PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Matrione (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buddy Stevens acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Matrione
vs
Stevens

170 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

155 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Matrione!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Buddy Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matrione looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sloppy strikes from Stevens. Those never looked like landing.
Matrione tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stevens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matrione somewhat.
Matrione connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stevens takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matrione cracks a nice hook into Stevens's ribs.
Matrione looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Matrione. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matrione with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stevens takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matrione scores with a body shot.
Matrione has a takedown stuffed.
Matrione lands a really nice looking cross but Stevens seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrione lands a lovely overhand right.
Stevens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stevens with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Matrione to score with a decent uppercut.
Buddy Stevens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevens throws a jab but it's blocked by Matrione.

Matrione closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stevens did well to prevent Matrione getting side control.
Matrione thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
Matrione thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
Matrione 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.
Matrione lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stevens is looking to escape.
Matrione landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matrione not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matrione thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stevens's head.
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Matrione in his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matrione working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Matrione landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Matrione there.
Matrione is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Matrione sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
Stevens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matrione. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matrione throwing shots but Stevens is blocking nicely.
Matrione will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Matrione looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Matrione seems to be looking for submissions.

Matrione is looking for a kimura but Stevens is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matrione to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Matrione is very close to passing his half guard.
Matrione drops an elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Stevens looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matrione seems to be working for a kimura but Stevens defends the submission attempt.

Matrione is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stevens is just riding it out for now. Matrione eventually gives up the hold.
Stevens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Matrione.
Stevens has hold of Matrione's hands but Matrione slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Matrione is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stevens has managed to free his arm - good work.
Matrione not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Matrione connects with a nice short shot to Stevens's temple.

Matrione is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stevens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Matrione working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Matrione content to control rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ground and pound from Matrione.
Matrione lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matrione seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stevens does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matrione scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Matrione looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Matrione dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matrione fails with a takedown attempt.
Matrione clobbers Stevens with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Matrione throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matrione.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Matrione is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Matrione closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevens quickly recovers to half guard.
Matrione wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stevens keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to get back to full guard.
Matrione trying to control from half guard but Stevens is working away.
Matrione scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matrione landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Matrione sits in half guard.
Matrione is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stevens!
Matrione lands a nice shot to the head.
Matrione wants to control the pace but Stevens is squirming around nicely.
Matrione lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matrione landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Buddy Stevens has been cut.
Stevens is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matrione working for a submission but Stevens is keeping him at bay.
Matrione lands a big shot there that rocks Stevens but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Stevens regains half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matrione lands a nice short elbow.

Matrione looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Matrione is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevens can do to turn this around?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Matrione in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matrione lands a nice short elbow.
Matrione scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matrione winds up and cracks Stevens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Matrione is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matrione landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matrione looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Matrione there.

Matrione is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Stevens to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matrione postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Matrione's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matrione landing with the ground and pound.
Matrione working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Matrione throws a big elbow that misses.

Matrione avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matrione keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stevens's head.
Matrione working some strikes from top position.
Matrione trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matrione controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Matrione dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Buddy Stevens's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matrione lands a nice looking body shot.
Matrione misses with a takedown attempt - Stevens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stevens on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matrione wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matrione is defended easily by Stevens.
Stevens throws a jab when Matrione was well out of range.
Matrione lands a head shot.
Matrione works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrione misses with a body shot.
Stevens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matrione shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevens sprawls well. He's pushed Matrione's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Matrione. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matrione shoots in for a takedown but Stevens shows good takedown defense.
Matrione keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matrione lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matrione.
Stevens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Matrione shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Matrione lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matrione passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stevens!
Matrione landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens regains half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matrione is trying to control the action in half guard but Stevens is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevens taking some punishment here, with Matrione in his half guard.
Stevens has hold of Matrione's hands but Matrione slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Matrione looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Matrione seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrione wants to pass to mount but Stevens is defending the position.

Matrione is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stevens sees it coming and defends easily.
Matrione is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Matrione passes to side control.
Matrione working the ground and pound from side control.
Matrione working the ground and pound.
Matrione works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Stevens gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Matrione connects with a nice short shot to Stevens's temple.
Mark Matrione overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matrione winds up and cracks Stevens with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Matrione.
Matrione looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stevens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Matrione.
Mark Matrione is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matrione is taking a breather. Stevens says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matrione lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matrione working over Stevens with some ground and pound. Stevens looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matrione frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Matrione working the ground and pound effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Matrione showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matrione 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:26
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Matrione!