant position!

Mataitai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thai working for a triangle but Mataitai defends it easily.

Thai has an active guard here but Mataitai has managed to pass into half guard.
Thai is looking for a sweep. Mataitai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thai tries to get to full guard but Mataitai has control of the leg.
Thai is pressing down on Mataitai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Thai working for submissions but it's allowed Mataitai to get to half guard.
Thai is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willy Mataitai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
That's time! Mataitai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thai walks into a stiff left hand from Mataitai.
Mataitai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thai slips under a jab from Mataitai.
A jab from Mataitai misses.

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

Mataitai explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mataitai throws a body punch but Thai moves out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mataitai swings for the body but Thai moves out of range.
Thai gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thai takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Willy Mataitai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thai ducks under a wild hook from Mataitai.
Thai avoids the body shot from Mataitai.
Thai feints a counter leg kick.
Mataitai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mataitai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thai with the counter takedown but Mataitai avoids it easily.
Mataitai rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Thai counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mataitai!

Thai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Thai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mataitai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Willy Mataitai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Mataitai is defending well.

Thai swings around for an armbar but Mataitai sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Thai's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mataitai has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thai is proving hard to escape from.

Thai working for a triangle but Mataitai defends it easily.

Thai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thai isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mataitai stacks Thai on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Mataitai!
Thai is looking for a sweep.
Thai is still trying to improve position.
Thai sneaks back into half guard.
Thai gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Thai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mataitai is aware though and is defending well.

Thai is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Thai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mataitai has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thai is breathing heavily.

Thai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mataitai defends well.

Mataitai decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Thai staying out of range there.
Thai with the counter takedown but Mataitai avoids it easily.
Mataitai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thai was well out of range. Poor timing from Mataitai.
And Thai tries to counter it with a takedown but Mataitai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willy Mataitai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
That's time! Mataitai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thai slips a straight right by Mataitai.
Thai changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mataitai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mataitai. Thai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mataitai misses with a straight right.
Thai slips a jab and a cross from Mataitai.
Thai is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Mataitai scores with a nice right hand.
Mataitai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Thai looking to score a takedown here. Mataitai is defending well but Thai drives through and ends up in Mataitai's guard.

Mataitai pushes Thai off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mataitai shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Thai eats them both and turns towards Mataitai to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mataitai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thai drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mataitai defends it well.
Mataitai throws a jab but it's blocked by Thai.
Thai drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mataitai defends it well.
Willy Mataitai is winning the standup battle so far.
Mataitai throws a shot to the body.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt.

Thai has closed the distance and engaged Mataitai in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mataitai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Mataitai breaks the clinch.
Mataitai missing with a left hand there. Thai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mataitai throws a body shot but no joy.
Thai walks into a straight right hand from Mataitai.
Mataitai throws a lazy right hand but Thai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thai with the counter takedown but Mataitai avoids it easily.
Thai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thai drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mataitai defends it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thai staying out of range there.
Thai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai misses with a straight right.
Thai moves out of range as Mataitai strikes.
Mataitai misses with a straight right.
Thai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thai misses with a takedown attempt - Mataitai sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Willy Mataitai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thai shoots in but no luck this time.
Willy Mataitai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wille Thai.
Mataitai misses with an uppercut. Thai saw that one coming.
Thai is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Thai is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mataitai looks to land a right hand but Thai moved out of range.
Thai is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mataitai connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thai's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mataitai swings for the body but Thai moves out of range.
Thai changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mataitai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mataitai misses with a double jab

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
Thai looking to pass the guard.

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

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willy Mataitai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mataitai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willy Mataitai!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Willy Mataitai made sure he mentioned Brooklyn Apothecary, along with how happy he was to win his fight.