PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Zacancer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mathews
vs
Zacancer

195 cm
19
235 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
280 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Clay Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Pablo Zacancer!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zacancer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pablo Zacancer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mathews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zacancer is fending him off so far but Mathews persists. Nope, Zacancer circles away and we're back to standing.

Mathews gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zacancer to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zacancer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zacancer is looking to stand up but Mathews won't let him.
Mathews not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zacancer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zacancer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mathews controls Zacancer momentarily but Zacancer frees himself.
Zacancer wants to control from the top but Mathews keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Mathews is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zacancer defends well.
Zacancer stopping the sweep attempt from Mathews.

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.
Zacancer misses with a takedown

and Mathews counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zacancer is looking for a sweep. Mathews is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zacancer works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mathews wants to stand but Zacancer is controlling his posture from full guard.

Zacancer throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mathews uses it to pass to side control.
Zacancer looks gassed!
Zacancer is trying to get back to half guard.

Mathews tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mathews has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Mathews decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zacancer misses with a body shot
and Mathews counters with a series of strikes. Zacancer will be more careful next time no doubt.

Mathews forces Zacancer back against the cage and clinches.

Mathews successfully pulls guard.

Mathews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zacancer trying to control but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Zacancer postures up in Mathews's guard and throws a big left but Mathews blocks it.

Mathews has his foot on Zacancer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zacancer works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zacancer trying to control but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Zacancer throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zacancer looking to sit in guard and control but Mathews gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zacancer is looking for a triangle but Mathews pushes his legs off easily.
Zacancer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathews postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mathews trying to control but Zacancer is working from the bottom.
Mathews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mathews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zacancer is fending him off so far but Mathews persists. Nope, Zacancer circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clay Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zacancer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A punch combination from Mathews misses.
Zacancer misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Mathews counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mathews.
Zacancer tries to break free but Mathews pushes him back against the cage.

Mathews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mathews is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathews misses with a takedown

and Zacancer counters with a single leg into guard. Mathews didn't expect that.
Zacancer passes Mathews's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mathews looking for submissions off his back.
Mathews pushes Zacancer off looking to stand but Zacancer dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Clay Mathews will probably get the nod.
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.

Zacancer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mathews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zacancer won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mathews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Zacancer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mathews's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mathews lands with a punch from half guard.
Zacancer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mathews trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mathews sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zacancer's guard.

Mathews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zacancer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathews is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zacancer sees it coming and defends easily.
Mathews thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zacancer is trying is best to control the position here.
Zacancer moves into full guard.
Mathews would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zacancer throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Zacancer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zacancer wants to sweep but no luck.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Mathews here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Zacancer has his feet on Mathews's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mathews will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Mathews scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zacancer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mathews gets full guard.

Mathews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zacancer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zacancer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mathews has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zacancer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zacancer throwing strikes from guard but Mathews blocks nicely.
Zacancer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mathews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zacancer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mathews looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mathews looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mathews!
Zacancer takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zacancer can't do much from the bottom here.
Zacancer takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mathews prevents Zacancer from escaping the position.
Zacancer is trying to control Mathews's posture but Mathews avoids it.
Zacancer is looking for a sweep.
Mathews working the ground and pound from side control.

Mathews decides to stand back up.
Mathews misses with a takedown attempt - Zacancer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mathews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Mathews dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zacancer throws a combination that misses

and Mathews counters with a takedown into side control.
Clay Mathews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zacancer prevents Mathews from improving position.

Mathews is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zacancer has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zacancer sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Zacancer makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Mathews gets caught flat footed, as Zacancer shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Zacancer has gone for a leg lock! Mathews slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zacancer's guard.
Mathews wants to control from the top but Zacancer keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mathews got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zacancer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mathews has managed to get both his arms back between Zacancer's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zacancer wants to control but Mathews passes easily into half guard.
Mathews seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mathews scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mathews thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mathews scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Zacancer wants to control but Mathews is keeping busy.

Zacancer looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mathews slips a nice elbow through Zacancer's hands, connecting with Zacancer's forehead.

That's two 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.
Mathews missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mathews lands a nice short elbow.
Mathews slips a nice elbow through Zacancer's hands, connecting with Zacancer's forehead.
Mathews prevents Zacancer from standing back up.
Mathews lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mathews lands strikes from half guard.
Zacancer wants to sweep but Mathews has passed to side control!
Zacancer is looking for a sweep.
Mathews is looking to take a break and control but Zacancer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mathews working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zacancer is looking to reverse the position.
Clay Mathews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zacancer takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Zacancer tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mathews presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Mathews landing strikes from the mount.
Mathews landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Mathews with shots to the head and body - Zacancer looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mathews landing punches.
Pablo Zacancer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathews landing shots from mount.
Zacancer is looking to get to half guard.
Zacancer taking shots to the head.
Zacancer can't escape the position.
Mathews with the ground and pound from mount.
Mathews working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zacancer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mathews pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clay Mathews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mathews 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Mathews!