PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poker Stars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poker Stars has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Stars

172 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
181 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugh Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Poker Stars!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stars is looking to clinch.

Matthews gets the takedown into side control.
Stars taking a bit of punishment here - Matthews scoring with strikes.
Stars tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stars gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Matthews not doing much here.
Matthews scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Matthews is looking to advance position but Stars won't allow it.
Stars is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stars is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matthews working Stars over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stars defends it well.
Matthews scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stars tries to get to full guard but Matthews has control of the leg.
Matthews seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stars does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Matthews is looking for a kimura here.
Stars on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stars works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stars throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stars is keeping the position for now.
Matthews controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Matthews tries to free his leg and advance position but Stars is retaining full guard.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Stars looking for a sweep. Not yet Stars, not yet.
Matthews connects with a couple of short punches.
Matthews works over Stars with some ground and pound from guard.
Matthews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stars is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stars looking for a sweep. Not yet Stars, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Matthews closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stars tries to bench press Matthews off him but Matthews keeps the position.
Check out the look on Matthews's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but Stars is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stars taking a bit of punishment here - Matthews scoring with strikes.
Stars is looking for a sweep.
Stars struggling a bit here.
Stars is looking for a sweep.
Matthews working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Stars gets caught flat footed, as Matthews shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matthews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stars is keeping the position for now.
Stars has momentary wrist control but Matthews slips an elbow through the middle.
Stars trying to control the position.
Matthews scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Stars keeps moving.

Stars working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stars throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Matthews pushing down on Stars's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matthews pushes Stars up against the cage in a clinch.
Stars tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matthews just stands there and leans against the cage.

Matthews tightens his grip and picks Stars up, before dumping him to the ground. Stars manages to land in guard.
Matthews won't allow Stars to sweep him here.
Matthews's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Matthews won't allow Stars to sweep him here.
Stars keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stars 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stars with a lazy takedown attempt

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stars won't be happy with that.
Matthews scores with a couple of short elbows.
Stars is looking for a sweep.
Matthews works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matthews in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Matthews scores with punches from side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Matthews closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stars wants to control but Matthews postures up.
Stars is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Stars wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but Stars is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stars is trying to maintain the position but Matthews is very close to passing his half guard.
Stars is looking for a sweep. Matthews is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matthews working Stars over with strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Matthews instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stars goes for a takedown in the clinch but Matthews prevents it.
Hugh Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poker Stars.
Matthews prevents the takedown attempt.
Stars is trying to drag Matthews to the mat but Matthews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stars has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matthews is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stars keeps control of Matthews as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stars can't get the takedown.
Matthews prevents a takedown attempt there.

Matthews works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Matthews with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matthews throws a strike but Stars rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matthews holds on and takes a little breather.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Stars tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stars is one step ahead there.
Stars trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews is trying to keep Stars in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stars gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Matthews counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matthews.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stars gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Matthews counters with a shoot takedown. Stars fights it but they end up in guard.
Matthews sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Matthews preventing the sweep.
Hugh Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stars is looking to sweep but instead, Matthews has passed into half guard.
Matthews looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stars with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Matthews is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stars!
Stars can't escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Matthews tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Stars wants to control but Matthews is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stars slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Stars is trying to control but Matthews passes into side control!
Stars gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Stars as he works his way to full guard.
Stars looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matthews working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stars's head.
Stars wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
Matthews stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stars swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stars is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matthews defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Stars keeps moving.
Matthews is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stars is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Stars is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stars misses with a takedown attempt

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Stars keeps moving.
Matthews looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stars looking for a sweep. Not yet Stars, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stars looking to control.
Stars wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Stars looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hugh Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stars is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matthews is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Matthews scores a takedown into full mount!
Matthews looking to control and managing it successfully.
Poker Stars has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthews could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stars is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matthews has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugh Matthews!