PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Matthers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Connelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patrick Connelly has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marshall Matthers's chin.

Matthers
vs
Connelly

176 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marshall Matthers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Connelly!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthers throws a one two combo.
Matthers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Matthers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Matthers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Matthers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Connelly passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Matthers slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connelly trying to control but Matthers is working from the bottom.
Connelly won't allow Matthers to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matthers has an active guard here but Connelly has managed to pass into half guard.

Matthers looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Matthers gets full guard.
Connelly in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthers trying to keep a closed guard but Connelly is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Connelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Connelly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matthers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Connelly looks gassed!
Connelly stopping the sweep attempt from Matthers.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Connelly pushes Matthers up against the cage in a clinch.
Matthers is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Connelly gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Connelly stops a takedown attempt from Matthers.

Connelly jumps into guard, dragging Matthers to the mat.
Matthers works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connelly is trying to get back to full guard.
Matthers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connelly has hold of Matthers's hands but Matthers slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matthers lands a nice short elbow.

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

Matthers wants to work for an arm triangle but Connelly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matthers scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Matthers stands up from half guard.
Matthers with a poor takedown

and Connelly counters with a shoot takedown. Matthers fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Matthers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connelly throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matthers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matthers is on top in guard.

Matthers gets to his feet - Connelly follows without any prompting.
Matthers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Connelly but Connelly pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matthers lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthers looks to land a combination but Connelly avoids it well.
Matthers misses with a wild combination.
Matthers takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthers throws a lazy head kick

and Connelly counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Matthers's guard now.
Matthers doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Matthers is looking for a triangle but Connelly pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Patrick Connelly will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Connelly doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthers circles away.
Matthers tries for a takedown but Connelly circles away easily
and Connelly counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Matthers tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthers pushes Connelly away with a front kick.

Connelly rushes Matthers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Connelly successfully pulls guard.
Connelly bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthers's guard.
Connelly advances position into side control!
Matthers wants to control but Connelly postures up.

Connelly wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matthers, who protects the arm well.
Matthers looks to move to half guard but instead Connelly has passed into mount! Damn!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthers is looking to get to half guard.
Matthers is working hard here to advance position.
Matthers flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Matthers gets back to half guard.

Matthers is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Connelly pulls his head out easily.
Matthers is pressing down on Connelly's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matthers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Matthers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Connelly is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Connelly thows a big elbow that misses.
Matthers wants to sweep here but Connelly controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthers working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matthers throws a body kick the misses

and Connelly counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matthers wants to get back to his feet.
Matthers misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Matthers tries to get to full guard but Connelly has control of the leg.
Connelly is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Matthers trying to hold on to Connelly's head to control him but Connelly postures up.
Connelly lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connelly prevents Matthers from improving his position.
Connelly passes to side control.
Matthers manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Connelly wants to pass the guard but Matthers is defending well.
Matthers is trying to stand up here but Connelly is controlling him well.
Matthers is pressing down on Connelly's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matthers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matthers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Connelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Matthers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Matthers stuffs the takedown attempt from Connelly. Connelly gets slowly back to his feet.
Matthers tries to clinch

and Connelly moves into the clinch.
Matthers tries to pull guard but Connelly holds him up against the cage and eventually Matthers drops back down to his feet.
Matthers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Connelly prevents it.
Connelly jumps guard but Matthers stands there with Connelly around his waist. Connelly gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Connelly tries to pull guard but Matthers won't allow it.
Marshall Matthers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Connelly.
Connelly jumps guard but Matthers stands there with Connelly around his waist. Connelly gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Matthers - that landed with a thud.

Connelly pulls Matthers into guard.
Matthers looking to sit in guard and control but Connelly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Matthers wants to improve his position but instead Connelly has moved into half guard.

Connelly is looking for a kimura here.
Connelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthers trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Connelly manages to pass to mount!
Patrick Connelly has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matthers is trying to stand up.
Connelly prevents Matthers from getting the reversal.
Matthers wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Connelly landing strikes from the mount and Matthers is in trouble!
Matthers tries to lock up and control but Connelly gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Connelly working Matthers over with strikes here.

Connelly is working for a guillotine from mount but Matthers frees his head quite easily.
Connelly putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Matthers is rocked!
Connelly postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Matthers looks a forlorn figure.
Oh Matthers is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Connelly landing strikes from the mount.
Connelly unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthers regains half guard.
Connelly lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matthers manages to get to full guard.
Matthers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Connelly manages to get himself to full guard.
Matthers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthers trying to control the position from guard on top but Connelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connelly has momentary wrist control but Matthers slips an elbow through the middle.

Matthers gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Connelly pushes Matthers up against the cage in a clinch.

Connelly jumps into guard, dragging Matthers to the mat.
Matthers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Connelly has his foot on Matthers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matthers works his way back into a safe position though.

Matthers has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Connelly to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Matthers is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Connelly pulls down on the head and he's put Matthers to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Patrick Connelly!