PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Greg Cola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Cola
vs
Matic

180 cm
25
137 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

179 cm
34
141 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Greg Cola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Matic!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cola really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matic trying to stall but Cola improves his position.
Matic prevents a body shot from Cola.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Josh Matic.

Cola shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matic is trying to defend but Cola finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Matic punching from the bottom.
Matic is trying to stand back up but Cola is controlling him
Cola looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matic is trying to stand up here but Cola is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic is trying to escape back to his feet but Cola uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Cola lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Matic gets back to half guard.
Cola has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matic wants to stand back up but Cola manages to pass into side control.
Matic is trying to get back to half guard.
Matic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matic prevents Cola from moving into mount.
Matic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cola just content to control the position.
Matic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cola wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cola controls the position from side control.
You can see the frustration on Matic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cola's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matic is trying to stand.
Matic gets back to full guard.
Matic is looking to stand up but Cola isn't so interested in that idea.
Matic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cola avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cola trying to control the position from guard on top but Matic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cola slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matic tries to buck Cola off but Cola is having none of it.

Cola decides to stand up, so the ref orders Matic to his feet.
Matic wants to clinch up but Cola keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Matic is predictable there
and Cola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matic takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Josh Matic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matic misses with a kick to the body.
Matic throws a leg kick but Cola checks it.
Matic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cola.
Matic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A combination from Matic does no damage.
Cola checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matic swinging wildly here.
Matic looks gassed!
Cola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matic as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Matic will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cola shoots in but no luck this time.
Matic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matic looks to land a combination but Cola avoids it well.
Matic throws a head kick that misses

and Cola counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cola.
Matic trying to stall but Cola improves his position.
Matic taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cola as Matic tries to tie him up.
Matic avoiding damage.
Cola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cola tries to land a knee to the head but Matic blocks with his arms.
Matic looking to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Josh Matic.
Matic tries to land a front kick but Cola steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Matic is looking to chop away at Cola's legs.
Matic throws out a leg kick but Cola moves out of range and Matic only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cola fails with the takedown.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Matic lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cola has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cola and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matic.
Cola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Matic as Cola shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Cola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cola moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matic leaves Cola with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matic connects with an inside leg kick.
Matic throws a head kick but Cola moves out of range.
Cola looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matic is fending him off so far but Cola persists. Nope, Matic circles away and we're back to standing.
Matic misses with a wild combination.
Matic lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Matic is breathing heavily.
Matic throws a head kick that misses

and Cola counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cola trying to control the position from guard on top but Matic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matic is trying to keep Cola in close.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Cola from controlling successfully.
Cola passes Matic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cola is looking to take a break and control but Matic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matic works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cola won't allow Matic to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matic holds on and takes a little breather.
Cola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Cola from controlling successfully.

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

Matic looking for a guillotine here but Cola defends easily.
Cola trying to control but Matic is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cola would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matic is keeping the position for now.
Cola trying to control the position from guard on top but Matic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matic is looking for a triangle but Cola pushes his legs off easily.
Cola content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josh Matic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Matic throws a combination that misses

and Cola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matic won't be happy with that.
Matic is trying to improve his position.
Matic is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cola asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cola taking a breather here.
Matic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cola stands up.
Matic throws a head kick that misses
and Cola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Matic misses.
Josh Matic seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matic throws a sloppy head kick

and Cola counters by moving into the clinch.
Matic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matic is looking to control Cola's arms but Cola gets an underhook and turns him. Now Matic has his back to the cage.
Come on Matic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Matic receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Cola wants to stall.

Cola jumps guard.
Matic looking to sit in guard and control but Cola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cola would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Cola from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cola missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cola passes Matic's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cola seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matic tries to kick Cola off in order to stand up. Cola Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Matic can't do much from the bottom here.
Matic manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cola slows the pace down in half guard.

Cola decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matic gets a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Matic stalling in the clinch.
Cola tries to pull guard but Matic won't allow it.
Cola tries to pull guard but Matic holds him up against the cage and eventually Cola drops back down to his feet.
Matic taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Cola has had enough of the clinch but Matic keeps him there for the moment.
Matic is trying to stall.
Cola wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Cola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Josh Matic.
Matic wants to clinch up but Cola keeps it at a distance.
Cola avoids the head kick by Matic.
Cola defending well as Matic loads up on a big left hand.
Matic lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cola backs up against the cage.
Matic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice sprawl there from Matic as Cola shoots in.
Cola shoots for a double leg takedown but Matic sprawls well. He's pushed Cola's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matic looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cola shoots in looking for a takedown. Matic tries to sprawl out of it but Cola keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
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!
Matic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch combination from Matic misses.
Greg Cola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Matic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sloppy strikes from Matic. Those never looked like landing.

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 Greg Cola.
I think Matic 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Matic!