PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Mlotkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Spoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mlotkowski
vs
Spoon

180 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
21
147 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Mlotkowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Spoon!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spoon clinches with his opponent.
Spoon is pressed up against the cage. Mlotkowski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spoon down to the mat. Spoon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Spoon instigates a clinch.

Mlotkowski gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Mlotkowski gets to his feet - Spoon follows without any prompting.
Mlotkowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spoon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mlotkowski fails to land the takedown.
Spoon throws an overhand right that lands on Mlotkowski's shoulder, as Mlotkowski tries to avoid the shot.

Mlotkowski drives through with a takedown into Spoon's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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!
Mlotkowski preventing the sweep.
Spoon looking to control.

Mlotkowski is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Spoon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Spoon has escaped and now he's on top!
Mlotkowski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spoon manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spoon is trying to control the position but Mlotkowski postures up.
Mlotkowski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spoon 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.
Spoon throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Mlotkowski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Mlotkowski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Spoon, who protects the arm well.

Mlotkowski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mlotkowski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mlotkowski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Spoon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mlotkowski looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spoon is avoiding damage well.
Spoon wants to control but Mlotkowski postures up.

Mlotkowski stands up and beckons Spoon to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mlotkowski enables Spoon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mlotkowski manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mlotkowski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mlotkowski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spoon defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spoon preventing the sweep.

Spoon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mlotkowski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Spoon has managed to get both his arms back between Mlotkowski's legs - danger averted.
Mlotkowski is breathing heavily.

Mlotkowski looking for a guillotine here but Spoon defends easily.
Spoon trying to control the position from guard on top but Mlotkowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mlotkowski punching to the body, from the bottom.
Spoon trying to control the position from guard on top but Mlotkowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spoon wants to stand but Mlotkowski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Mlotkowski working for a triangle but Spoon defends it easily.
Spoon trying to control the position from guard on top but Mlotkowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mlotkowski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mlotkowski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mlotkowski is striking from the bottom but Spoon uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Mlotkowski with that takedown attempt.

Spoon looking to score a takedown here. Mlotkowski is defending well but Spoon drives through and ends up in Mlotkowski's guard.

Mlotkowski is looking for a triangle but Spoon pushes his legs off easily.
Spoon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mlotkowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spoon tries to stand but Mlotkowski is controlling from the bottom.
Spoon is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Spoon wants to control from the top but Mlotkowski keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mlotkowski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spoon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spoon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mlotkowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spoon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mlotkowski keeping full guard, as Spoon tries to pass.
Spoon trying to control but Mlotkowski is working from the bottom.

Mlotkowski working for submissions but it's allowed Spoon to get to half guard.

Spoon is working for a submission of some sort.
Spoon wants to stand but Mlotkowski has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mlotkowski is refusing to be controlled, as Spoon sits in half guard.
Spoon is looking to advance position but Mlotkowski won't allow it.
Mlotkowski is pressing down on Spoon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mlotkowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spoon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Matt Mlotkowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mlotkowski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Spoon trying to control but Mlotkowski is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mlotkowski had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Spoon defends it easily.

Mlotkowski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spoon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mlotkowski throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Mlotkowski pushes Spoon off and gets back to his feet.

Spoon clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spoon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Spoon moves into range and clinches up with Mlotkowski.

Mlotkowski breaks the clinch.

Mlotkowski gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mlotkowski is trying to work for a kimura but Spoon is defending well.
Spoon wants to control but Mlotkowski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mlotkowski wants to pass to mount but Spoon is defending the position.
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 Matt Mlotkowski will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Spoon looking to score a takedown here. Mlotkowski is defending well but Spoon drives through and ends up in Mlotkowski's guard.
Mlotkowski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Mlotkowski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Spoon wants to control from the top but Mlotkowski keeps moving.
Mlotkowski wants to stand and escape but Spoon is having none of it.

Mlotkowski isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Spoon stacks Mlotkowski on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Spoon!
Spoon wants to stand but Mlotkowski has his arm trapped.
Mlotkowski is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mlotkowski manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mlotkowski tries to pass the half guard into mount. Spoon knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mlotkowski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spoon defending well though.

Mlotkowski is looking for a kimura but Spoon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mlotkowski to get the leverage.
Spoon tries to get to full guard but Mlotkowski has control of the leg.
Spoon gets full guard.

Spoon wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mlotkowski throws a head kick that misses.

Spoon gets a clinch.

Spoon lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spoon is trying to control. Mlotkowski wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mlotkowski actively working from the bottom here.

Mlotkowski looking for submissions off his back.
Spoon wants to take a breather but Mlotkowski is having none of it.
Spoon stalling away here and it's allowed Mlotkowski to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mlotkowski is looking for a triangle here but Spoon uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mlotkowski is looking for a sweep.

Spoon stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Spoon rushes Mlotkowski and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Spoon working hard to break the clinch.

Spoon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Spoon trying to mount his opponent but Mlotkowski defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mlotkowski wants to get back to his feet.

Mlotkowski makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Spoon clinches up with Mlotkowski and pushes him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spoon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mlotkowski is not content to let Spoon control the position.

Spoon seems to be working for a kimura but Mlotkowski defends the submission attempt.

Mlotkowski makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
James Spoon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Mlotkowski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mlotkowski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Spoon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mlotkowski 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Mlotkowski!