PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald McGillian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthews comes into the arena with The Beast by Tech N9ne blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matthews
vs
McGillian

198 cm
18
284 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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, Anthony Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donald McGillian!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews looks to land a combination but McGillian avoids it well.
Matthews throws a right and a left that McGillian avoids nicely.
McGillian shoots in and drives through. Matthews sprawls well.
Matthews misses with a body shot.
Anthony Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.

McGillian manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matthews on his heels. He'll look to pass Matthews's guard now, I'm sure.
McGillian wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
McGillian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing McGillian from controlling successfully.
Matthews wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Donald McGillian wasn't active enough on the ground.
Matthews falls off balance throwing a combination
and McGillian counters with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Matthews gets caught flat footed, as McGillian shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matthews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McGillian is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to keep McGillian in close.
Matthews wants to stand up but McGillian is controlling him.
Matthews could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McGillian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews is looking to stand up but McGillian isn't so interested in that idea.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matthews holds on and takes a little breather.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McGillian with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing McGillian from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGillian scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McGillian doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthews circles away.
McGillian lands a head kick. Matthews smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Anthony Matthews has been cut.
McGillian throws a shot to the body.
McGillian throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

McGillian drives through with a takedown into guard.
McGillian tries to free his leg and advance position but Matthews is retaining full guard.
McGillian wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

McGillian gets to his feet - Matthews follows without any prompting.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but McGillian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McGillian tries to close the distance and clinch but Matthews swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGillian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matthews wants to clinch up but McGillian keeps it at a distance.

McGillian tries to keep at a distance but Matthews has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGillian prevents Matthews from breaking the clinch.

McGillian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matthews dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matthews scores with a jab.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews throws a right hand that McGillian ducks under and follows up with a left that McGillian also avoids with ease.
McGillian shoots in looking for a takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl out of it but McGillian keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matthews manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anthony Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald McGillian.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to clinch but McGillian is having none of it.
Matthews throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
McGillian is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matthews takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McGillian lands with a slapping head kick.
Matthews tries to clinch but McGillian moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matthews misses with a series of wild punches.
McGillian fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald McGillian dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Matthews's cut.
That's time! Matthews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McGillian tries to clinch but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matthews.
Matthews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

McGillian looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Matthews is trying to stand up here but McGillian is controlling him well.
McGillian trying to control from half guard but Matthews is working away.
Matthews blocking the ground and pound attempt from McGillian.
Matthews is trying to stand up here but McGillian is controlling him well.

McGillian is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews pushes McGillian off looking to stand but McGillian dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matthews is not content to let McGillian control the position.
McGillian is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Donald McGillian hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
McGillian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matthews sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matthews throws a combination. McGillian tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Decent striking displayed by Matthews there.
Matthews fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McGillian is out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matthews!
Matthews misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands a nice shot to the body.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for McGillian. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
McGillian dodges the punch combination from Matthews.
Matthews shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. McGillian eats them both and turns towards Matthews to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Anthony Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matthews tries to keep at a distance but McGillian has taken the fight into the clinch.

McGillian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matthews lands with a straight right. McGillian didn't see that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGillian fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGillian slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.
Donald McGillian seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Matthews.
McGillian takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McGillian is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matthews sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matthews misses with a wild combination.
McGillian slips under a jab.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
McGillian ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matthews misses with a series of wild punches.
McGillian fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a right hand that McGillian ducks under and follows up with a left that McGillian also avoids with ease.
Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but McGillian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McGillian throws a sloppy head kick and Matthews moves out of range easily.
Matthews misses with the combination.
McGillian is looking to clinch.
McGillian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anthony Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald McGillian.
Matthews throws a right hand that McGillian ducks under and follows up with a left that McGillian also avoids with ease.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGillian shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matthews swinging wildly here.
Matthews misses with a double jab
and McGillian counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Matthews dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Matthews's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Matthews throws a left and a right that both miss
and McGillian counters with a nice leg kick.
McGillian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.

McGillian looking to score a takedown here. Matthews is defending well but McGillian drives through and ends up in Matthews's guard.
McGillian trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McGillian's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

McGillian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing McGillian from controlling successfully.
McGillian stops Matthews from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matthews keeping full guard, as McGillian tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGillian won't allow Matthews to sweep him here.
Matthews wants to stand up but McGillian is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Matthews is trying to control the position but McGillian postures up.
Matthews might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matthews throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Anthony Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McGillian shoots in and bounces Matthews off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Matthews has his foot on McGillian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McGillian works his way back into a safe position though.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but McGillian is having none of it.

Matthews isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McGillian stacks Matthews on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McGillian!
Matthews is trying to control McGillian's posture but McGillian avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGillian stands up and beckons Matthews to his feet.
Matthews swinging wildly here.
Matthews takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matthews works over McGillian's head and body with a nice combination.
Matthews is looking to wear down McGillian with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matthews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McGillian fails with a takedown attempt.
Matthews tries to bum rush McGillian with a series of wild strikes but McGillian uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a double jab.

McGillian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Matthews knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McGillian on the ground.
McGillian throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Matthews is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matthews gets back to half guard.
McGillian prevents Matthews from improving his position.
Matthews slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McGillian trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGillian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
McGillian wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matthews pushes McGillian off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Matthews misses with a double jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McGillian scores with a takedown into Matthews's guard.
Matthews is looking to stand up but McGillian isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Donald McGillian.
Well McGillian 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donald McGillian!