PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Matrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dee Stirling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stirling comes into a darkened arena with his song building. All That Remains-The Air That I Breathe kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matrix
vs
Stirling

180 cm
28
195 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Cyclone Nutrition Company

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Matrix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dee Stirling!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stirling scores with a hook to the body. Matrix takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Stirling tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matrix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stirling lands a jab to the nose.
Matrix just misses with a punch to the body.
Matrix walks into a left hand.
Matrix takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Stirling keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Good exchange - Stirling coming out on top.
A low kick from Matrix is predictable there
and Stirling connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stirling takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Matrix dives in and scores a takedown into Stirling's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Stirling avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matrix postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stirling has Matrix pulled in close to control his posture.
Matrix is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrix stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stirling swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stirling working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Matrix has passed into half guard!
Matrix looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Stirling with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Matrix with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Matrix working over Stirling with some ground and pound. Stirling looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stirling trying to control but Matrix postures up.
Matrix stalling.
Stirling trying to hold on to Matrix's head to control him but Matrix postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matrix is pressing down on Stirling's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stirling is holding on for now.
Matrix trying to control the action but Stirling is working from the bottom.
Stirling trying to hold on to Matrix's head to control him but Matrix postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dee Stirling was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stirling misses the shot to the body.
Matrix connects with a single shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matrix will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matrix misses with a straight left.
Matrix takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrix swats away the attempt to clinch by Stirling.
Matrix keeps the fight on the outside.
Matrix on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stirling misses with a straight right.
Stirling uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matrix.
Matrix shoots in and drives through. Stirling sprawls well.
Stirling lands a jab to the nose.
Matrix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stirling misses with a lunging right hand

and Matrix counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matrix passes Stirling's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matrix lands a nice short elbow.
Stirling pushes Matrix off looking to stand but Matrix dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matrix is pressing down on Stirling's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stirling is holding on for now.
Matrix is keen to just control but Stirling is a slippery customer.
Matrix working Stirling over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matrix wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stirling keeps working.
Stirling has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matrix is working away from the top position though.
Stirling blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matrix.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matrix is trying to control the action in half guard but Stirling is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stirling has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matrix is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matrix lands a glancing blow to the side of Stirling's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Matrix 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.

Stirling throws the left hand but Matrix avoids the punch easily.
Matrix misses with an uppercut.
Stirling moves away from the strike by Matrix.
Sloppy strikes from Stirling. Those never looked like landing.
Matrix uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stirling.
Nice shot by Stirling.
Stirling misses with a few strikes there.
Dee Stirling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matrix slips a straight right by Stirling.
A clash of legs there as Stirling blocks the low kick.
Matrix throws a hook but Stirling avoids it easily.
Stirling keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stirling walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matrix scores with a jab. Stirling acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stirling misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stirling scores with a hook.
Matrix misses with an uppercut.
Stirling tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matrix was well out of range. Poor timing from Stirling.
Stirling tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Matrix misses the target.
Matrix fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stirling on the side of the head.
Matrix bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stirling's head backwards.
Matrix takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dee Stirling is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stirling wants to clinch.
Dee Stirling is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big right from Stirling misses.
Matrix staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stirling misses with a double jab

and Matrix counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matrix throws an elbow but Stirling slips to the side and avoids it well.
Stirling can't do much from the bottom here.
Stirling tries to control but Matrix manages to take his back.

Stirling fending off the submission attempt from Matrix.
Matrix landing with strikes.
Matrix scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Matrix patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrix is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Matrix landing with strikes.
Matrix loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Stirling hold on?
Matrix is controlling the position but Stirling somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Stirling is trying to stand back up but Matrix is controlling him

Matrix is looking for a kimura but Stirling is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matrix to get the leverage.
Matrix takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matrix sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stirling defending well though.
Matrix is trying to control the action in half guard but Stirling is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stirling is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stirling is not content to let Matrix control the position.
Matrix stalling.
Stirling is trying to maintain the position but Matrix is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Matrix.
Stirling blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Matrix dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stirling leaves Matrix with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Stirling moves into the clinch successfully.

Matrix is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Stirling can't fight it off and eventually Matrix manages to take the fight to the floor. Stirling looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Stirling keeping moving, preventing Matrix from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matrix accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matrix won't allow Stirling to get back to his feet.
Matrix is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matrix passes Stirling's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrix is stalling here. Stirling is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Matrix seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Stirling has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Matrix can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matrix tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stirling wants to stand but Matrix is controlling his arm.
Matrix wants to control but Stirling postures up.
Matrix is looking for a sweep.
Matrix struggling a bit here.
Stirling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matrix keeps working.

Stirling is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matrix knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stirling tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Stirling tries to advance to mount but Matrix denies him.
Matrix manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stirling's best efforts.
Matrix trying to control here.
Matrix is controlling Stirling's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Stirling wants to control but Matrix is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrix works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stirling would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stirling wants to control from the top but Matrix keeps moving.

Stirling wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Matrix's closed guard. He's half up but Matrix has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Matrix pivots and extends the arm, Stirling falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Matrix! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Matrix!
Our winner, John Matrix, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.