PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samson Savea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Samson Savea has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Samson Savea seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Savea
vs
Matthews

205 cm
26
257 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

195 cm
25
285 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Fast

Brute
Just Fight (Shirts 6$ Shorts 8$)

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Samson Savea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savea takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matthews needs to keep his hands up - Savea had a free shot at his head there.

Matthews tries to sprawl but Savea drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Savea thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.

Matthews actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Savea missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Matthews kicks off Savea and gets to his feet.
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Savea takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matthews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Savea defends it nicely.
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matthews fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Samson Savea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Matthews.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savea stuffs the takedown attempt from Matthews. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Savea throws a looping overhand right but Matthews ducks down to avoid it.

Savea rushes Matthews and presses him up against the cage.
Savea wants to get back to striking at distance but Matthews won't allow it.
Savea tries to break free but Matthews pushes him back against the cage.
Matthews looking for a takedown.
Matthews jumps guard but Savea turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Savea blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Matthews prevents a body shot from Savea.
Savea wants to break the clinch but can't.

Savea breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to score a power double leg takedown but Savea sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matthews somewhat.

Matthews closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Savea quickly recovers to half guard.
Matthews stops Savea from getting back to his feet.

Matthews is working for a submission of some sort.
Savea knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matthews on the ground.
Savea is trying to stand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Matthews is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savea is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Savea keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Matthews seems to be looking for submissions.

Matthews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matthews stalling away here and it's allowed Savea to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matthews is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Matthews throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Matthews dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matthews throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Savea tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Matthews is in Savea's guard.
Matthews slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Max Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Savea keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews pushing down on Savea's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matthews sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Matthews missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews trying to control the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Matthews is trying to control. Savea wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Max Matthews was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Savea gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Matthews.

Matthews shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Savea manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Matthews controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savea works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Savea is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Max Matthews has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Matthews fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savea scores with a jab to the head.
Savea throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Savea.
Savea scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Savea misses with a few strikes there.
Savea takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Savea misses with a body shot.
Matthews throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Savea's waist but Savea gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matthews off to one side.
Samson Savea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savea wants to land a leg kick but Matthews is out of range.
Matthews throws a head kick but Savea moves out of range.
No luck for Savea with that takedown attempt.
Savea fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Savea swivels and escapes.
Samson Savea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Matthews.

Matthews drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savea wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Savea has wrist control.
Matthews engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savea works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Savea is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Savea's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Savea tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Savea.
Savea looks to land a combination but Matthews avoids it well.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Savea but Savea pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matthews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Savea.
Savea throws a hook but Matthews blocks it.
Samson Savea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Savea. Those never looked like landing.
Matthews blocks a head kick by Savea.

Savea rushes Matthews and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Savea tries to break free but Matthews pushes him back against the cage.

Matthews drags the fight down to the ground.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Matthews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savea postures up in Matthews's guard and throws a big left but Matthews blocks it.

Matthews pushes Savea off and scrambles back to his feet.
Savea fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matthews has managed to clinch.
Matthews can't get the takedown.
Matthews is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Matthews tries to pull guard but Savea forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Samson Savea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Matthews.

Savea breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savea stuffs the takedown attempt from Matthews. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Savea shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matthews sprawls well. Matthews wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Savea gets slowly back to his feet.
Savea swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Matthews.
Savea lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Savea.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Savea pinned against the cage. Savea gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Savea swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savea chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matthews can pounce on him.
Matthews fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savea misses the shot to the body.
Matthews walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Savea clinches.
Matthews wants to take the fight to the mat but Savea manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Matthews jumps guard and drags Savea to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Matthews bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Savea's guard.
Max Matthews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Matthews gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matthews blocks a jab.
Samson Savea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Savea defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matthews.
Savea throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Savea.
Sloppy strikes from Savea. Those never looked like landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Matthews.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savea is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The strikes coming from Matthews are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Matthews working the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews slows the pace down.

Matthews is working to tighten is grip on Savea's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Savea has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Matthews is really squeezing tight and eventually Savea passes out! Matthews breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Max Matthews!
In his post fight interview, Max Matthews started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.