PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micheal White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Connor
vs
White

183 cm
19
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Connor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Micheal White!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
White tries to clinch up
and Connor counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Connor throws out a loose jab but White uses good head movement to avoid it.
Connor scores with a nice strike.

White moves into range and clinches up with Connor.
Connor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Connor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Connor is trying to push White away but White has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
White tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Connor as White tries to tie him up.
Connor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Connor has clasped his hands together around White's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Connor working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
White defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor tries to advance to mount but White denies him.
Connor moves into full mount!
White is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Connor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
White blocking the ground and pound.
White is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Connor looking to control but White is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
White is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Connor breaks from White's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Connor controlling the position easily from mount.
Connor throwing strikes here but White is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Connor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Connor throws some wild stikes that White manages to avoid easily.
Connor looking to ground and pound but White is blocking nicely.
Connor scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish White?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connor working for a submission but White is keeping him at bay.
Connor unloads with some shots from mount but White bucks and avoids them well.
White avoids a series of strikes thrown by Connor.
White holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Connor tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
White is bucking up trying to escape but Connor cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Connor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connor thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Connor dominated that round.
That's time! Connor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Connor misses with a hook

and White moves into the clinch.
Connor lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Connor scores with a shot to the side of White's head.

Connor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
White moves to clinch but Connor breaks away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
White wants to clinch
and Connor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
White closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Connor to counter with a crisp jab.
Connor misses with a few strikes there.
White ducks under a wild hook from Connor.
Connor lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Connor.
Connor tests White's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White closes the distance looking to clinch
and Connor counters with an outside leg kick.
White darts in trying to clinch
and Connor counters with a one-two to the body.
White closes the distance looking to clinch
and Connor counters with a good low kick that White was not able to check.
White walks into a stiff left hand from Connor.
Connor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
Connor throws a right hand that White ducks under and follows up with a left that White also avoids with ease.
White walks into a left hand.
Matthew Connor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
White tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Connor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Connor rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and White counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Connor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Connor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Connor.
Connor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Connor working aggressively here.
A short left from Connor.
Connor lands a hook to the side of the head.
Connor cracks White with a nice body shot.
Connor is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but White is defending well.
Connor pushes White back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short left from Connor.
White is breathing heavily.
White throws a knee to the head but misses.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
White tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Connor counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor throws a chopping leg kick but White manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Connor misses with a body shot.
Connor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Matthew Connor is winning the standup battle so far.
White doesn't manage to clinch there - Connor circles away.
White tries to clinch up
and Connor counters with a good low kick that White was not able to check.
Connor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. White looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Connor throws the kick towards the body but White avoids it.
Connor lands a jab to White's midsection.
Connor misses with a wild combination.
White tries to clinch
and Connor counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps White thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor scores with a nice right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Connor. White does a little dance to reset his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Connor connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! White scrambles back to his feet.
White tries to clinch but Connor moves away
and Connor makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. White really felt that one!
Connor misses with a few strikes there.
White tries to clinch but Connor is having none of it.
White tries to move into range but Connor moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Connor fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
White has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Connor finds it's way round the side to connect with White's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Connor keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
White moves to clinch but Connor breaks away
and Connor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Connor dominated that second round.
That's time! Connor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Connor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Connor. Those never looked like landing.
Connor throws a jab when White was well out of range.
White tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Connor counters with a body kick that stops White in his tracks momentarily.
White tries to clinch up.
White tries to clinch but Connor moves away
and Connor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Connor with a nice cross.
Connor throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
White closes the distance looking to clinch
and Connor counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

White has taken the fight to the clinch.
White connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Matthew Connor has been cut.
Connor misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Connor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Connor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. White avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Connor throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Connor.
Connor lands a right hand that snaps the head of White backwards.
Connor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Connor wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Connor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Connor.
Connor scores with a hook to the body.
White takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Connor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right hand to the body from Connor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A hook to the body from Connor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor is looking for a takedown.
Connor lands a body punch.
Connor misses with a hook from the clinch.
Connor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of White backwards.
White gets underhooks to prevent Connor's takedown attempt.
A short uppercut from Connor.
Connor tries to score a body lock takedown but White shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Connor cracks White with a nice body shot.
White blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Connor lands with a short shot to the head.
White misses with a knee strike.
A short left from Connor.
Connor lands a nice shot to the body.
Connor pushes White back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Connor fails to land with a series of punches.
Connor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Connor circles away from the clinch attempt
and Connor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
White looks to clinch
and Connor counters with a stiff right hand.
White tries to clinch up
and Connor counters with a straight right hand.
White takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Connor misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
White darts in trying to clinch
and Connor counters with a body kick.
Connor lands with an uppercut that bounces White off the cage and back into range.
Connor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Connor scoring well with a low kick there.
A punch lands to the side of White 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White tries to clinch
and Connor counters with a nice body shot.
Connor misses with a body kick.
Micheal White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Connor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Connor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Connor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Connor!
An out of breath Matthew Connor thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.