PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thai Striker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morton Marshall Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Striker comes to the cage accompanied by Rage Against The Machine - Killing in The Name. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Striker
vs
Marshall Matthews

170 cm
28
147 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

172 cm
23
142 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Thai Striker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Morton Marshall Matthews!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Marshall Matthews blocks the low kick.
Striker lands a jab to the head.
Striker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Marshall Matthews clinches up against the cage.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marshall Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker landing knees to the body.
Striker lands a knee to the head.
Striker connects with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Striker breaks the clinch.
Marshall Matthews avoids the head kick by Striker.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Striker misses with a knee to the head.
Striker misses with a knee strike.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall Matthews is trying to maintain a safe position but Striker gets an underhook and turns Marshall Matthews into the cage.
Striker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall Matthews.
Striker with a knee to the head.
Striker misses with a knee strike.
Striker trying to land knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews lands with a right to the head.
Striker pushes off an throws an elbow but Marshall Matthews leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marshall Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marshall Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker missing with knees to the body.
Striker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Striker pushes off an throws an elbow but Marshall Matthews leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Striker missing with knees to the body.
Striker tries a knee to the head but Marshall Matthews blocks it.
Marshall Matthews with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker misses with a knee to the head.
Marshall Matthews tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
Striker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker misses with a knee strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Marshall Matthews - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Striker blocks the elbow strike.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marshall Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt
and Marshall Matthews counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Striker thinking.
Marshall Matthews tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marshall Matthews misses with a head kick.
Marshall Matthews throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marshall Matthews lands with a nice combination. Striker backs away looking to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striker swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Marshall Matthews throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Striker's head.

It looks like Thai Striker has been cut.
Striker has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Striker there as he acknowledges the shot.
Striker sizes up Marshall Matthews with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Striker thows a leg kick but Marshall Matthews checks it
letting Marshall Matthews counter with a right hand.
Striker circles away from the clinch attempt
and Striker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marshall Matthews lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Striker moves out of range.
Striker throws out a powerful jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marshall Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Striker.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Striker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Striker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marshall Matthews creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Striker's defenses.
Striker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall Matthews is defending well for now.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch there but Striker circles away.
Marshall Matthews throws a series of punches but Striker moves out of range.
Striker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marshall Matthews. Marshall Matthews obviously looking to wear him down.

Marshall Matthews moves into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
Striker lands a knee to the head.
Marshall Matthews works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marshall Matthews tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Striker avoids it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Marshall Matthews obliges.
Marshall Matthews throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Striker scores with a knee to the head.
A short uppercut from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews avoids the elbow strike from Striker, against the cage.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marshall Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marshall Matthews is trying to break free.
Striker looking to stall.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thai Striker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marshall Matthews moves into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews lands a hook that snaps the head of Striker backwards.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Striker wants to slow Marshall Matthews down by chopping away at his legs.
Striker throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Striker dodges the punch combination from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews digs a good hook to Striker's body.

Marshall Matthews forces Striker back against the cage and clinches.
Striker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall Matthews.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marshall Matthews.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Striker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch up but Striker keeps it at a distance.
Marshall Matthews is looking to clinch but Striker is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall Matthews throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marshall Matthews is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch up but Striker keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morton Marshall Matthews dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thai Striker's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Striker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Marshall Matthews holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Marshall Matthews working hard to break the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Striker obliges.
Striker tries a knee to the head but Marshall Matthews blocks it.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Striker moves out of range.
Marshall Matthews pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Striker back to the cage. Marshall Matthews follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Marshall Matthews moves into range and clinches up with Striker.
Striker with a knee to the head.
Striker landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews landing knees to the head.
Marshall Matthews dodges an elbow strike from Striker.
With the fighters up against the cage, Striker throws an elbow but misses.
Striker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marshall Matthews is trying to push Striker away but Striker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Striker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker looks to throw the jab but Marshall Matthews is out of range.
Striker tries to clinch up but Marshall Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
Marshall Matthews's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Marshall Matthews duly obliges.
Striker takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Marshall Matthews is looking to clinch but Striker is avoiding it.

Marshall Matthews instigates a clinch.
Striker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall Matthews wants to break free but Striker has control.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Striker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Marshall Matthews has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marshall Matthews is trying to force a seperation but Striker has the dominant position.
Marshall Matthews looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall Matthews is blocking nicely.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Striker has him pressed against the cage.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Morton Marshall Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Striker moves out of range.
Marshall Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marshall Matthews scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Marshall Matthews. Striker shrugs it off though.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marshall Matthews moves in looking to clinch but Striker pushes him off.
Marshall Matthews goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch up but Striker keeps it at a distance.
Striker thows a leg kick but Marshall Matthews checks it

and Marshall Matthews counters by clinching up.
Marshall Matthews tries to circle away but Striker has him pinned against the cage.
Striker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Marshall Matthews is looking to break free of the clinch but Striker has double underhooks.
Marshall Matthews is pushing Striker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but Marshall Matthews blocks with his arms.
Marshall Matthews trying to land knees to the body.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Striker back to the cage. Marshall Matthews follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Marshall Matthews rushes Striker and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Marshall Matthews's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marshall Matthews digs a right hand underneath Striker's ribcage. Striker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Striker tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Striker is having none of it.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marshall Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Striker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Morton Marshall Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Striker throws a hook but Marshall Matthews blocks it.
Marshall Matthews pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Striker back to the cage. Marshall Matthews follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Marshall Matthews moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Striker throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striker tries to land a leg kick but Marshall Matthews saw it coming and moves away.
Marshall Matthews scores with a head kick.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Striker avoids a punch combination nicely.

Marshall Matthews forces Striker back against the cage and clinches.
Marshall Matthews tries to break the clinch but Striker is controlling the position.
Striker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Marshall Matthews throws a knee to the head but misses.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Striker throws a head kick that misses
and Marshall Matthews counters with a leg kick.
Marshall Matthews lands with a slapping head kick.

Marshall Matthews gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Striker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Striker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Striker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Marshall Matthews avoids it.
Marshall Matthews lands an elbow inside that Striker shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morton Marshall Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thai Striker's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Marshall Matthews duly obliges.
Marshall Matthews lands with a kick to the temple. Striker shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Striker takes the fight into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews lands a shoulder strike.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.
Striker trying to land knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews trying to land knees to the body.
Striker throws an elbow but it misses.
Striker missing with knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews landing knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Striker tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall Matthews avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews is trying to push Striker away but Striker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall Matthews is blocking nicely.
Marshall Matthews taking a breather.
Marshall Matthews pushes off an throws an elbow but Striker leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marshall Matthews working hard to break the clinch.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Marshall Matthews closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker misses with a knee to the head.
Striker prevents Marshall Matthews from breaking the clinch.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marshall Matthews wants to get back to striking at distance but Striker won't allow it.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Marshall Matthews stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Marshall Matthews throws a knee to the head but misses.
Striker tries a knee to the head but Marshall Matthews blocks it.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews doesn't manage to clinch there - Striker circles away.
Marshall Matthews connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Striker throws a leg kick that is checked
and Marshall Matthews counters with a nice body kick.
Marshall Matthews throws a leg kick which misses Striker's front leg but catches the back leg as Striker tries to avoid it.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Striker misses with an uppercut. Marshall Matthews saw that one coming.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.
Striker misses with an attempted mid kick.
Striker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Striker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marshall Matthews moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Striker misses the body punch
and Marshall Matthews counters with a three punch combo that has Striker backing up. Striker nods at Marshall Matthews to acknowledge the strikes.
Marshall Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Striker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Marshall Matthews darts in and clinches Striker up against the cage.
Striker is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Marshall Matthews has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marshall Matthews tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall Matthews is blocking nicely.
Striker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thai Striker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marshall Matthews is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Marshall Matthews closes the distance and pushes Striker back into the cage.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshall Matthews lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Striker misses
and Marshall Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marshall Matthews lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Marshall Matthews changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Marshall Matthews throws a head kick that half lands.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Striker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big right from Striker misses.
Marshall Matthews throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Striker on the side of the head.
Marshall Matthews ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Marshall Matthews goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Striker scores with a head kick. Marshall Matthews tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Marshall Matthews misses with a two punch combination.

Marshall Matthews has Striker up against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall Matthews can't break the clinch.
Striker takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marshall Matthews tries to circle away but Striker has him pinned against the cage.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall Matthews is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.

Marshall Matthews rushes Striker and presses him up against the cage.
Marshall Matthews is pushing Striker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Striker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Marshall Matthews is defending well for now.
Marshall Matthews working hard to break the clinch.
Striker takes a knee to the side of the body.
Marshall Matthews creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Marshall Matthews lands a hook that snaps the head of Striker backwards.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Marshall Matthews is blocking nicely.
Striker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Marshall Matthews.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Marshall Matthews lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.
Crunch! Marshall Matthews slams his shin into Striker's torso.
Morton Marshall Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Striker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morton Marshall Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Marshall Matthews 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Morton Marshall Matthews!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Morton Marshall Matthews!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Morton Marshall Matthews!

Morton Marshall Matthews wins by unanimous decision!