PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Talbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dark Matter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Talbert
vs
Matter

185 cm
20
205 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

185 cm
34
205 lbs
13 - 17 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Talbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dark Matter!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matter dives in for a single leg takedown but Talbert sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Talbert wants to break free but Matter has control.
Talbert wants to get back to striking at distance but Matter won't allow it.
Matter prevents Talbert from breaking the clinch.
Matter is looking for a takedown.
Talbert wants to break free but Matter has control.
Matter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Talbert fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sam Talbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dark Matter.
Matter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Talbert throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've been told by Talbert's head coaches at Demon's Elite Gym (9 Elite) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Talbert jabs Matter to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matter needs to keep his hands up - Talbert had a free shot at his head there.
Dark Matter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matter moves away from the strike by Talbert.
Matter closes the distance and clinches up with Talbert, looking for a takedown. Matter pushes Talbert against the cage but Talbert circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matter shoots in for a takedown but Talbert shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Talbert counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matter looks winded!
Matter on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nice jab there from Talbert.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Talbert connects with a nice looking jab.
Talbert throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matter sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Talbert missing with a left hand there. Matter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sam Talbert is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Talbert goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Matter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Talbert cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Matter is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talbert thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Talbert misses the target.
Talbert missing with a left hand there. Matter was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Matter looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Talbert!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Talbert tries to bench press Matter off him but Matter keeps the position.
Talbert is not content to let Matter control the position.
Talbert is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matter tries for a kimura but Talbert is defending well.

Matter goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Talbert has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Matter but great work by Talbert.
Talbert trying to control the action but Matter is working from the bottom.
Matter can't do much from the bottom here.
Matter manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matter looking for submissions off his back.
Matter felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Matter wants to improve his position but Talbert is controlling well.
Well, if Talbert is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Talbert is looking to stall here but Matter recovers full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matter thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Talbert dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Talbert throws a shot from downtown. Matter moves away and avoids it.
Talbert looks to land a right hand but Matter moved out of range.
Talbert misses with a right hand

and Matter counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matter trying to control the position from guard on top but Talbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talbert on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Talbert tries to get out of the position.
Matter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Talbert trying to keep a closed guard but Matter is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dark Matter wasn't active enough on the ground.
Matter moves away from the strike by Talbert.
Talbert ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Matter shoots in but Talbert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matter bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Talbert throws a looping overhand right but Matter ducks down to avoid it.
Matter darts in looking for a takedown but Talbert gets double underhooks and turns Matter into the cage.
Matter is breathing heavily.
Matter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Talbert gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sam Talbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dark Matter.
Matter looking for a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talbert throws a head punch that misses.
Talbert looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Talbert is trying to break the clinch but Matter is controlling him.
Matter keeps control of Talbert as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Matter turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Matter manages to end up in side control.
Talbert knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matter on the ground.
Talbert tries to escape but Matter is in control.
Talbert is trying to control Matter's posture but Matter avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matter slows the pace down.
Talbert struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talbert is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Matter trying to control the position but Talbert is working away.

Matter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dark Matter has got the better of the ground game so far.

Matter goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Talbert has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Matter but great work by Talbert.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matter is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Matter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Talbert staying calm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Talbert taking a break here but Matter is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dark Matter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Talbert misses.
Talbert throws a predictable looking body shot

and Matter counters with a shoot takedown. Talbert fights it but they end up in guard.
Talbert is trying to control the position but Matter postures up.
Matter wants to control from the top but Talbert keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Talbert is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matter is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matter is pushing down on Talbert's leg trying to pass to half guard. Talbert is fighting to maintain full guard but Matter has managed to sneak the leg through.
Matter works his way into full mount!
Talbert is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Matter looking to secure an arm triangle but Talbert defends it well.
Talbert gets back to half guard.
Talbert wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matter wants to control but Talbert is keeping him busy.

Matter is working for a submission of some sort.
Talbert gets back to full guard.
Matter passes Talbert's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Matter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Talbert controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talbert tries to kick Matter off but Matter keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Matter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Matter is looking for a kimura here.
Matter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Talbert trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talbert pushes Matter off looking to stand but Matter dives back in and keeps control.
Matter is looking to take a break and control but Talbert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Talbert is staying active underneath Matter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Matter is pressing down on Talbert's thigh, looking to free his foot. Talbert is holding on for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talbert gets full guard.
Matter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dark Matter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dark Matter!