PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kyle matinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and pile driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

matinez
vs
driver

165 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kyle matinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, pile driver!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
driver shoots for a double leg takedown but matinez sprawls well. He's pushed driver's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

driver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hook to the body lands for driver.
matinez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. driver smiles and moves away.

driver closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
matinez is looking to regain half guard here but driver keeps moving and retains side control.
matinez stops driver from passing to mount.

driver working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
matinez is looking for a sweep.
driver trying to control the action but matinez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
driver throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
matinez wants to control but driver postures up.
driver trying to control the action but matinez is working from the bottom.
driver really doesn't want to stay on the ground with matinez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

driver clinches with his opponent.

driver has picked matinez up - he's going for a ride! driver dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

matinez looking for submissions off his back.
matinez wants to get back to full guard.
driver throwing shots but matinez is blocking nicely.
driver trying to mount his opponent but matinez defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
matinez tries to get to full guard but driver has control of the leg.
matinez moves into full guard.
driver is pushing down on matinez's leg trying to pass to half guard. matinez is fighting to maintain full guard but driver has managed to sneak the leg through.
driver is pressing down on matinez's thigh, looking to free his foot. matinez is holding on for now.
driver looks gassed!
matinez gets full guard.
driver trying to control the position from guard on top but matinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
matinez wants to sweep but no luck.
driver trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
driver trying to control the position from guard on top but matinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
driver must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
driver postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
driver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
matinez stuffs the takedown attempt from driver. driver gets slowly back to his feet.
matinez looks for a takedown but driver sprawls well.
matinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

driver gets the takedown into side control.
matinez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Well, if driver is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
driver is just content to waste time from the top position. matinez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
driver throwing strikes from guard but matinez blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
matinez has a closed guard, preventing driver from standing up.

matinez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. driver doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. driver manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
matinez trying to control the position.
driver pushing down on matinez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
driver not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

driver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so matinez is just riding it out for now. driver eventually gives up the hold.
driver trying to control the action but matinez is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pile driver dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

matinez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and driver counters with a nice double leg into guard.
driver is looking to stand up but matinez won't let him.
matinez keeping full guard, as driver tries to pass.
driver wants to control from the top but matinez keeps moving.
matinez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
driver tries to free his leg and advance position but matinez is retaining full guard.
driver stopping the sweep attempt from matinez.
driver trying to control the position from guard on top but matinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
driver might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control matinez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
driver is breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from driver as matinez shoots in.
matinez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
matinez with a lazy takedown attempt
and driver counters with a low kick, right behind matinez 's knee.
The fighters circle momentarily. driver darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
matinez tries for a takedown but driver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle matinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
driver throws a head kick that half lands.

driver feints and as matinez raises his hands in defense, driver changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
matinez keeping moving, preventing driver from controlling successfully.
matinez wants to sweep here but driver controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

driver drops back, looking for a kneebar! matinez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. matinez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from matinez!
matinez wants to stand but driver has his arm trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on driver's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
matinez tries to move to mount but driver blocks the move with his legs.
driver is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
matinez trying to control the action but driver is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
driver is trying to get back to half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
matinez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

driver drives through with a takedown into guard.
driver pushing down on matinez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
driver missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
driver trying to control the action but matinez is working from the bottom.
driver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

matinez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
driver controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
matinez is trying to control but can't.
matinez regains full guard. Nicely done.
driver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
driver trying to control the position from guard on top but matinez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
driver is pushing down on matinez's leg trying to pass to half guard. matinez is fighting to maintain full guard but driver has managed to sneak the leg through.
driver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but matinez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

matinez looking for submissions off his back.
matinez is looking to control driver's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can matinez avoid being mounted?
matinez regains full guard. Nicely done.
matinez trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

pile driver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

driver stuffs the takedown.
matinez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and driver counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
matinez trying to keep a closed guard but driver is proving a slippery customer.

matinez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
driver content to stall in guard here.

matinez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
driver trying to control but matinez is working from the bottom.

matinez is looking for a triangle but driver pushes his legs off easily.
driver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
driver wants to control from the top but matinez keeps moving.
matinez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in driver's guard.
matinez passes easily into side control. Nice work.

matinez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
matinez advances nicely into full mount.
driver is desperately trying to improve his position but matinez has a good base and remains in mount.
driver tries to hold on but matinez postures up.
pile driver has got the better of the ground game so far.

driver defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from matinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
driver wants to hold on but matinez pushes him away.
driver is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
driver tries to hold on but matinez postures up.
driver is looking to get to half guard.
matinez avoids the attempt from driver to control.

matinez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
matinez prevents driver from getting the reversal.
driver slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
matinez wants to lay and pray for a moment but driver keeps working.
matinez wants to stand up but driver has a hold of him and won't allow it.
driver is looking to escape.

matinez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and driver defends it well.

matinez wants to work for an arm triangle but driver is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
matinez trying to control from half guard but driver is working away.
driver wants to get back to his feet.

driver looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
matinez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
driver trying to control from the bottom.
driver gets back to full guard.
driver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
driver looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

driver looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
matinez wants to control but driver is keeping busy.
Kyle matinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
driver is trying to control the action in half guard but matinez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
driver stalling away here and it's allowed matinez to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

matinez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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 Kyle matinez.
Well driver 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... pile driver!