PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kush Goon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Matson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goon's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Tourniquet . Matson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Remember the name kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goon
vs
Matson

190 cm
35
195 lbs
27 - 21 - 0

190 cm
36
192 lbs
26 - 17 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite 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 27 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kush Goon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Matson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A leg kick checked by Goon.
Matson throws a combination. Goon tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Kush Goon has been cut.
Goon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matson pinned against the cage. Matson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Goon avoids the body shot from Matson.
Matson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Goon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matson moves away.
Matson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matson lands a glancing blow to the side of Goon's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Goon misses with a jab to the body
letting Matson counter with a right hand.
Matson missing with a left hand there. Goon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matson takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Goon wants to clinch but Matson slips to the side
and Matson counters with a stiff right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Matson tries to sprawl but Goon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Matson looking for submissions off his back.
Matson wants to control but Goon is keeping busy.

Goon is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've been hearing good reports from Goon's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Goon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Matson wants to improve his position but Goon is controlling well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goon lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Goon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Matson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Goon trying to control the position from guard on top but Matson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matson trying to control the position here.
Matson is trying to control the position but Goon postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Matson trying to control but Goon postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goon blocks the strikes from Matson.
Goon frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Goon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Goon prevents Matson from getting the reversal.
Matson is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Goon can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matson is looking to escape.
Goon landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Goon wants to control but Matson has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Goon slows the pace down in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Matson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Goon trying to pass the guard but Matson defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matson is looking for a sweep. Goon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Goon is trying to control. Matson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kush Goon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Goon throws out a loose jab but Matson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goon throws a shot from downtown. Matson moves away and avoids it.
Nice takedown defense from Matson. No joy for Goon on that attempt.
Goon ducks under a wild hook from Matson.
Matson lands a jab-cross combination.
Goon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Goon blocks a head kick by Matson.
Goon doesn't manage to clinch there - Matson circles away.
Josh Matson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Goon misses the jab.
Goon misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Matson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Goon stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Goon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Goon wants to clinch
and Matson counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goon shoots and misses
and Matson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kush Goon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matson avoids the body shot from Goon.
Matson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Goon in his tracks.
Goon is looking to wear down Matson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
That kick from Matson tenderised Goon's leg. Goon is trying to keep his angry face on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Goon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matson looks to throw the jab but Goon is out of range.
Matson scores with a jab to the jaw.

Kush Goon's cut is getting worse.
Matson scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Matson. Goon shrugs it off though.
Goon has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matson.
Matson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goon takes a swing at Matson's ribcage but misses.
Goon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matson manages to avoid it.
Matson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goon.
Matson lands a jab.
Goon takes one on the button.
A slapping body kick lands there for Matson.
Matson thumps Goon with a low kick.
Matson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Goon stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matson.
Goon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Goon thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Matson.

Kush Goon's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Matson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Goon. Goon circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matson keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circling - Matson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Josh Matson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matson lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matson swings for the body but Goon moves out of range.
Goon missing with a left hand there. Matson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Goon gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Jeez, Kush Goon's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Matson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Goon is rocked!

Matson gets caught napping as Goon dives in and scores a takedown. Matson manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goon trying to control but Matson is working from the bottom.
Goon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Matson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Goon is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matson.
Matson struggling a bit here.
Matson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Goon's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kush Goon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Goon prevents Matson from standing back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Goon trying to mount his opponent but Matson defends it.

Matson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Goon is nestled in close to Matson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kush Goon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Matson misses with a low kick.
Matson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Matson staying out of range there.
Matson throws a lazy right hand but Goon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Goon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Goon is in Matson's guard.
Matson controls Goon momentarily but Goon frees himself.

Matson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Goon trying to control but Matson is working from the bottom.
Goon wants to pass the guard but Matson is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matson is trying to control the position but Goon postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Matson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Goon defends it easily.

Matson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Matson working for a triangle but Goon defends it easily.
Goon passes Matson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Matson actively working from the bottom here.
Josh Matson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goon trying to control the action but Matson is working from the bottom.
Matson is looking to control Goon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matson avoid being mounted?
Matson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Matson is looking to control Goon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matson avoid being mounted?
Matson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Matson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matson trying to hold on to Goon's head to control him but Goon postures up.

Goon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Matson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Goon throwing shots but Matson is blocking nicely.
Goon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Goon is keen to just control but Matson is a slippery customer.

Goon is looking for a kimura but Matson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Goon to get the leverage.
Matson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Matson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Goon is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Matson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Goon throws a looping overhand right but Matson ducks down to avoid it.
Matson dips to his left and cracks Goon with an uppercut!
A telegraphed right hand from Matson misses the target.
Goon on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Goon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goon swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Matson counters with a left and a right that stings Goon.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Goon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kush Goon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Goon walks into a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Matson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Matson!
During a confident post fight interview, Josh Matson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.