PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marlon Mattias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Espiritu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marlon Mattias has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mattias
vs
Espiritu

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Advantage XXX nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marlon Mattias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas Espiritu!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Espiritu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Espiritu throws a series of punches but Mattias avoids them all with ease.
Espiritu shoots in for a double leg but Mattias sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Espiritu lands a two punch combo.
Mattias lands a big uppercut and Espiritu crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Espiritu looks OK.

Espiritu is rocked!

It looks like Nicholas Espiritu has been cut.
Espiritu trying to control but Mattias postures up.
Espiritu is still in real trouble! Can Mattias finish him?
Espiritu manages to get to full guard.
Mattias postures up and lands a big shot to Espiritu's brow.
Mattias won't allow Espiritu to get back to his feet.
Mattias postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Espiritu wants to stand but Mattias is controlling the position.
Espiritu looks gassed!
Mattias with a flurry of punches that miss.
Espiritu seems to have recovered his senses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Espiritu can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mattias content to stall in guard here.
Espiritu keeping moving, preventing Mattias from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattias prevents Espiritu from getting back to his feet.
Mattias seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mattias lands a couple of digs.
Mattias has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mattias stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Espiritu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mattias drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mattias jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mattias trying to control but Espiritu is working from the bottom.
Mattias stays in close to Espiritu's body and controls the position.
Mattias trying to control the position from guard on top but Espiritu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mattias tries to free his leg and advance position but Espiritu is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Espiritu wants to control but Mattias passes easily into half guard.
Espiritu wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mattias tries to close the distance and clinch but Espiritu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Espiritu ducks under a wild hook from Mattias.
Mattias keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Espiritu looks to land a combination but Mattias avoids it well.
Espiritu tries to bum rush Mattias with a series of wild strikes but Mattias uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Espiritu tries for a takedown but Mattias sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marlon Mattias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicholas Espiritu.
Espiritu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mattias's waist but Mattias gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Espiritu off to one side.
Espiritu misses with a wild combination.
Espiritu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Espiritu misses with a series of wild punches.
Espiritu scores with a one two! Mattias had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mattias clinches with his opponent.

Mattias breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mattias missing with a left hand there. Espiritu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice sprawl there from Mattias as Espiritu shoots in.
Espiritu tries for a takedown but Mattias sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Espiritu looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mattias tries to clinch but Espiritu is having none of it.
Espiritu tries for a takedown but Mattias sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Espiritu or perhaps it was just good defense by Mattias which made him look bad.

Mattias closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mattias is looking to take a break and control but Espiritu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Espiritu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mattias. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mattias is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Espiritu is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Mattias is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Espiritu has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espiritu sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Espiritu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Espiritu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Espiritu wants to stand but Mattias is controlling the position.
Mattias looking to pass the guard.

Espiritu pushes Mattias off and scrambles back to his feet.
Espiritu tries for a takedown but Mattias circles away easily

so Mattias counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mattias wants to control from the top but Espiritu keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Mattias dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicholas Espiritu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Espiritu looks for a takedown but Mattias sprawls well.
Espiritu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mattias.
Espiritu shoots in looking for a takedown. Mattias tries to sprawl out of it but Espiritu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mattias manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mattias feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Espiritu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Espiritu trying to control the position.
Espiritu is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mattias postures up and lands a big shot to Espiritu's brow.
Mattias advances position into side control!
Mattias working the body and head with strikes.
Espiritu is breathing heavily.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espiritu taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Espiritu is trying to improve his position.
Mattias working the head with strikes.
Mattias working away.
Espiritu trying to control but Mattias flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Espiritu trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Mattias lands shots from the back.
Mattias controlling well, preventing Espiritu from escaping the position.
Mattias lands shots from the back.

Mattias has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Espiritu covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Espiritu rolls, trying to escape but Mattias keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mattias is not going to allow Espiritu to sit and survive in this position.
Espiritu is really stuck here.
Espiritu trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Mattias is working the ground and pound. Can Espiritu escape?
Mattias gets his hands free as Espiritu looks to control.

Mattias is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Espiritu just trying to survive but Mattias is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Espiritu is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Mattias punishes Espiritu with strikes from the back mount.
Mattias trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Espiritu tries to escape but Mattias has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mattias softening up his opponent with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espiritu trying to control the hands but Mattias breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espiritu grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Espiritu trying to control the action but Mattias just sinks the hooks in.
Mattias really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Espiritu.
Espiritu tries to escape but Mattias has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Mattias has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Mattias is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Mattias controlling well, preventing Espiritu from escaping the position.
Mattias missing with punches from the back.
Espiritu has hold of Mattias's arm. He needs to escape this position sooner or later but for now he's happy enough to control the position and prevent the submission attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espiritu covers up after that shot from Mattias.
Mattias punches the canvas rather than the man.
Espiritu rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Espiritu controlling the position well.
Mattias looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Espiritu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mattias perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Espiritu trying to hold on to Mattias's head to control him but Mattias postures up.
Mattias tries to pass the half guard into mount. Espiritu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mattias not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mattias prevents Espiritu from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Mattias dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nicholas Espiritu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Espiritu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mattias tries to clinch up.
Espiritu lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Mattias fails in his attempt to clinch.
Espiritu tries to bum rush Mattias with a series of wild strikes but Mattias uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A nice combination there by Espiritu.
Mattias tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Espiritu paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mattias darts in and clinches Espiritu up against the cage.
Mattias pushes off an throws an elbow but Espiritu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mattias tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mattias tries a knee to the head but Espiritu blocks it.
Mattias tries to score a body lock takedown but Espiritu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mattias escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mattias feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mattias sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Espiritu trying to keep a closed guard but Mattias is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espiritu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mattias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mattias being controlled here momentarily.
Mattias stopping the sweep attempt from Espiritu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Espiritu moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Espiritu throws a series of strikes that have Mattias backpedaling.

Espiritu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Espiritu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espiritu postures up.

Mattias working for a triangle but Espiritu defends it easily.
Espiritu stopping the sweep attempt from Mattias.
Espiritu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Espiritu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mattias swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mattias will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mattias is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mattias trying to control from half guard but Espiritu is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mattias is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Espiritu is trying to control but can't.
Espiritu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Espiritu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Espiritu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mattias preventing the sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Espiritu lands with a nice combination. Mattias backs away looking to recover.
Espiritu has his takedown stuffed

and Mattias counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mattias working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Espiritu's head.
Mattias prevents Espiritu from getting back to his feet.
Marlon Mattias overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mattias stopping the sweep attempt from Espiritu.
Nicholas Espiritu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espiritu wants to get back to his feet but Mattias is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Espiritu looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Espiritu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mattias tries to clinch there but Espiritu circles away.
Mattias tries to close the distance and clinch but Espiritu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mattias drives through and clinches with Espiritu against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mattias using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Espiritu is trying to break the clinch but Mattias has him pressed against the cage.
Espiritu misses with a body punch.
Mattias landing knees to the body.
Espiritu tries to break the clinch but Mattias is controlling the position.
Espiritu throws a punch but it's blocked by Mattias.
Espiritu scores with a shot to the side of Mattias's head.

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 Marlon Mattias.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mattias, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marlon Mattias!