PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack McMatthew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadoc Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cadoc Calzaghe is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McMatthew
vs
Calzaghe

173 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack McMatthew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cadoc Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Calzaghe does no damage.
Calzaghe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Calzaghe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Calzaghe circles away from the clinch attempt.
McMatthew tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - McMatthew looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Calzaghe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Calzaghe there.
Calzaghe fails to land with a series of punches.

McMatthew moves into the clinch successfully.
McMatthew fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McMatthew misses with a punch on the inside.

Calzaghe breaks the clinch.
Calzaghe looks to land a combination but McMatthew avoids it well.
McMatthew moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
McMatthew tries to close the distance and clinch but Calzaghe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cadoc Calzaghe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McMatthew takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McMatthew wants to clinch.
Calzaghe with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe scores with a jab to the head.
McMatthew wants to clinch up but Calzaghe keeps it at a distance.
McMatthew is looking to clinch.
McMatthew tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Calzaghe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Calzaghe missing with a left hand there. McMatthew was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McMatthew dodges the punch combination from Calzaghe.
McMatthew takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Calzaghe throws a series of strikes that have McMatthew backpedaling.
Calzaghe throws out a loose jab but McMatthew uses good head movement to avoid it.
McMatthew walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Calzaghe circles away from the clinch attempt.
McMatthew tries to clinch up but Calzaghe circles away and keeps his distance.
McMatthew tries to close the distance and clinch but Calzaghe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McMatthew avoids a punch combination nicely.
Calzaghe lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a right and a left that McMatthew avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McMatthew rushes Calzaghe and presses him up against the cage.
McMatthew stalling.
McMatthew fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for McMatthew to work.
McMatthew prevents Calzaghe from breaking the clinch.
McMatthew misses with some punches.

Calzaghe breaks from the clinch.
Calzaghe scores with a hook to the body. McMatthew takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

McMatthew forces Calzaghe back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew misses with a hook from the clinch.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
Calzaghe wants to break the clinch but can't.
McMatthew swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.

Calzaghe manages to break the clinch.
McMatthew tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McMatthew on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Calzaghe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
McMatthew uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe swats away the attempt to clinch by McMatthew.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot.
McMatthew throws a left and a right that both miss
and Calzaghe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McMatthew wants to clinch.
McMatthew fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew tries to clinch up
and Calzaghe counters with a two punch combo.
McMatthew wants to clinch but Calzaghe slips to the side
and Calzaghe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Calzaghe scores with a one two! McMatthew had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

McMatthew is rocked!
McMatthew ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Oh McMatthew is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
McMatthew clinches but Calzaghe breaks the clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McMatthew seems to have got his legs back now.
McMatthew tries to clinch up
enabling Calzaghe to counter with a crisp jab.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab

and McMatthew counters by clinching up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McMatthew throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
McMatthew doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadoc Calzaghe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Calzaghe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McMatthew moves into the clinch.
Calzaghe blocking some punches.
McMatthew swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McMatthew has a couple of punches blocked by Calzaghe.

Calzaghe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McMatthew closes the distance looking to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a one-two to the body.

McMatthew clinches up against the cage.
McMatthew doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McMatthew working aggressively here.

Calzaghe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McMatthew takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McMatthew tries to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McMatthew darts in trying to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws a right and a left that McMatthew avoids nicely.
McMatthew tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Calzaghe counter with a right hand.
McMatthew wants to clinch but Calzaghe slips to the side
and Calzaghe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McMatthew displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Calzaghe throws out the jab.
Calzaghe lands with a right hand.

McMatthew forces Calzaghe back against the cage and clinches.
McMatthew fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Calzaghe can't break the clinch.
Calzaghe is trying to break free.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
McMatthew swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMatthew.
Calzaghe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McMatthew swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe wants to break the clinch but can't.
McMatthew misses with some punches.
Calzaghe wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A body shot lands from McMatthew.
McMatthew misses with the head strike.
Calzaghe blocks an uppercut.
Calzaghe is trying to break the clinch but McMatthew has him pressed against the cage.
McMatthew is working Calzaghe over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McMatthew misses with a hook from the clinch.
Calzaghe is trying to break free.
Calzaghe is trying to break free.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McMatthew.
McMatthew misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McMatthew.
A head punch on the inside from McMatthew fails to land.
McMatthew tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Calzaghe wants to get back to striking at distance but McMatthew won't allow it.
McMatthew misses with a short punch on the inside.
McMatthew lands a shoulder strike.

That's four 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.
The is referee keeping an eye on McMatthew - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
McMatthew working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from McMatthew fails to land.
McMatthew lands an uppercut.
Calzaghe has had enough of the clinch but McMatthew keeps him there for the moment.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McMatthew throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
McMatthew swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
McMatthew lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadoc Calzaghe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Calzaghe misses.
Calzaghe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McMatthew rushes Calzaghe and presses him up against the cage.
A short left from McMatthew.
McMatthew misses with some punches.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but McMatthew has double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McMatthew creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McMatthew scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Calzaghe.
McMatthew swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McMatthew lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
McMatthew lands a right hand that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
McMatthew working aggressively here.
McMatthew swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Calzaghe manages to break the clinch.
Calzaghe's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Calzaghe duly obliges.
McMatthew has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McMatthew wants to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Calzaghe circles away from the clinch attempt.
McMatthew tries to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a two punch combo.
Calzaghe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Calzaghe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Calzaghe is trying to break free.
McMatthew throws a punch but it's blocked by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short uppercut from McMatthew.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from McMatthew.
McMatthew struggles to land a body shot inside as Calzaghe controls his hands.
McMatthew fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Calzaghe can't break the clinch.
McMatthew keeps control of Calzaghe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Calzaghe is trying to break the clinch but McMatthew has him pressed against the cage.
McMatthew misses with a hook from the clinch.
McMatthew stalling the fight.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Calzaghe.

Calzaghe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McMatthew staying out of range there.
McMatthew tries to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a nice body shot.
Calzaghe throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McMatthew takes the fight into the clinch.
Calzaghe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from McMatthew fails to land.

Calzaghe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jack McMatthew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Calzaghe swats away the attempt to clinch by McMatthew.
McMatthew clinches but Calzaghe breaks the clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McMatthew is looking to clinch but Calzaghe is avoiding it.
McMatthew doesn't manage to clinch there - Calzaghe circles away.
Calzaghe sizes up McMatthew with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jack McMatthew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Calzaghe misses with a combination
and McMatthew counters with a left and a right that stings Calzaghe.
McMatthew is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McMatthew tries to clinch but Calzaghe is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMatthew tries to clinch up.
McMatthew wants to clinch
and Calzaghe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McMatthew takes a jab right on the kisser.
McMatthew tries to clinch but Calzaghe is having none of it.

McMatthew closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McMatthew working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from McMatthew fails to land.

Calzaghe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Calzaghe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McMatthew swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Calzaghe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McMatthew tries to clinch up
and Calzaghe counters with a left and a right that stings McMatthew.
Calzaghe jabs at McMatthew's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cadoc Calzaghe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Calzaghe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cadoc Calzaghe!