PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Cherry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Black comes into the arena with Disturbed - Indestructible blaring out of the sound system. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Black
vs
Cherry

190 cm
19
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Don Cherry!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black tries a head kick but it misses.
Cherry fails with the takedown.
Black throws a nice inside leg kick.
Black throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Black tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cherry was well out of range. Poor timing from Black.
Cherry looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Black. That's going to slow Cherry down.
Black scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Black looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry dives in and grabs Black's left leg, looking for a takedown. Black pushes down on Cherry's head and hops out.
Matt Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Cherry.
Cherry changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Black tries to avoid it but Cherry manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Black to the ground. Black escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cherry blocks a head kick by Black.
Black misses with a low kick.
Black throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Don Cherry has been cut.
Cherry shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Black as he jumps to the side.
Cherry tries to clinch there but Black circles away.
Black throws a hook to the side of Cherry's head but Cherry sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Cherry checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cherry avoids the body shot from Black.
Black fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cherry checks it well.
Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Cherry tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Black misses with a jab, cross combination.
Black attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Black scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cherry looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cherry's sensitive parts.
Black misses with a hook.
Cherry takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Black will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cherry slips a jab and a cross from Black.
A head kick misses from Black.
Black pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Black throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cherry is trying desperately to land a takedown but Black is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Cherry.
Black tried to score with a low kick but Cherry checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cherry is defended easily by Black.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black throws a sloppy head kick and Cherry moves out of range easily.
Black misses with a hook. Cherry ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cherry fails with the takedown.
Black defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cherry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Don Cherry's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick misses from Black.
Nice jab there from Cherry.
Black looks to land a combination but Cherry avoids it well.
Cherry doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cherry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Black tries a head kick but it misses.
Black tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Cherry drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cherry won't allow Black to sweep him here.
Black keeping moving, preventing Cherry from controlling successfully.
Cherry 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cherry manages to get himself to full guard.
Black would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cherry is pulling down on Black's head. It's preventing any offense from Black, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cherry working a defensive guard here.

Black gets to his feet - Cherry follows without any prompting.
Black throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matt Black seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheers as Cherry lands an impressive looking overhand right. Black doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry shoots in but Black avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cherry uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Black.
Cherry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matt Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Cherry.
Cherry takes one to the chin there.
A head kick misses from Black.

Cherry moves into range and clinches up with Black.
Cherry tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cherry is breathing heavily.
Cherry goes for a takedown attempt but Black pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Black misses with a body shot.

Cherry 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.
Cherry trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Cherry postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Black dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Don Cherry's cut.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Black misses.
Cherry shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black throws a head kick that misses.
Good work by Cherry as he checks the leg kick.
Matt Black is winning the standup battle so far.
Black throws a low kick but Cherry avoids it.
Cherry chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Black can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A leg kick checked by Cherry.
Black lands a head kick. Cherry smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Black scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cherry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black stuffs the takedown attempt from Cherry. Cherry gets slowly back to his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cherry checks a leg kick.
Cherry's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Black misses with a series of wild punches.

Cherry gets a takedown into half guard.
Cherry looks to land a strike but Black avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Cherry is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Don Cherry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cherry working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cherry is fighting to break Black's control of his arms but Black is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cherry looking to pass the guard.
Cherry throws a strike but Black rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cherry looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Black tries to stand but Cherry is controlling from the bottom.

Black decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cherry, up you get!
Black throws a solid leg kick but Cherry takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Black.
Black swings for the body but Cherry moves out of range.
Black lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cherry circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cherry shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matt Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Cherry.
Black throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Black pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cherry shoots for a takedown but Black saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matt Black is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Black, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Black!