PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Matson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matson's entrance music is Remember the name. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matson
vs
Givens

190 cm
34
192 lbs
25 - 15 - 2

187 cm
31
195 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160
Zentrope Fighting Universe

DJs Locker

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 25 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Matson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Raylan Givens!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Givens moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Givens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Givens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matson.
Matson just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Givens misses.
Givens slips a straight right by Matson.
Matson takes a swing at Givens's ribcage but misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matson.
Matson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Givens was well out of range. Poor timing from Matson.
Givens checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matson misses with a straight right.
Givens cracks Matson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matson needs to keep his hands up - Givens had a free shot at his head there.
Givens connects with a crisp jab.
Matson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matson misses with a leg kick

and Givens counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Givens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Givens wants to control from the top but Matson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens throws an elbow that misses. Matson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Givens's guard. Nice move by Matson!

Givens has his foot on Matson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matson works his way back into a safe position though.
Matson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Givens is keeping the position for now.
Matson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Matson wants to control from the top but Givens keeps moving.
Matson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Matson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Matson just wasn't active enough.
Matson throws a looping overhand right but Givens ducks down to avoid it.
Matson keeps Givens at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens tries to land a front kick but Matson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Givens takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matson throws a leg kick that misses.
Matson misses with a kick to the body.
Givens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matson is out of range and Givens settles back down.
Matson is looking to wear down Givens with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Givens manages to avoid it.
Matson cracks Givens with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Josh Matson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens shoots in and drives through. Matson sprawls well.
Givens throws a wild body kick that Matson sees coming a mile off.
Matson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Givens.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Matson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Givens has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Givens and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A slow jab from Givens misses its intended target.
Matson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Givens circles away quickly and effectively.
Matson lands with a nice body punch.
Givens misses with a few strikes there.
Matson misses with a combination

and Givens counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Matson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matson can't do much from the bottom here.
Givens tries to move into full mount but can't pass Matson's legs.
Givens scores with punches from side control.
Matson wants to get back to his feet but Givens drags him back down.
Matson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Givens tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Givens throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens scores with punches from side control.
Givens lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The ground and pound from Givens seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Givens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Givens trying to control the position but Matson is working away.
Matson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Givens throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Matson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matson wants to get back to full guard.
Givens frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Givens cracks Matson with a good jab.
Givens connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matson tried to score with a low kick but Givens checks it.
Josh Matson is winning the standup battle so far.
Matson is looking to chop away at Givens's legs.
Givens closes the distance and clinches up with Matson, looking for a takedown. Givens pushes Matson against the cage but Matson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Givens misses with an uppercut. Matson saw that one coming.
Givens lands with a nice body kick.
Givens works the jab nicely.
Givens misses the shot to the body.
A big left from Matson misses.
Givens fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Givens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Matson.
Matson checks a low kick from Givens.
Matson misses with a leg kick
and Givens counters with a low kick, right behind Matson 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matson looks to land a right hand but Givens moved out of range.
Matson misses with a low kick as Givens jumps back.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Givens enables Matson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Givens manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Matson trying to control but Givens is working from the bottom.

Givens has his foot on Matson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matson works his way back into a safe position though.
Matson passes Givens's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Matson prevents Givens from improving his position.

Matson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Givens sees it coming and defends easily.
Givens is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matson's back!
Matson is trapped and Givens is scoring with shots to the head and body.
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!
Givens struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matson covering up well under a series of strikes from Givens.
Givens lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Matson rolls, trying to escape but Givens keeps control of the position.
Givens scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Matson is looking for a way out.
Givens is landing with strikes from the back.
Givens scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Matson is looking for a way out.
Givens is punishing Matson with strikes - can he finish him?!
Raylan Givens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matson covering up well under a series of strikes from Givens.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens missing with strikes from the back.
Matson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Givens is landing with strikes. Matson can't take much more of this.
Givens is striking well from the back but Matson escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Givens thows a huge punch but Matson dodges it nicely.
Givens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matson's head.
Givens trying to mount his opponent but Matson defends it.
Matson looks like he's trying to stand up.

Matson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Givens pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens moves into full mount! Matson won't be happy about that!
Givens postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Matson looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens with the ground and pound from mount.
Givens lands a couple of good shots and Matson has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Well, with Givens on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Matson is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Matson covers up after that shot from Givens.

Givens is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Matson is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Raylan Givens!
After winning the bout, Raylan Givens thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.