PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Faustino Joyner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Hetherington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthew Hetherington has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Joyner
vs
Hetherington

198 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Faustino Joyner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matthew Hetherington!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hetherington shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Joyner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hetherington wants to control but Joyner is keeping him busy.
Joyner being controlled for a moment.

Hetherington stands up and beckons Joyner to his feet.
A head kick by Joyner misses
and Hetherington counters with a three punch combo that has Joyner backing up. Joyner nods at Hetherington to acknowledge the strikes.

Hetherington 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.
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!

Hetherington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetherington is stalling in the full guard.
Hetherington wants to control from the top but Joyner keeps moving.
Joyner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hetherington slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Joyner throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyner tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hetherington presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hetherington controlling from mount.
Hetherington trying to control but Joyner is having none of it.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hetherington goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Joyner is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joyner stands up and waves to Hetherington to follow him.
Joyner moves out of range of the body kick from Hetherington.

Hetherington scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hetherington stalling away here and it's allowed Joyner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Hetherington trying to control the position from guard on top but Joyner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Joyner trying to strike off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hetherington is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Hetherington dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joyner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joyner looks to land a left hand but Hetherington moved out of range nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Joyner enables Hetherington to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Joyner manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Joyner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hetherington wanted to stand there but Joyner had control of the position.

Joyner looking for a guillotine here but Hetherington defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetherington looking to pass the guard.
Hetherington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Joyner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hetherington defends well.

Hetherington gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hetherington shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Joyner's guard.
Hetherington works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hetherington is looking to advance position but Joyner won't allow it.
Joyner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hetherington.
Hetherington moves nicely into side control.
Joyner stops Hetherington from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Joyner is avoiding damage well.
Hetherington taking a break here but Joyner is having none of it and regains half guard.

Joyner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hetherington is looking to take a break and control but Joyner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joyner tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hetherington in particular looking to stall.
Joyner gets back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Joyner working for a triangle but Hetherington defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Hetherington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hetherington misses with a kick to the body.

Hetherington is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joyner's half guard.
Hetherington trying to control from Joyner's half guard. Joyner has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hetherington throws an elbow that misses. Joyner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hetherington's guard. Nice move by Joyner!
Joyner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hetherington can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joyner controls the pace.
Hetherington has a closed guard, preventing Joyner from standing up.
Joyner won't allow Hetherington to sweep him here.

Hetherington looking for a guillotine here but Joyner defends easily.
Hetherington can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joyner controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hetherington is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Joyner is aware though and is defending well.

Joyner stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Joyner throws a shot from downtown. Hetherington moves away and avoids it.

Hetherington shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Joyner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hetherington takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Joyner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hetherington is aware though and is defending well.
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!
Hetherington preventing the sweep.
Hetherington tries to free his leg and advance position but Joyner is retaining full guard.
Hetherington wants to control from the top but Joyner keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joyner throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hetherington escapes and throws Joyner's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Hetherington trying to control the action but Joyner is working from the bottom.
Joyner looking for a sweep but Hetherington has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetherington misses with a head shot.
Joyner keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Hetherington moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Joyner has worked his arm free - good work by Joyner!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joyner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hetherington's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matthew Hetherington.
Well Hetherington 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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