PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Angelos Bellanova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Matson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Remember the name. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Bellanova
vs
Matson

190 cm
30
201 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
37
192 lbs
28 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Angelos Bellanova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Matson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bellanova moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bellanova attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bellanova looks to score with a jab to the body but Matson is just out of range.
Matson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bellanova sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matson misses with a looping right.
Bellanova buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bellanova with a jab.
Matson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bellanova ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matson moves away.
Bellanova looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matson. That's going to slow Bellanova down.
Matson scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Angelos Bellanova has been cut.
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!
Bellanova ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matson moves away.
Bellanova fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matson.
Bellanova lands with an overhand left.
Nice defenses there by Matson.
Matson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellanova uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matson.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matson.
Bellanova throws a low kick, looking for Matson's leg but Matson calmly moves out of range.
Bellanova avoids the body shot from Matson.
Matson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Matson.
Bellanova misses the shot to the body.
Matson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matson tries to land a leg kick but Bellanova saw it coming and moves away.
Bellanova lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matson moves out of range of the strikes.
Matson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bellanova throws out the jab.
A jab lands there for Bellanova.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matson jabs Bellanova right on the nose. Bellanova blinks but takes it well.
Bellanova dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matson. That did some damage!
A solid body kick from Matson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - Matson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matson throws a lazy right hand but Bellanova sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Josh Matson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matson misses with a body kick.
Matson pushes Bellanova away with a front kick.
Bellanova lands a nice shot that snaps Matson's head back.
Matson misses with a low kick.
Matson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bellanova ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bellanova takes a swing at Matson's ribcage but misses.
Matson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Matson.
Bellanova stuns Matson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matson throws a wild body kick that Bellanova sees coming a mile off.
Matson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bellanova.
Matson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Matson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bellanova connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Matson throws a hook but Bellanova avoids it easily.
Bellanova moves away from the strike by Matson.
Matson cracks Bellanova with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Bellanova has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bellanova can't find room to land a body shot as Matson controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Bellanova.
Matson throws a punch but it's blocked by Bellanova.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bellanova misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bellanova.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matson struggles to land a body shot inside as Bellanova controls his hands.
Bellanova lands a body punch.
Bellanova lands a good knee to the midsection. Matson won't want to take too many of those.
Matson has a couple of punches blocked by Bellanova.
Bellanova throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matson blocks it with crossed arms.
Matson stalling the fight.
Matson trying to stall but Bellanova improves his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bellanova tries to land knees in the clinch but Matson avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Angelos Bellanova will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Angelos Bellanova'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.

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bellanova. Matson shrugs it off though.
Bellanova digs a good body shot into Matson's ribs.
Matson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bellanova counters with a solid body kick.
Bellanova walks into a stiff left hand from Matson.
Matson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bellanova is out of range and Matson settles back down.
Bellanova slips under a jab from Matson.
Matson throws an off balance right hand
and Bellanova counters with a nice body kick.
Bellanova fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matson.
Bellanova is looking to score with low kicks.
Bellanova throws a jab when Matson was well out of range.
Matson misses with an uppercut. Bellanova saw that one coming.
Bellanova digs a good body shot into Matson's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bellanova scoring well with a low kick there.
Matson throws out a loose jab but Bellanova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bellanova thumps Matson with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellanova works the jab nicely.
A good leg kick by Bellanova.
Bellanova moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bellanova ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bellanova tests Matson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A leg kick checked by Matson.
Bellanova lands a nice looking body shot.
Matson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bellanova has time to react.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matson misses with a hook.
Bellanova avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good leg kick by Matson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bellanovas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bellanova misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bellanova lands a jab.
Matson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Matson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bellanova on the side of the head.
Bellanova getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Matson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bellanova's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matson under the eye.
Bellanova throws a lazy right hand but Matson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matson throws the left hand but Bellanova avoids the punch easily.
Matson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bellanova ducks under a wild hook from Matson.
Matson throws a leg kick but Bellanova moved away.
Matson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Angelos Bellanova is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bellanova.
Matson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bellanova slips a jab and a cross from Matson.
Matson walks into a left hand.
Bellanova has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matson.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bellanova.
A swing and a miss from Bellanova.
Matson checks a leg kick.
Matson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bellanova.
Matson misses with an uppercut.
Bellanova scores with a hook to the body. Matson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bellanova is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matson.
Bellanova swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matson throws a right and a left that Bellanova avoids nicely.
Matson connects with a nice looking jab.
Bellanova slips a jab and a cross from Matson.
Matson throws an overhand right that lands on Bellanova's shoulder, as Bellanova tries to avoid the shot.
Matson throws an off balance right hand
and Bellanova counters with a right hand to the body.
Matson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Bellanova instigates a clinch.
Bellanova working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bellanova.
Come on Matson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bellanova missing with knees to the body.
Matson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angelos Bellanova dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Angelos Bellanova's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Matson misses with an attempted mid kick.

Bellanova moves into the clinch.
Bellanova tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Matson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matson can't break the clinch.
Matson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bellanova.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bellanova.
Bellanova lands a right hand.
Bellanova tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bellanova misses with a punch on the inside.
Matson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bellanova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bellanova with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bellanova tries to throw a body punch but Matson avoids it by throwing Bellanova back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bellanova.
A head punch on the inside from Matson fails to land.
Matson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bellanova lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matson backwards.
Bellanova tries a body shot but Matson blocks it.
Bellanova lands a body shot in the clinch.
Matson misses with a punch on the inside.
Matson tries to work over Bellanova's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bellanova landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bellanova misses with a punch to the body.
Josh Matson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bellanova misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matson has a couple of punches blocked by Bellanova.
Bellanova lands a good knee to the midsection. Matson won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matson avoiding damage as Bellanova throws knees to the body.
Matson effectively controlling the action here.
Matson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bellanova working aggressively here.
Matson lands a left hand.
Matson prevents a body shot from Bellanova.
Matson lands a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Bellanova.
Bellanova is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Matson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellanova is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matson is defending well for now.
Bellanova doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bellanova stalling against the cage.
Bellanova tries to work over Matson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bellanova connects with a knee to the head.
Matson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matson working aggressively here.
Matson is trying to stall.
Bellanova with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bellanova tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matson can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Matson manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Matson misses.
Matson misses with a lunging right hand
and Bellanova counters with a straight right hand.
Matson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bellanova counters by clinching up.
Bellanova looking to throw knees to the head but Matson is blocking nicely.
Bellanova with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Matson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matson throws a shot from downtown. Bellanova moves away and avoids it.
Matson swings widly with a right hand
and Bellanova counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bellanova lands a head kick. Matson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matson throws a series of punches but Bellanova avoids them all with ease.
Bellanova displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matson throws out the jab.
Matson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angelos Bellanova showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bellanova has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angelos Bellanova!
After the fight, Angelos Bellanova was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.