PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Colm MacTiernan (ranked 4060 p4p, 4116 weight class) and Julio Mata (ranked 455 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

MacTiernan
vs
Mata

194 cm
25
214
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
208
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Colm MacTiernan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Julio Mata!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from MacTiernan misses
and Mata counters with a low kick, right behind MacTiernan 's knee.
MacTiernan swats away the attempt to clinch by Mata.
Mata dodges the punch combination from MacTiernan.
Mata throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mata throws a leg kick but MacTiernan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mata takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
MacTiernan with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Mata clinches up with MacTiernan and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacTiernan tries to work over Mata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
MacTiernan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

MacTiernan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacTiernan misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacTiernan sets himself, and Mata steps forward looking for the clinch! MacTiernan avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacTiernan misses the shot to the body.
Colm MacTiernan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacTiernan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mata moves out of range as MacTiernan strikes.
Mata takes a jab right on the kisser.
MacTiernan looks to throw the jab but Mata is out of range.
MacTiernan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mata swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and MacTiernan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
MacTiernan throws a body punch but Mata moves out of range.
MacTiernan sets himself, and Mata steps forward looking for the clinch! MacTiernan avoids it this time.
MacTiernan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
MacTiernan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacTiernan misses with a looping left.

Mata moves into range and clinches up with MacTiernan.
MacTiernan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matas head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacTiernan misses with a body punch.
MacTiernan tries a body shot but Mata blocks it.

Mata's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
MacTiernan circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from MacTiernan misses the target.
MacTiernan throws a lazy uppercut
and Mata counters with a lovely shot to the body.

MacTiernan clinches.
MacTiernan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
MacTiernan pushes Mata back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
MacTiernan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mata stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
MacTiernan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacTiernan is struggling to control the position.
MacTiernan seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
MacTiernan avoiding damage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with MacTiernan for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Mata escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
MacTiernan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mata connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
MacTiernan swings widly with a right hand
and Mata counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
MacTiernan connects with a single shot there.
MacTiernan looks to throw the jab but Mata is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacTiernan throws an off balance right hand
and Mata counters with a one-two to the body.
MacTiernan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mata was well out of range. Poor timing from MacTiernan.
MacTiernan misses with a wild combination.
Mata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for MacTiernan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

MacTiernan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
MacTiernan controlling the action here for a moment.

Mata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Colm MacTiernan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

MacTiernan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mata counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
MacTiernan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

MacTiernan moves into the clinch.
A short right from MacTiernan on the inside.

Mata's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
MacTiernan looks to throw the jab but Mata is out of range.
MacTiernan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mata looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
MacTiernan lands with a right hand.
A combination from MacTiernan does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacTiernan misses with a lunging right hand
and Mata counters with a series of strikes. MacTiernan will be more careful next time no doubt.
MacTiernan tries to clinch there but Mata circles away.
Mata tries to clinch up.
A slow jab from MacTiernan misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by MacTiernan.
MacTiernan misses with a lunging right hand
and Mata counters with a left and a right that stings MacTiernan.
MacTiernan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mata momentarily.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but MacTiernan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
MacTiernan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mata counters with a stiff right hand.

Mata has closed the distance and engaged MacTiernan in a clinch.

Mata breaks from the clinch.
Colm MacTiernan is winning the standup battle so far.
Mata ducks under a wild hook from MacTiernan.
MacTiernan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mata in his tracks.

MacTiernan clinches up with Mata and pushes him back against the cage.
MacTiernan has a couple of punches blocked by Mata.
Colm MacTiernan has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

MacTiernan manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mata darts in and clinches MacTiernan up against the cage.
Mata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

MacTiernan drives through and clinches with Mata against the cage.
MacTiernan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
MacTiernan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mata backwards.
MacTiernan leaning his opponent against the cage.
MacTiernan content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Mata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacTiernan misses the jab.
MacTiernan misses the jab.
Mata throws a low kick but MacTiernan avoids it.
Mata tries to clinch up.
MacTiernan looks to score with a jab to the body but Mata is just out of range.
MacTiernan throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Mata counter with a right hand.
Mata tries to clinch but MacTiernan moves away
and MacTiernan counters with a nice uppercut.
Mata scores with a jab to the body.
Mata misses with a few strikes there.
Mata doesn't manage to clinch there - MacTiernan circles away.
Mata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
MacTiernan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mata manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
MacTiernan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mata can do to turn this around?
MacTiernan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mata was well out of range. Poor timing from MacTiernan.
Mata throws a fast counter high kick but MacTiernan manages to duck under it in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch but MacTiernan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mata avoids the body shot from MacTiernan.
Mata goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mata ducks under a wild hook from MacTiernan.
Mata misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacTiernan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
MacTiernan swings for the body but Mata moves out of range.
Mata wants to counter with a clinch but MacTiernan pushes him away.
Mata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
MacTiernan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mata moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mata! But no joy.
Mata with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling MacTiernan to score with a decent uppercut.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch but MacTiernan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Colm MacTiernan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

MacTiernan swings widly with a right hand
and Mata counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Julio Mata is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mata uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from MacTiernan.
MacTiernan looks to throw the jab but Mata is out of range.
MacTiernan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mata circles away quickly and effectively.
Mata throws a counter combo.
Mata doesn't manage to clinch there - MacTiernan circles away.
MacTiernan throws a good cross that connects.
Some wild striking there from MacTiernan.
MacTiernan throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mata connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mata lands a leg kick that knocks MacTiernan off balance momentarily.
Mata cracks MacTiernan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mata throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mata tries to keep at a distance but MacTiernan has taken the fight into the clinch.

MacTiernan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but MacTiernan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
MacTiernan throwing a counter right hand but Mata manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like MacTiernan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mata fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacTiernan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mata makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
MacTiernan misses with a few strikes there.
Mata tries to counter by closing the distance.
Mata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from MacTiernan.
MacTiernan lands a nice looking body shot.
A combination from Mata does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mata instigates a clinch.

Mata breaks the clinch.
Mata scores with a shot to the body.
MacTiernan loads up on a big right hand but Mata slips the punch.
MacTiernan throws a hook to the side of Mata's head but Mata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
MacTiernan connects with a right hand. Mata shakes it off.
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!
MacTiernan swings for the body but Mata moves out of range.
Mata doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A combination from MacTiernan does no damage.
Mata lands a jab to MacTiernan's midsection.
Mata lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
MacTiernan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mata manages to avoid it.
MacTiernan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mata counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mata throws a nice head kick!
MacTiernan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
MacTiernan throws a body shot but no joy.
Mata throws out a counter right but MacTiernan avoids it with no problem.
MacTiernan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mata sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mata slips under a jab from MacTiernan.
A punch combination from MacTiernan misses.
Mata wants to counter the offense by MacTiernan and move into the clinch position.
MacTiernan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mata looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from MacTiernan.
Mata lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Mata looks to move away, MacTiernan throws a big counter combo but Mata just gets out of the way.

Mata darts in and clinches MacTiernan up against the cage.

Mata breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mata misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Colm MacTiernan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
MacTiernan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
MacTiernan lands with a shot to the body.
MacTiernan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mata back to the cage. MacTiernan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacTiernan loads up on a big right hand but Mata slips the punch.
Julio Mata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mata throws a lazy uppercut
letting MacTiernan counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Colm MacTiernan.
Well MacTiernan 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colm MacTiernan!
After winning the bout, Colm MacTiernan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.