PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stan Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Brandon Kage was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Mathers
vs
Kage

176 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stan Mathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Kage!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kage misses with a takedown attempt - Mathers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Mathers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mathers lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mathers drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kage dives on top into guard.
Kage throwing strikes but missing.

Mathers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kage gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kage has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kage stands up over Mathers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage trying to control but Mathers is working from the bottom.
Mathers working a defensive guard but Kage passes into half guard.
Mathers tries to get to full guard but Kage has control of the leg.
Kage works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mathers tries to improve his position but instead Kage has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
What can Mathers do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Mathers tries to roll but Kage sticks to his back.
Mathers is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Kage is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Kage has the hooks in. Mathers is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Mathers is working hard here to advance position.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Kage. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Kage keeps control of the position as Mathers tries to break free.
Kage wants to control but Mathers is keeping busy.
Mathers tries to roll but Kage sticks to his back.
Kage biding his time, controlling Mathers.
Mathers is trying to break free.
Mathers turns into Kage and is now in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mathers is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kage changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mathers looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mathers is looking for a sweep.
Mathers is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kage's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mathers wants to improve his position but Kage is controlling well.
Kage throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mathers wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mathers manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Mathers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kage controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Mathers is looking for a triangle but Kage pushes his legs off easily.
Mathers wants to improve his position but instead Kage has moved into half guard.
Mathers is looking for a sweep. Kage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Kage dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kage fails with the takedown

and Mathers counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kage is trying to get back to full guard.
Mathers is looking to stall here but Kage recovers full guard.
Mathers wants to pass the guard but Kage is keeping the position.
Mathers slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Mathers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kage has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kage is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mathers has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage struggling a bit here.

Mathers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mathers advances nicely into full mount.
Kage is looking to get to half guard.

Mathers goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kage turns into him and now he's in Mathers's guard.
Kage pushes down on Mathers's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kage's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kage's back!

Kage showing good submission defense here.
Mathers scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Kage is looking for a way out.

Mathers is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kage is defending well though. Mathers let's go of the attempt for now.
Kage is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kage defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mathers's arms.

Kage fending off the submission attempt from Mathers.

Mathers is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Mathers goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Kage escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Mathers gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathers wants to improve his position but instead Kage has moved into half guard.
Mathers wants to get back to full guard.
Stan Mathers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mathers actively working from the bottom here.
Mathers is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mathers keeps working.

Kage is working for a kimura but Mathers is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Mathers dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mathers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kage wants to clinch but Mathers slips to the side

and Mathers counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kage is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mathers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mathers's back!
Kage connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Mathers to escape the position.
Kage lands punches and elbows.
Kage controlling the position well here. Mathers rolled but Kage kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathers covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage trying to control.
Kage cracks Mathers with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Mathers from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kage's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Good control from Kage.
The referee is taking a good look at Mathers as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Kage!
Kage trying to control momentarily.
Kage throwing sloppy strikes.
Kage trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Mathers doesn't escape.

That's two 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.
Kage trying to control momentarily.
What can Mathers do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Despite being in the dominant position, Brandon Kage just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kage looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mathers!
Kage with shots to the head and body - Mathers looks very uncomfortable down there.

Kage looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kage in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kage looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mathers hang on?
Kage content just to control the position here.
Kage landing shots from mount.
Kage landing strikes from the mount and Mathers is in trouble!
Mathers is looking to get to half guard.
Mathers is squirming around, avoiding Kage's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mathers is trying to reverse the position but instead Kage has taken his back - oops!
Mathers rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mathers trying to control from the bottom.
Mathers manages to get to full guard.
Kage postures up.
Mathers wants to sweep but no luck.

Kage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Kage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kage has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Kage!