PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between dwayne matthew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Recodo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

matthew
vs
Recodo

175 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
252 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, dwayne matthew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Recodo!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Recodo slips under a jab from matthew.
Recodo moves in looking to clinch but matthew pushes him off.
Recodo closes the distance and clinches up with matthew, looking for a takedown. Recodo pushes matthew against the cage but matthew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Recodo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but matthew avoids it really well and circles away.

matthew gets the takedown into side control.

matthew stands up and beckons Recodo to his feet.

matthew changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Recodo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Recodo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Recodo pushes matthew away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, matthew gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
matthew taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recodo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
matthew in side control, throwing shots but Recodo defends.
Recodo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but matthew is controlling him well.
matthew is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Recodo tries for a takedown but matthew circles away easily

and matthew counters with a single leg into guard. Recodo didn't expect that.
dwayne matthew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Recodo.
Recodo looks gassed!
matthew trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
matthew looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
matthew wants to get up but he can't break Recodo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
matthew controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Recodo wants to sweep here but matthew controlling him for the moment.
Recodo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Recodo is trying to control the position but matthew postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
matthew throws a jab but it's blocked by Recodo.

matthew takes the fight into the clinch.

matthew has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Recodo regains guard immediately.
matthew has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Recodo wants to sweep here but matthew controlling him for the moment.
matthew knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Recodo on the ground.
Recodo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Recodo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Recodo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
matthew looking to pass the guard.
Recodo has a closed guard, preventing matthew from standing up.
matthew preventing the sweep.
matthew wants to control from the top but Recodo keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Recodo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of matthew's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dwayne matthew dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Recodo lands a right hook to the body.
Recodo has his takedown stuffed

and matthew counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
matthew prevents the takedown attempt.

matthew manages to break the clinch.
matthew rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Recodo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

matthew fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Recodo, pushing him back against the cage.

matthew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Recodo has his takedown stuffed

and matthew counters with a nice double leg into side control. Recodo won't be happy with that.
dwayne matthew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Recodo.
You can see the frustration on Recodo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Recodo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recodo tries to buck matthew off but matthew is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

matthew has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Recodo with a poor takedown
and matthew counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

matthew darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
matthew trying to control the pace.
matthew is thwarting Recodo's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
matthew is trying to control the action in half guard but Recodo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Recodo gets back to full guard.
Recodo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
matthew throws a strike but Recodo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
matthew keeping moving, preventing Recodo from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
matthew has a closed guard, preventing Recodo from standing up.
matthew throwing short punches from the bottom.
matthew is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Recodo landing with the ground and pound.

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.
matthew keeping moving, preventing Recodo from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Recodo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and matthew counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
matthew trying to mount his opponent but Recodo defends it.

matthew decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dwayne matthew dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Recodo lands a jab to matthew's midsection.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from matthew is defended easily by Recodo.
matthew misses with a body shot

and Recodo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Recodo.
Recodo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Recodo trying to control but matthew is working from the bottom.
Recodo stopping the sweep attempt from matthew.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recodo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
matthew not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Recodo is looking to stand up but matthew won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Recodo misses with a takedown attempt
and matthew counters with a head kick.
Recodo tries to close the distance and clinch up but matthew swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Recodo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has matthew pinned against the cage. matthew gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Recodo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows matthew to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
matthew trying to control but Recodo is working from the bottom.
Recodo working a defensive guard here.
matthew prevents Recodo from getting back to his feet.
matthew tries to free his leg and advance position but Recodo is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
matthew trying to control the position from guard on top but Recodo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
matthew would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Recodo trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Recodo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
dwayne matthew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Recodo.
matthew tries to clinch up but Recodo circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Recodo doesn't manage to clinch there - matthew circles away.
Recodo throws a shot to the body.
matthew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
matthew takes a head kick and keeps coming.
matthew fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Recodo avoids it really well and circles away.
Jab by Recodo.
Recodo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from matthew.
matthew throws a sloppy head kick
and Recodo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Recodo fails with a takedown attempt.
Frank Recodo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
dwayne matthew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Recodo throws a shot from downtown. matthew moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Recodo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think matthew has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... dwayne matthew!