PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Materson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Balboa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Materson
vs
Balboa

200 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Materson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa throws an off balance right hand

and Materson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
The referee asks Materson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Materson prefers to stall for the moment though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Balboa is trying to stand.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Materson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Mike Materson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Balboa throws a head kick that misses

so Materson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Materson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Balboa controls Materson momentarily but Materson frees himself.
Materson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materson passes Balboa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Balboa looks gassed!
Materson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Materson looks to land a strike but Balboa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Materson content to stall in guard here.
Materson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balboa wants to sweep here but Materson controlling him for the moment.
Materson won't allow Balboa to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Materson being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Materson just wasn't active enough.

Materson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Balboa's guard.
Materson forces his way into half guard.
Materson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Materson decides to stand up.
Balboa throws an off balance right hand

and Materson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balboa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Materson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is trying to maintain the position but Materson is very close to passing his half guard.
Materson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Materson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Balboa misses with a lunging right hand

and Materson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Materson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Balboa is trying to stand.
Materson stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Materson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Materson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Balboa misses with a head kick.
Materson lands with a kick to the temple. Balboa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Balboa misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Materson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa tries to clinch up
and Materson counters with a three punch combo that has Balboa backing up. Balboa nods at Materson to acknowledge the strikes.
Materson moves in looking to clinch but Balboa pushes him off.
Balboa throws a combination that misses

and Materson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
Materson just content to control the position.
Balboa tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom here.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face as Materson controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Materson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Balboa!
Balboa is working to get back to half guard.
Balboa is trying to stand.
Materson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Materson avoids the attempt from Balboa to control.

That's two 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.
Materson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Balboa is working to get back to half guard.
Materson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Materson content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materson wants to control the pace but Balboa is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Materson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Materson just wasn't active enough.
Balboa lands the left hand.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Materson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Balboa!
Materson content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Materson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Balboa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Materson wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Balboa wants to stand up but Materson is controlling him.
Balboa is trying to keep Materson in close.
Balboa wants to stand but Materson is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Materson looking to score a takedown here. Balboa is defending well but Materson drives through and ends up in Balboa's guard.
Materson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Balboa wants to stand but Materson is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Materson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Balboa tries to sprawl but Materson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Materson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balboa can do to turn this around?
Materson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Materson just wasn't active enough.
Balboa throws a body punch but Materson moves out of range.

Materson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Balboa to the mat! Balboa manages to get full guard.
Materson stops Balboa from standing up.
Mike Materson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Materson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.
Materson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Materson prevents Balboa from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Materson content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Materson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Balboa looks to score with a jab to the body but Materson is just out of range.

Balboa gets caught flat footed, as Materson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Materson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Materson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Materson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Materson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Materson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Materson!