PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Hyde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bongi Khumalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hyde
vs
Khumalo

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew Hyde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bongi Khumalo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hyde shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khumalo as he jumps to the side.
Khumalo misses with a double jab.
Khumalo wants to clinch up but Hyde keeps it at a distance.
Hyde stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Khumalo.
Hyde looks to land a combination but Khumalo avoids it well.
Hyde shoots in for a double leg but Khumalo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Khumalo shoots for a takedown but Hyde saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hyde moves out of range of the body kick.
Khumalo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hyde defends it nicely.
Khumalo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hyde is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Khumalo.

It looks like Matthew Hyde has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khumalo lands with a slapping head kick.
Khumalo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hyde as he avoids it easily.
Matthew Hyde has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bongi Khumalo.
Khumalo shoots in looking for a takedown. Hyde tries to sprawl out of it but Khumalo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hyde manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Khumalo.
Hyde has Khumalo pressed against the cage, preventing Khumalo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hyde turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hyde is breathing heavily.
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!
Khumalo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hyde wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Khumalo, who protects the arm well.
Khumalo is pushing Hyde's head away, looking to escape. Hyde manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hyde slows the pace down.
Khumalo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hyde swings around for an armbar but Khumalo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hyde's guard.
Khumalo wants to stand but Hyde has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hyde is working an open guard so Khumalo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyde stuffs the takedown attempt from Khumalo. Khumalo gets slowly back to his feet.
Hyde shoots in for a takedown but Khumalo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Khumalo misses with a series of wild punches.
Hyde throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Hyde looking to score a takedown here. Khumalo is defending well but Hyde drives through and ends up in Khumalo's guard.
Hyde stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khumalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bongi Khumalo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Hyde's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hyde chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Khumalo can pounce on him.
Matthew Hyde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khumalo swinging wildly here.
Hyde has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Khumalo thows a left - swing and a miss!
A good leg kick by Khumalo.
Khumalo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hyde pinned against the cage. Hyde gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Khumalo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matthew Hyde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hyde avoids the head kick by Khumalo.
Hyde moves in looking to clinch but Khumalo pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khumalo stuffs the takedown.

Hyde feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khumalo wants to stand up but Hyde is controlling him.
Hyde would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hyde stops Khumalo from standing up.
Hyde working some strikes from top position.
Khumalo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hyde is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hyde pushing down on Khumalo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hyde tries to stand but can't do so whilst Khumalo controls his leg.
Hyde missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Khumalo wants to stand back up but Hyde manages to pass into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khumalo pushes Hyde away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hyde gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyde scores with a couple of short elbows.

Hyde tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Khumalo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
A lull in the action here as Hyde stalls from top position.
Hyde landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyde works to advance to full mount. Khumalo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hyde working the ground and pound effectively.
Hyde dominating with strikes here.
Hyde takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khumalo really wants to buck Hyde off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Hyde dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Hyde's cut.
That's time! Hyde's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hyde blocks the body kick.
Khumalo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hyde manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hyde throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bongi Khumalo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hyde closes the distance looking to clinch
and Khumalo counters with an inside leg kick.
Khumalo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Khumalo tries to clinch but Hyde is having none of it.
Hyde fails with a takedown attempt.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Khumalo has eaten all the pies!
Hyde tries to clinch but Khumalo is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khumalo throws a head kick but Hyde moves out of range.

Hyde shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Khumalo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hyde connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Khumalo some visible discomfort.
Hyde scoring with punches and elbows.

Khumalo throws Hyde to one side and escapes!
Khumalo fails to land the takedown.
Khumalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khumalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khumalo tries to close the distance and clinch but Hyde swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hyde scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Khumalo tries to keep at a distance but Hyde has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hyde keeps control of Khumalo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Khumalo trying to land knees to the body.
Hyde tries a knee to the head but Khumalo blocks it.
Khumalo is trying to push Hyde away but Hyde has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Khumalo wants to get back to striking at distance but Hyde won't allow it.

Hyde escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khumalo throws the kick towards the body but Hyde avoids it.
Hyde misses with a few strikes there.
Khumalo lands a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyde misses with a combination
and Khumalo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Khumalo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No luck for Khumalo with that takedown attempt.
Hyde thows a body shot but no joy.
Sloppy strikes from Khumalo. Those never looked like landing.

Hyde shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Khumalo is trying to defend but Hyde finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Khumalo is trying to stand up here but Hyde is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Hyde seems content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matthew Hyde.
I think Hyde has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Hyde!