PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Morton Marshall Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Hartnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marshall Matthews
vs
Hartnell

172 cm
36
152 lbs
25 - 23 - 1

175 cm
29
153 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Morton Marshall Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Norman Hartnell!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Hartnell to counter with a crisp jab.
Hartnell circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hartnell counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Morton Marshall Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall Matthews is looking to clinch.
Hartnell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Marshall Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marshall Matthews fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marshall Matthews moves to clinch but Hartnell breaks away
and Hartnell counters with a straight right hand.

Marshall Matthews has Hartnell up against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to land knees in the clinch but Hartnell avoids the damage to the body.
Marshall Matthews wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hartnell has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartnell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews lands a nice uppercut.
Marshall Matthews lands an elbow just above Hartnell 's eye.
Marshall Matthews is trying to break free.
Hartnell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marshall Matthews prevents it.

Hartnell successfully pulls guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Marshall Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hartnell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marshall Matthews is one step ahead there.
Hartnell keeping moving, preventing Marshall Matthews from controlling successfully.
Marshall Matthews working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hartnell keeping full guard, as Marshall Matthews tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marshall Matthews trying to control but Hartnell is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Morton Marshall Matthews.
Hartnell throws a nice looking combination but Marshall Matthews bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hartnell lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hartnell misses with a combination
and Marshall Matthews makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartnell swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Marshall Matthews.

Marshall Matthews has managed to clinch.
Hartnell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Marshall Matthews gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Morton Marshall Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Hartnell.
Hartnell trying to stall but Marshall Matthews improves his position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hartnell takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch
and Marshall Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marshall Matthews moves into the clinch.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch
and Hartnell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marshall Matthews fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hartnell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartnell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marshall Matthews looks to clinch
and Hartnell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall Matthews darts in trying to clinch
enabling Hartnell to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morton Marshall Matthews dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hartnell connects with a single shot there.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.
Hartnell throws a wild body kick that Marshall Matthews sees coming a mile off.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hartnell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice jab there from Hartnell.
Marshall Matthews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hartnell misses the jab.
Hartnell throws a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshall Matthews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch
and Hartnell counters with a good low kick that Marshall Matthews was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartnell misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marshall Matthews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hartnell scores with a jab to the head.
Marshall Matthews doesn't manage to clinch there - Hartnell circles away.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.

Marshall Matthews gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hartnell is looking to break free of the clinch but Marshall Matthews has double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Marshall Matthews takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hartnell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marshall Matthews gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartnell tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall Matthews avoids the damage to the body.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hartnell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marshall Matthews throws a right hand that Hartnell ducks under and follows up with a left that Hartnell also avoids with ease.
Marshall Matthews throws a nice head kick!
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.
Hartnell misses with a double jab.
Morton Marshall Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hartnell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Marshall Matthews seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marshall Matthews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hartnell is one step ahead there.
Hartnell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hartnell trying to control but Marshall Matthews is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews tries to strike from the bottom.
Marshall Matthews 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.
Marshall Matthews throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hartnell is looking to stand up but Marshall Matthews won't let him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Marshall Matthews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marshall Matthews has a closed guard, preventing Hartnell from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews wants to control but Hartnell passes easily into half guard.
Marshall Matthews wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshall Matthews has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hartnell is working away from the top position though.
Hartnell is looking to take a break and control but Marshall Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Norman Hartnell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hartnell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marshall Matthews circles away quickly and effectively.
Hartnell circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hartnell counters with a head kick.
Marshall Matthews tries to bum rush Hartnell with a series of wild strikes but Hartnell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.
Marshall Matthews moves in looking to clinch but Hartnell pushes him off.
Hartnell swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch
and Hartnell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marshall Matthews goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Norman Hartnell has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartnell lands a right hook to the body.
Hartnell keeps the fight on the outside.

Marshall Matthews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Marshall Matthews lands a damaging elbow.
Hartnell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marshall Matthews is defending well.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch.
Hartnell throws a right and a left that Marshall Matthews avoids nicely.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartnell motions for Marshall Matthews to come forward. Hartnell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch but Hartnell slips to the side
and Hartnell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Hartnell moves away
and Hartnell counters with a nice body kick.
Marshall Matthews tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hartnell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Marshall Matthews misses the shot to the body.
Hartnell keeps the fight on the outside.
Morton Marshall Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hartnell swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Hartnell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch but Hartnell slips to the side
and Hartnell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marshall Matthews moves to clinch but Hartnell breaks away
enabling Hartnell to counter with a crisp jab.
Marshall Matthews closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hartnell counters with a thumping low kick.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch but Hartnell moves away
and Hartnell counters with a stiff right hand.
Marshall Matthews closes the distance but Hartnell moves to the side

and Hartnell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hartnell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews is pushing Hartnell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Marshall Matthews is trying to stall.
Marshall Matthews misses with a body punch.
Marshall Matthews unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hartnell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Marshall Matthews misses with the head strike.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hartnell circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hartnell counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up
and Hartnell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morton Marshall Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marshall Matthews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morton Marshall Matthews!
Morton Marshall Matthews thanked the fans post fight for their support.