PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitaly Fetisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Mathison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fetisov's entrance music is Skillet. A fine choice. Mathison comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Sickness kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fetisov
vs
Mathison

201 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

209 cm
25
244 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitaly Fetisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Mathison!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fetisov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mathison defends it nicely.

Mathison closes the distance and clinches.
Mathison landing knees to the head.
Mathison stalling against the cage.
Fetisov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mathison is defending well.
Mathison wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mathison breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fetisov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaly Fetisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathison lands a really nice looking cross but Fetisov seems unphased.
Mathison lands with a nice body punch.
Fetisov shoots in and drives through. Mathison sprawls well.
Fetisov is breathing heavily.
Mathison tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fetisov swivels and escapes.

Mathison clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathison gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fetisov regains guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Fetisov has a closed guard, preventing Mathison from standing up.
Mathison wants to control from the top but Fetisov keeps moving.
Mathison tries to stand but Fetisov is controlling from the bottom.
Mathison looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

David Mathison has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Fetisov moves to clinch but Mathison breaks away
and Mathison counters with a low kick, right behind Fetisov 's knee.
Fetisov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Mathison.
Fetisov misses with a head kick.
Mathison dives in and grabs Fetisov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fetisov pushes down on Mathison's head and hops out.

Mathison has Fetisov up against the cage in a clinch.

Fetisov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mathison can't fight it off and eventually Fetisov manages to take the fight to the floor. Mathison looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathison is trying to keep Fetisov in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathison wants to stand but Fetisov is controlling the position.
Fetisov is stalling in the full guard.

Mathison is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mathison is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathison is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathison wants to get back to his feet but Fetisov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fetisov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mathison 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mathison shoots in and drives through. Fetisov sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Mathison dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mathison tries for a takedown but Fetisov circles away easily
and Fetisov makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mathison really felt that one!
Fetisov throws a sloppy head kick and Mathison moves out of range easily.
Mathison throws a head kick that Fetisov semi-blocks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fetisov is defended easily by Mathison.
Mathison changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fetisov tries to avoid it but Mathison manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fetisov to the ground. Fetisov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fetisov.
Fetisov dodges the punch combination from Mathison.
Fetisov is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathison has Fetisov up against the cage in a clinch.

Mathison pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mathison shoots in for a takedown but Fetisov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vitaly Fetisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Mathison.
Mathison is breathing heavily.
Fetisov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mathison circles away.
Mathison wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mathison looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathison drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fetisov pulls his leg out and moves away.

Fetisov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mathison manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mathison is trying to get back to full guard.
Fetisov thows a huge punch but Mathison dodges it nicely.
Fetisov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fetisov prevents Mathison from standing back up.
Mathison makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mathison.
Mathison trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Fetisov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mathison's guard.

Fetisov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Fetisov shoots for a double leg takedown but Mathison sprawls well. He's pushed Fetisov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mathison misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fetisov shoots in for a double leg but Mathison sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mathison moves into range and clinches up with Fetisov.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Fetisov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mathison walks away with a smile on his face. Fetisov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Fetisov gets caught flat footed, as Mathison shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathison trying to control the position from guard on top but Fetisov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mathison might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Fetisov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Mathison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab from Fetisov.
Mathison shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fetisov sprawls well. Fetisov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mathison gets slowly back to his feet.
Mathison looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fetisov is fending him off so far but Mathison persists. Nope, Fetisov circles away and we're back to standing.
Fetisov goes for a double leg but Mathison avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mathison continues to drive forward.
Fetisov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mathison gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mathison tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fetisov smiles and moves away.
Vitaly Fetisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Mathison.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathison lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Mathison.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fetisov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathison as he avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mathison looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathison shoots in but no luck this time.

Mathison scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mathison wants to control but Fetisov is keeping him busy.
Fetisov is looking for a sweep.
Mathison trying to control the position but Fetisov is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Fetisov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fetisov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Mathison presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fetisov is squirming around, avoiding Mathison's attempts to control the action.
Mathison prevents Fetisov from getting the reversal.
Mathison looking to control but Fetisov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mathison wants to control but Fetisov has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Vitaly Fetisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathison is thwarting Fetisov's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathison is keen to just control but Fetisov is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by David Mathison.
Mathison shoots in for a takedown but Fetisov shows good takedown defense.
Fetisov throws a nice looking combination but Mathison bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mathison stuffs the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mathison throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
David Mathison is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mathison closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mathison lands in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Mathison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mathison has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Mathison!
David Mathison bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.