PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bull Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Matthews (ranked 0 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.

Conner
vs
Matthews

190 cm
19
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 New York, Bull Conner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matthews misses with a double jab.
Conner motions for Matthews to come forward. Conner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Conner misses with a double jab
and Matthews counters with a one-two to the body.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Conner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conner shoots for a double leg takedown but Matthews sprawls well. He's pushed Conner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Conner misses with a looping right.
Conner moves out of range of the strikes.

Conner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Conner is looking to advance position but Matthews won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Conner wants to advance to full mount but Matthews doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matthews is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Conner dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews being controlled for a moment.
Matthews is trying to buck Conner off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kevin Matthews will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
A cross from Matthews lands.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Conner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthews scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matthews misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Conner counters with a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matthews lands with a hook. Conner tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Conner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matthews throws out the jab.
Conner connects with a body shot.
Matthews scores with the left hand. Conner knows he should have avoided that one.
Conner defending well as Matthews loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews drives through and clinches with Conner against the cage.
Matthews tries to pull guard but Conner holds him up against the cage and eventually Matthews drops back down to his feet.
Matthews is looking to break free of the clinch but Conner has double underhooks.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Conner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matthews sprawls well initially but Conner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Conner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Conner is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews won't allow Conner to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bull Conner dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Conner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
Conner moves away from the strike by Matthews.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthews fails with the takedown.
Matthews cracks Conner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Matthews forces Conner back against the cage and clinches.
Matthews can't get the takedown.
Conner tries to break the clinch but Matthews is controlling the position.

Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matthews is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Conner.
Matthews uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Conner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Matthews.
Matthews with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Conner to score with a decent uppercut.
Matthews throws a hook but Conner avoids it easily.
Matthews slips a jab from Conner.
Matthews shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Conner pinned against the cage. Conner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bull Conner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Matthews.
Matthews lands a body shot.
Matthews scores with a hook to the body. Conner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kevin Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matthews.
Conner circles away from the clinch attempt
and Conner counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Matthews. No joy for Conner on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Matthews misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matthews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Conner moves away from the strike by Matthews.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Conner counters with a stiff right hand.
Bull Conner is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but Conner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Conner moves away from the strike by Matthews.
Matthews misses the shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Conner.
Matthews takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Conner was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Conner staying out of range there.
Matthews tries to bum rush Conner with a series of wild strikes but Conner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matthews is looking to clinch.
Conner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Conner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
A combination from Conner does no damage.
Conner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Conner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews misses with a double jab

and Conner counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Conner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matthews keeps working.
Matthews tries to kick Conner off but Conner keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Matthews has one foot on Conner's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bull Conner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Conner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bull Conner!