PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lincoln Abraham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthews comes to the cage accompanied by Drown in the Now. The key to victory for John Matthews has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Matthews
vs
Abraham

188 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

185 cm
20
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lincoln Abraham!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abraham takes a kick to the side of the head.

Abraham clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Matthews tries a knee to the head but Abraham blocks it.
Abraham tries to land knees in the clinch but Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
Matthews trying to land knees to the body.
Matthews managing to block the knees to the body from Abraham.
Abraham crunches a lovely knee into Matthews's ribcage.

Matthews manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abraham tries to free his leg and advance position but Matthews is retaining full guard.

Abraham stands up from Matthews's guard - Abraham perhaps looking for a knockout.
Abraham tries to work over Matthews's front leg with a kick but Matthews checks it.
Abraham swats away the attempt to clinch by Matthews.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matthews is trying to break free.
Matthews jumps guard but Abraham stands there with Matthews around his waist. Matthews gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Abraham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Abraham tries a knee to the head but Matthews blocks it.
Abraham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Abraham manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abraham is pulling down on Matthews's head. It's preventing any offense from Matthews, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Abraham pushes Matthews off and gets back to his feet.
Abraham misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews misses with a kick to the body.
Abraham throws a front kick aimed at Matthews's knee but Matthews avoids it well.
Matthews scores with a head kick.
Abraham tries to close the distance and clinch but Matthews swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abraham looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Abraham lands a front kick.
Abraham misses with a low kick as Matthews jumps back.
Abraham keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick and Abraham moves out of range easily.

Abraham has closed the distance and engaged Matthews in a clinch.
Matthews wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Abraham lands a knee to the body.
Abraham landing knees to the body.
Abraham scores with a knee to the head.
Abraham tries a knee to the head but Matthews blocks it.
Matthews misses with a knee strike.
Matthews managing to block the knees to the body from Abraham.
Abraham looking to throw knees to the head but Matthews is blocking nicely.

Matthews has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Abraham uses from the top position.
Abraham must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matthews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matthews throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Matthews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matthews looking for a sweep. Not yet Matthews, not yet.
Abraham wants to stand but Matthews has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abraham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Matthews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Abraham.
Both fighters circling a little - Abraham finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Matthews has a takedown stuffed.
Abraham tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Abraham throws a head kick that misses.
Matthews tries to clinch up.
Abraham cracks the inside of Matthews's front leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Abraham lands a high kick!
Matthews throws a head kick that misses.
Matthews checks the leg kick.
Matthews will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews misses with a kick to the body.
A low kick from Abraham is predictable there
and Matthews counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Abraham is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Abraham has closed the distance and engaged Matthews in a clinch.

Abraham pulls guard effortlessly.
Abraham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matthews forces his way into half guard.
Matthews is keen to just control but Abraham is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Abraham is trying to maintain the position but Matthews is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Abraham dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matthews misses with a head kick.
Abraham swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Abraham is looking to land body kicks.
Abraham blocks a head kick by Matthews.
Abraham swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.

Abraham closes the distance and clinches.
Abraham has Matthews pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matthews manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Matthews on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Abraham gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Matthews.
Matthews tries to score a body lock takedown but Abraham shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Abraham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Abraham using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Matthews breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matthews tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Abraham counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Matthews's guard now.
Matthews trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Abraham gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Abraham gets to his feet. Matthews looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abraham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Abraham dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matthews. That did some damage!
Matthews takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Abraham throws a leg kick but Matthews checks it.
Matthews shoots in and drives through. Abraham sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abraham throws out a leg kick but Matthews moves out of range and Abraham only half commits.
Abraham moves out of range as Matthews throws a body kick.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.

Abraham clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Abraham lands a nice knee to the body.
Matthews gets underhooks to prevent Abraham's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abraham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.
Matthews is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Abraham gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Abraham creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Matthews avoiding damage as Abraham throws knees to the body.
Abraham tries to land knees in the clinch but Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
Abraham tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Abraham missing with knees to the body.
Matthews drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Abraham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Abraham looking to throw knees to the head but Matthews is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from Abraham.

Abraham pulls guard.
Abraham wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
Abraham has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.
Abraham wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Abraham managing to control the position.
Abraham wants to control but Matthews passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abraham gets back to full guard.
Abraham is looking to stand back up but Matthews counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Abraham.
Matthews trying to control the position but Abraham is working away.

Matthews decides to stand up, so the ref orders Abraham to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matthews throws a head kick but Abraham moves out of range.
Lincoln Abraham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Abraham forces Matthews back against the cage and clinches.
Abraham missing with knees to the body.
Abraham misses with a knee to the head.

Matthews successfully pulls guard.
Matthews can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Abraham controls the pace.
Abraham throws a big right hand that misses.

Abraham decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matthews, up you get!
Abraham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matthews moves out of range of the leg kick from Abraham.
Matthews connects with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lincoln Abraham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Abraham closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Abraham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Abraham.
Matthews wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Abraham tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Matthews swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Abraham tries to land knees in the clinch but Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Abraham has him pressed against the cage.
Matthews wants to break free but Abraham has control.

Abraham breaks the clinch.
Matthews goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Abraham throws a lazy body kick
and Matthews counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Abraham is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Matthews looks to land a body kick but Abraham moved away.
Abraham buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Abraham is predictable there
and Matthews counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Abraham is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Crack! A monster head kick from Matthews and Abraham falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Matthews!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). John Matthews!