PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leighton Matias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie DeVoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Matias
vs
DeVoe

195 cm
23
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
26
264 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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, Leighton Matias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ronnie DeVoe!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matias clinches up with DeVoe and pushes him back against the cage.
DeVoe takes a knee to the side of the body.
DeVoe looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matias scores with a hook to the body.

Matias breaks the clinch.

Matias has managed to clinch.
Matias using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Matias.

Matias manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Matias.
Matias lands a nice shot to the body.
Matias stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Matias working DeVoe over with knees to the body.
Matias softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Matias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Matias gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matias lands a nice shot to the body.
Matias wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matias looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Matias breaks from the clinch.

Matias moves into range and clinches up with DeVoe.
Matias throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but DeVoe blocks it with crossed arms.

Matias pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Matias pushes DeVoe up against the cage in a clinch.
Matias prevents the takedown attempt.
Matias misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from DeVoe.
Matias gets underhooks to prevent DeVoe's takedown attempt.
Matias lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of DeVoe backwards.
Matias cracks DeVoe with a nice body shot.
Matias is trying to break free.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Matias.
Matias tries to circle away but DeVoe has him pinned against the cage.
Matias is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Matias breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matias clinches with his opponent.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

DeVoe has Matias pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. DeVoe pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Matias tumbling to the mat - DeVoe dives into Matias's guard.
Matias has DeVoe pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matias is trying to control the position but DeVoe postures up.
Matias utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matias swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matias working a defensive guard here.
DeVoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DeVoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DeVoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells DeVoe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as DeVoe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matias utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe is working Matias over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
DeVoe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
DeVoe throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

DeVoe drives through with a takedown into Matias's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
DeVoe thows a big elbow that misses.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
DeVoe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
DeVoe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Matias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DeVoe thows a big elbow that misses.
Matias controls DeVoe momentarily but DeVoe frees himself.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
DeVoe connects with a couple of short punches.
DeVoe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
DeVoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matias pulls DeVoe in close to prevent any damage.
Matias is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that DeVoe can do to turn this around?
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
DeVoe works over Matias with some ground and pound from guard.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DeVoe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
DeVoe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
DeVoe thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeVoe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
DeVoe landing some decent shots from guard.
DeVoe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
DeVoe throwing strikes from guard but Matias blocks nicely.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
DeVoe connects with a couple of short punches.
DeVoe landing with the ground and pound.
DeVoe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeVoe with a nice head shot there.
DeVoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matias works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeVoe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DeVoe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matias preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DeVoe throwing strikes but missing.
DeVoe throwing strikes from guard but Matias blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie DeVoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Matias's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

DeVoe shoots in and gets a takedown into Matias's guard.
DeVoe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
DeVoe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
DeVoe thows a big elbow that misses.
DeVoe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as DeVoe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
DeVoe throwing strikes from guard but Matias blocks nicely.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeVoe postures up in Matias's guard and throws a big left but Matias blocks it.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
DeVoe thows a big elbow that misses.
DeVoe distracts Matias with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Matias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DeVoe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
DeVoe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
DeVoe distracts Matias with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Matias controls DeVoe momentarily but DeVoe frees himself.
DeVoe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DeVoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Matias has wrist control.
DeVoe throwing strikes from guard but Matias blocks nicely.
DeVoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DeVoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DeVoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matias works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeVoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DeVoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DeVoe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeVoe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
Matias working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from DeVoe.
DeVoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matias works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeVoe working some strikes from top position.
DeVoe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
DeVoe chips away with some ground and pound.
Matias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DeVoe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
DeVoe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeVoe lands a couple of elbows.
DeVoe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DeVoe advances to half guard.
DeVoe drops an elbow to the side of Matias's head.
DeVoe thows a huge punch but Matias dodges it nicely.
DeVoe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
DeVoe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matias with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Matias has hold of DeVoe's hands but DeVoe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Matias keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
DeVoe throwing shots but Matias is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronnie DeVoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think DeVoe 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie DeVoe!