PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mathers kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is rocky its a fight. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mathers
vs
Ray

186 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
198 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Broken Halo Pride Nutrition
Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marshall Mathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frankie Ray!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray lands a glancing blow to the side of Mathers's head.

Mathers lands a big head kick that sends Ray tumbling to the mat! Mathers takes a step backwards and waves Ray back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Frankie Ray has been cut.
Ray blocks a head kick by Mathers.
A right-left combo lands from Ray.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Mathers.
Ray misses with a two punch combination.
Ray throws a hook but Mathers avoids it easily.
Ray throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mathers sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mathers throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ray counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mathers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mathers connects with a high kick.
Mathers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ray. Ray obviously looking to wear him down.
A punch combination from Mathers misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ray counters with a left to the body.
Mathers needs to keep his hands up - Ray had a free shot at his head there.
Ray cracks Mathers with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mathers is breathing heavily.
Mathers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ray.
A shot to the liver by Ray. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ray closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mathers to the mat! Mathers manages to get full guard.
Ray thows a big elbow that misses.
Ray works over Mathers with some ground and pound from guard.
Ray is stalling in the full guard.
Ray throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ray throws a strike but Mathers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mathers is looking to stand up but Ray won't let him.
Mathers is fighting to break Ray's control of his arms but Ray is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ray wants to sweep here but Mathers controlling him for the moment.
Mathers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ray has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ray is on top in guard.
Ray loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mathers wants to get back to his feet but Ray is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mathers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mathers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mathers wants to stand up but Ray is controlling him.
Mathers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mathers is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ray connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mathers. Mathers circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mathers blocks a jab.
Mathers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ray.
Ray scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Ray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Ray's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mathers throws a wild body kick that Ray sees coming a mile off.
Mathers pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ray is out of range and Mathers settles back down.
Mathers fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ray is out of range.
Mathers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mathers throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ray counters with a left to the body.
Ray misses with a hook. Mathers ducked under it nicely.
Frankie Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ray throws a series of punches but Mathers moves out of range.
Ray throws a jab but it's blocked by Mathers.
The fighters circling - Ray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ray works over Mathers's head and body with a nice combination.
Ray works Mathers's body with a nice hook.
Mathers takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ray. Mathers does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers walks into a jab.
A low kick from Mathers misses
and Ray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ray wants to slow Mathers down by chopping away at his legs.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses.
Ray throws a leg kick
and Mathers counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.
Nice shot by Ray.
A clash of legs there as Mathers blocks the low kick.
Ray lands a head kick!
Ray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mathers on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ray takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mathers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mathers counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mathers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ray to score with a decent uppercut.
Ray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ray throws a right hand that Mathers ducks under and follows up with a left that Mathers also avoids with ease.
Ray throws out a loose jab but Mathers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mathers throws a leg kick which misses Ray's front leg but catches the back leg as Ray tries to avoid it.
A head kick from Mathers lands but Ray takes it in his stride.
Mathers throws a lazy head kick
and Ray counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mathers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ray avoids the head kick by Mathers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mathers.
Mathers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ray cracks a nice hook into Mathers's ribs.
Mathers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ray moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ray thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mathers throws a leg kick that is checked

and Ray counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mathers's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ray distracts Mathers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mathers wants to stand up but Ray is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray wants to control from the top but Mathers keeps moving.
Ray wants to pass the guard but Mathers is keeping the position.
Ray sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ray loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ray trying to control but Mathers is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Ray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frankie Ray's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mathers drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Mathers misses with a few strikes there.
Mathers misses with a double jab
and Ray counters with a straight right hand.
Nice cross by Ray.
Mathers throws a sloppy head kick and Ray moves out of range easily.
Ray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mathers takes one on the button.
A head kick from Mathers lands but Ray takes it in his stride.
Mathers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mathers throws a leg kick
and Ray counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mathers moves away.
Mathers buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mathers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathers slips under a jab.
Ray scores with a hook.
Ray fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mathers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ray scores with a hook.
Ray misses with a body shot
and Mathers counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mathers gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ray to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ray thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers is wriggling around but Ray manages to pass to half guard.
Mathers is not content to let Ray control the position.
Ray thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mathers's head.
Mathers is trying to stand up here but Ray is controlling him well.
Mathers is staying active underneath Ray, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ray sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mathers defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mathers takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Marshall Mathers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathers misses with a few strikes there.
Ray misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mathers.
Marshall Mathers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathers avoids it really well and circles away.
Ray checks a leg kick nicely.
Ray throws a right and a left that Mathers avoids nicely.
Mathers finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Marshall Mathers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Ray throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mathers counters with a good low kick that Ray was not able to check.
A head kick from Mathers lands but Ray takes it in his stride.
Frankie Ray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathers slips under a jab.
Mathers stuffs the takedown attempt from Ray. Ray gets slowly back to his feet.
Marshall Mathers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Ray.
Ray throws a body punch but Mathers moves out of range.
A punch combination from Mathers misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mathers, right into the meat.
Mathers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ray.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mathers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ray misses with an uppercut. Mathers saw that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mathers. That's going to slow Ray down.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marshall Mathers.
Well Ray 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Ray!