PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stefano Spinelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stefano Spinelli could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to David Matthews's chin.

Spinelli
vs
Matthews

179 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition
S.W.A.T.

Valhalla War Gear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stefano Spinelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spinelli lands a two punch combo.

Matthews is rocked!

It looks like David Matthews has been cut.
Matthews looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Spinelli.
Matthews is still on wobbly legs! Can Spinelli finish him?
Stefano Spinelli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spinelli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matthews's waist but Matthews gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Spinelli off to one side.

Spinelli moves into the clinch.
Matthews seems to have recovered his senses.

Matthews has picked Spinelli up - he's going for a ride! Matthews dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Spinelli trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.
Spinelli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Spinelli.
Spinelli has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Spinelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spinelli is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Spinelli looking for a sweep. Not yet Spinelli, not yet.
Spinelli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Matthews!
Matthews manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Spinelli sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Spinelli trying to control from half guard but Matthews is working away.
Matthews wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spinelli slows the pace down in half guard.
Matthews gets full guard.

Matthews looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Spinelli is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Spinelli's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matthews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spinelli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Stefano Spinelli just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Spinelli shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matthews's guard.
Spinelli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Matthews looking for a guillotine here but Spinelli defends easily.

Matthews looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Spinelli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matthews trying to keep a closed guard but Spinelli is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Spinelli sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spinelli wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Spinelli connects with a couple of short punches.
Spinelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spinelli passes Matthews's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Spinelli is keen to just control but Matthews is a slippery customer.
Matthews is looking to control Spinelli's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matthews avoid being mounted?
Spinelli lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefano Spinelli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Matthews's cut.
That's time! Spinelli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Spinelli wants to clinch.

Spinelli clinches with his opponent.
Matthews prevents the takedown attempt.
Matthews fails to pull guard.

Spinelli wants the takedown. Matthews is fighting it off but Spinelli persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Matthews's guard against the cage.
Spinelli 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.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet but Spinelli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matthews looking to control but Spinelli passes into half guard.

Matthews looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Spinelli connects with a nice short shot to Matthews's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to get back to full guard.
Spinelli scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Well, if Spinelli 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.

Matthews looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Spinelli prevents Matthews from improving his position.
Spinelli is taking a breather. Matthews says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matthews moves into full guard.
Matthews preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matthews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matthews being controlled here, momentarily.
Matthews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Spinelli stands and throws Matthews's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Spinelli scores with a couple of short elbows.
Spinelli moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spinelli working away.
Matthews throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Spinelli working away.
Spinelli trying to control the position but Matthews is working away.
Matthews gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Spinelli takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Spinelli is pressing down on Matthews's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matthews is holding on for now.
Matthews is trying to control but can't.

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.
Still in half guard, Spinelli seems content to control.
Matthews tries to get to full guard but Spinelli has control of the leg.
Stefano Spinelli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spinelli perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Stefano Spinelli just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Spinelli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matthews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matthews avoids a punch combination nicely.

Spinelli forces Matthews back against the cage and clinches.
Matthews has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Spinelli is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Spinelli jumps guard and drags Matthews to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Matthews slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Matthews working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefano Spinelli dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on David Matthews's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Matthews tries for a takedown but Spinelli circles away easily

and Spinelli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Spinelli in particular looking to stall.
Spinelli working the head and body with strikes.
Spinelli works his way into full mount!
Spinelli tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Spinelli lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spinelli avoids the attempt from Matthews to control.
Matthews is desperately trying to improve his position but Spinelli has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spinelli looking to control and managing it successfully.
Spinelli pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Matthews tries to reverse the position but Spinelli maintains control.
Spinelli controlling from the full mount.
Matthews is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Spinelli connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Spinelli takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is bucking up trying to escape but Spinelli cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Spinelli sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Matthews in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Matthews is in a horrible position here. Spinelli smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Spinelli controlling from the full mount.
Matthews is trying to escape the mount.

Spinelli looking to secure an arm triangle but Matthews defends it well.
Spinelli pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews regains half guard.
Spinelli is thwarting Matthews's attempts to control the position.
Well, if Spinelli 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.
Matthews trying to control but Spinelli postures up.
Spinelli is tying to control. Matthews wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Matthews trying to control but Spinelli postures up.
Spinelli controlling the action here.

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

Spinelli has managed to clinch.

Matthews jumps guard.
David Matthews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spinelli throwing strikes from guard but Matthews blocks nicely.

Matthews has his foot on Spinelli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spinelli works his way back into a safe position though.
Spinelli looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spinelli passes Matthews's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Spinelli is figuring out what he wants to do next.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefano Spinelli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spinelli 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefano Spinelli!