PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wolf Christian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthews is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Disturbed-Conflict. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Christian
vs
Matthews

191 cm
25
210 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

185 cm
27
210 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Empire Threads - Featuring Deadly Clothing

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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Wolf Christian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Christian misses the target.
Matthews scores with a crisp jab that stopped Christian in his tracks.
Matthews lands the left hand.
Matthews fails with the takedown.
Matthews thuds his right hand into Christian's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Matthews tries to clinch but Christian is having none of it.
Christian swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews tries to clinch but Christian moves out of range.
Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Christian does it's job there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Matthews looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Christian keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Christian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matthews on the ground.
Christian controlling Matthews's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Christian keeps moving.
Christian on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Christian tries to get out of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kevin Matthews was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Christian lands with a hook. Matthews tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Matthews takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
No joy there for Matthews, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matthews takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Christian throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Christian misses the shot to the body.
Christian misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews moves to clinch but Christian breaks away
and Christian counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Christian. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Christian throws a jab but it's blocked by Matthews.
Matthews takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews tries to clinch there but Christian circles away.
Matthews lands with a nice combination. Christian backs away looking to recover.
A looping hook to the body misses from Christian. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
A left and a right from Matthews both land. Nice combination.
Christian tries to bum rush Matthews with a series of wild strikes but Matthews uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matthews throws a body punch but Christian moves out of range.

Christian feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Matthews wants to stand but Christian is controlling the position.
Christian is looking to work some ground and pound but Matthews has wrist control.
Christian throws a strike but Matthews rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christian wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matthews throwing strikes from guard but Christian blocks nicely.
Christian keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Christian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Matthews postures up in Christian's guard and throws a big left but Christian blocks it.
Christian has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Christian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Christian throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Christian throws a strike but Matthews avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Christian is looking to work some ground and pound but Matthews has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Matthews dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Christian connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Christian throws a series of punches but Matthews avoids them all with ease.
Matthews tries for a takedown but Christian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Christian throws a combination that misses

and Matthews counters by clinching up.
Matthews prevents Christian from breaking the clinch.
Matthews keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Christian's efforts to push away.
Matthews stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matthews.
Matthews stops a takedown attempt from Christian.

Christian breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matthews lands a jab-cross combination.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Kevin Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matthews lands a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christian scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Christian scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Christian throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matthews.
Christian circles away from the clinch attempt
and Christian cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Christian dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Christian looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Christian as he jumps to the side.
Wolf Christian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Matthews.
That kick from Christian tenderised Matthews's leg. Matthews is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Christian attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Christian misses with a hook.

Matthews throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Christian was covering up waiting for the punch and Matthews finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Christian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christian looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Matthews looking to pass the guard.
Matthews trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Christian keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christian working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Christian has wrist control.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Christian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matthews postures up and lands a big shot to Christian's brow.
Matthews trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Christian is working an open guard so Matthews takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Matthews closes the distance looking to clinch
and Christian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christian on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matthews throws a right and a left that both miss.
Christian throws a right and a left that Matthews avoids nicely.
Matthews darts in trying to clinch
and Christian counters with a straight right hand.
Matthews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Christian throws out a powerful jab.
Matthews wants to clinch
enabling Christian to counter with a crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Christian stuffs the takedown attempt from Matthews. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Christian tries to bum rush Matthews with a series of wild strikes but Matthews uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kevin Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Christian's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Matthews misses with a left hand
and Christian counters with a straight right hand.
Matthews throws a series of punches but Christian avoids them all with ease.
Matthews throws a sloppy body shot
and Christian counters with a straight right hand.
Christian scores with a sloppy right hand. Matthews should have avoided that one.
Matthews throws a lazy uppercut
and Christian counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Christian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Christian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Matthews quickly recovers to half guard.
Christian thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Matthews to regain full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews wants to stand and escape but Christian is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christian throws a big right hand that misses.
Christian makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Christian is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Christian throwing strikes from guard but Matthews blocks nicely.
Matthews has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matthews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Christian throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Christian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Christian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Matthews wriggles free and stands up.
Christian doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Matthews moves into the clinch.

Christian gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Matthews regains guard.
Christian passes Matthews's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christian scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matthews avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Christian.
Christian not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wolf Christian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matthews keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Christian looks to land a strike but Matthews avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Christianis looking to pass into half guard but Matthews pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matthews is in guard.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Matthews looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Christian is avoiding damage well.
Matthews working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Matthews tries to score with some ground and pound. Christian controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wolf Christian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Christian dodges the ground and pound from Matthews.

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.
An elbow from Matthews crashes against the mat.
Matthews wants to lay and pray for a moment but Christian keeps working.
Christian dodges the ground and pound from Matthews.

Matthews stands up.
Matthews tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Christian displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matthews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthews is looking to clinch but Christian is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wolf Christian showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Matthews!