PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Hinton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hinton has chosen Death to All as his entrance music. Chris Matthews had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Matthews
vs
Hinton

176 cm
25
184 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

188 cm
30
215 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chris Matthews!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scott Hinton!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews throws a head kick that misses.
Hinton on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hinton lands a jab to Matthews's midsection.
Matthews connects with a body shot that sends Hinton's belly button to the back.
Hinton has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matthews.
Hinton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matthews.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hinton.
Matthews connects with an inside leg kick.
Hinton walks into a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hinton shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hinton throws the left hand but Matthews avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinton throws a lazy right hand but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hinton swings widly with a right hand
and Matthews counters with a nice leg kick.
Hinton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matthews throws out the jab.
Hinton misses with a wild body shot.

Hinton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matthews napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hinton throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Matthews works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hinton lands strikes from half guard.
Matthews is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews trying to control here.
Hinton trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews keeping control of the position.
Matthews trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chris Matthews just wasn't active enough.
Hinton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with the combination.

Hinton gets a takedown into half guard.
Matthews is trying to stand up here but Hinton is controlling him well.
Matthews controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Matthews has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hinton with the ground and pound but Matthews uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hinton forces his way into half guard.
Matthews tries to roll over but Hinton keeps him under control.
Matthews moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Hinton from controlling successfully.
Hinton with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Matthews will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matthews throws a leg kick which misses Hinton's front leg but catches the back leg as Hinton tries to avoid it.
Matthews checks a leg kick.
Hinton throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Hinton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthews moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Matthews swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hinton connects with a solid leg kick.
Hinton takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
Chris Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews throws a leg kick but Hinton checks it.

Hinton gets a double leg takedown into Matthews's guard.
Hinton trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews managing to control the position.
Hinton trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews managing to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matthews throws a lazy right hand but Hinton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hinton.
Matthews thumps Hinton with a low kick.
Hinton takes one to the chin there.
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 throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matthews scores with a nice right hand.
Matthews avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matthews jabs Hinton to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Hinton - just one landing.

It looks like Chris Matthews has been cut.
Hinton throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Hinton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matthews.
Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matthews scores with a spinning back kick!
Matthews defending well as Hinton loads up on a big left hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matthews, right into the meat.
Matthews lands with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hinton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matthews slips a jab from Hinton.
Matthews avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matthews connects with an inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hinton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick

and Hinton counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hinton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matthews is keeping the position for now.
Hinton is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Hinton from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Matthews will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chris Matthews's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matthews connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hinton's hands.
Hinton slips under a jab from Matthews.
Hinton sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Matthews throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matthews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Scott Hinton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hinton takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Matthews takes a jab right on the kisser.
Matthews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hinton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinton throws a jab when Matthews was well out of range.
Hinton checks a leg kick.
Matthews takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hinton misses with the combination.
Hinton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matthews throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hinton throws an off balance right hand
and Matthews counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Matthews.
Hinton lands a jab to Matthews's midsection.
Matthews keeps Hinton at a distance using the push kick.
Hinton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matthews looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matthews cracks Hinton with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matthews chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hinton throws a big shot that misses.
Hinton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matthews scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hinton in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hinton's head.
Matthews with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hinton looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Matthews lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A jab lands there for Matthews.
Matthews with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses
and Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hinton scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews ducks under a wild hook from Hinton.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matthews jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hinton's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Matthews lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matthews checks a low kick from Hinton.
Matthews moves out of range as Hinton strikes.
Matthews lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews slips a jab from Hinton.
Hinton throws a lazy uppercut
and Matthews counters with a good low kick that Hinton was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Matthews clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Matthews's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Matthews.
Hinton missing with a left hand there. Matthews was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hinton lands a jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matthews.
Hinton misses the jab.

Hinton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hinton is in Matthews's guard.
Matthews has control of Hinton's left arm, preventing Hinton from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Matthews wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A head kick by Matthews misses
enabling Hinton to counter with a crisp jab.
Hinton scores with a nice head shot.
Matthews uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hinton.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hinton misses with a hook
and Matthews counters with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hinton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hinton is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Matthews working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hinton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hinton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hinton trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pulls Hinton in close to his closed guard and prevents Hinton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matthews might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hinton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matthews is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Matthews wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hinton shoots in and bounces Matthews off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Matthews pulls Hinton in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott Hinton has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chris Matthews.
Matthews connects with a high kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews avoids the body shot from Hinton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Scott Hinton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Chris Matthews's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Matthews lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hinton's sensitive parts.
Matthews lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Matthews tries to bum rush Hinton with a series of wild strikes but Hinton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hinton misses the shot to the body.
Hinton throws a jab but it's blocked by Matthews.
Hinton misses with a lunging right hand
and Matthews counters with a good, hard body kick but Hinton shrugs it off.
Hinton throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Hinton has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Matthews.
Hinton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthews misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hinton throws a poor cross that misses
and Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hinton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hinton on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Matthews connects with a leg kick. Hinton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Matthews lands with a nice body kick.
Hinton is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Matthews goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hinton swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matthews slips under a jab from Hinton.
Matthews looks to land a combination. Hinton sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hinton throws a jab when Matthews was well out of range.
Matthews buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matthews throws out a powerful jab.
Matthews scores with a head kick. Hinton tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hinton just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lunges at Hinton with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hinton's hand.
Matthews pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matthews feints and then cracks Hinton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hinton down.
Matthews buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hinton with a nice cross.
Hinton misses with a hook.
Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hinton.
Hinton on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matthews. Matthews obviously looking to wear him down.
Scott Hinton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chris Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Matthews there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matthews connects with a high kick.

Hinton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Matthews's half guard.
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 is controlling Hinton's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews manages to get to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hinton throwing strikes from guard but Matthews blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 49:46
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Chris Matthews!
Chris Matthews retains his super heavyweight title!
An out of breath Chris Matthews thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.