PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mat Matmat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Matmat might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to pass tha axe. Mat Matmat could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Hughs's chin.

Matmat
vs
Hughs

176 cm
31
167 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
167 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Hell's Balls Fightwear
TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Hell's Balls Fightwear
Cobra Pharmaceuticals (159++ Stamina)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Matmat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Hughs!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matmat.
Hughs lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Hughs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Matmat sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matmat trying to hold on to Hughs's head to control him but Hughs postures up.

Matmat looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hughs content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matmat tries to roll over but Hughs keeps him under control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Hughs hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hughs misses with the combination.

Hughs moves into range and clinches up with Matmat.
Matmat tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing Matmat back against the cage.
Matmat tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hughs.
Matmat tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Matmat really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Matmat tries to hold on but Hughs postures up.
Hughs controlling the position easily from mount.
Matmat tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matmat is working hard here to advance position.
Matmat is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matmat can't escape the position.
Hughs can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matmat is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matmat is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matmat tries to hold on but Hughs postures up.
Matmat is trying desperately to improve position.
Matmat tries to lock up and control but Hughs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughs trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hughs avoids the attempt from Matmat to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hughs dominated that round.
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.

Hughs drives through with a takedown into Matmat's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Matmat is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hughs controlling from the top position.

Hughs got a little sloppy there for a moment and Matmat has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hughs has managed to get both his arms back between Matmat's legs - danger averted.
Matmat wants to improve his position but instead Hughs has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matmat wants to get back to full guard.

Matmat looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hughs tries to pass to full mount but Matmat defends it.
Hughs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joe Hughs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughs wants to take a breather but Matmat is having none of it.
Matmat trying to get back to full guard but Hughs takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matmat tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hughs is trying to control here but Matmat has managed to regain half guard.
Matmat moves into full guard.

Matmat is looking for a triangle but Hughs pushes his legs off easily.
Matmat is trying to control the position but Hughs postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matmat keeping full guard, as Hughs tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matmat keeping moving, preventing Hughs from controlling successfully.

Matmat looking for subs off his back but Hughs has passed one foot through into half guard.

Matmat looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matmat tries to get to full guard but Hughs has control of the leg.
Hughs seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matmat does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hughs trying to pass the guard but Matmat defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Hughs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughs doesn't manage to clinch there - Matmat circles away.

Hughs drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hughs trying to control the position from guard on top but Matmat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matmat looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hughs has picked Matmat up and slammed him! Matmat can't keep hold of the triangle and Hughs manages to pass to side control!
Matmat is looking for a sweep.
Matmat is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Matmat is trying to control Hughs's posture but Hughs avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matmat is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hughs is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Matmat tries to get to full guard but Hughs has control of the leg.
Matmat is refusing to be controlled, as Hughs sits in half guard.
Mat Matmat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matmat has a hand on Hughs's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hughs takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Matmat regains half guard.
Matmat wants to improve his position but Hughs is controlling well.

Matmat looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matmat wants to improve his position but Hughs is controlling well.
Matmat is refusing to be controlled, as Hughs sits in half guard.
Hughs not doing much here.

Matmat looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matmat trying to hold on to Hughs's head to control him but Hughs postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matmat manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mat Matmat.
Well Hughs 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mat Matmat!