PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rahj Tirado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Matic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tirado
vs
Matic

164 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rahj Tirado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Matic!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Matic clinches up against the cage.
Matic keeps control of Tirado as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tirado's efforts to push away.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Matic drags the fight down to the ground.
Tirado won't allow Matic to sweep him here.
Tirado trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matic wants to stand up but Tirado is controlling him.
Matic wants to improve his position but instead Tirado has moved into half guard.
Matic wants to improve his position but Tirado is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matic manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Tirado shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tirado is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic defending against the ground and pound.
Matic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tirado not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matic trying to control from the bottom.
Matic is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tirado's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tirado's back!
Matic scores with punches to the body.
Matic lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Tirado.
Tirado is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Matic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matic lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tirado is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matic thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Tirado might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Matic looking to break Tirado's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tirado remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Matic will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Matic. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matic throwing damaging strikes from the back! Tirado could be in trouble here!
Matic controlling the position well here. Tirado rolled but Matic kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matic keeps control of the position as Tirado tries to break free.
Matic just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matic dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matic shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tirado manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Matic tries to free his leg and advance position but Tirado is retaining full guard.
Matic wants to control from the top but Tirado keeps moving.

Matic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rahj Tirado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matic scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matic 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.
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!
Tirado working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tirado keeping full guard, as Matic tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tirado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Matic stands up from Tirado's guard - Matic perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tirado misses with a takedown attempt

and Matic counters with a shoot takedown. Tirado fights it but they end up in guard.

Matic 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.

Matic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tirado shoots and misses

and Matic counters with a shoot takedown. Tirado fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Matic scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matic with a flurry of punches that miss.

Matic decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tirado, up you get!
Tirado tries for a takedown but Matic circles away easily

and Matic counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahj Tirado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matic stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tirado is trying to break the clinch but Matic has him pressed against the cage.

Matic has Tirado pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Matic pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Tirado tumbling to the mat - Matic dives into Tirado's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matic 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tirado tries for a takedown but Matic circles away easily

and Matic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tirado's guard.
Matic works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Matic slows the pace down in half guard.
Josh Matic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Josh Matic just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Matic gets a takedown into half guard.

Matic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tirado doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matic.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Matic in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matic trying to control the action but Tirado is working from the bottom.
Matic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four 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.
Tirado trying to control but Matic postures up.
Well, if Matic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Matic is nestled in close to Tirado, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rahj Tirado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Matic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matic is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Matic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Matic!