PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renan Barao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morton Marshall Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morton Marshall Matthews has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Barao
vs
Marshall Matthews

170 cm
30
153 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

172 cm
37
152 lbs
26 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Morton Marshall Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall Matthews gets tackled into the cage by Barao. Barao maintains the clinch.
Barao struggles to land a body shot inside as Marshall Matthews controls his hands.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.

Barao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Marshall Matthews is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barao is defending well for now.
Barao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barao is trying to pull guard but Marshall Matthews has him pressed against the cage.
Barao throws a punch but it's blocked by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barao tries to work over Marshall Matthews's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marshall Matthews wants to stall.

Barao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've been hearing reports that Barao has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Marshall Matthews looks for the body kick but Barao saw that one coming.

Barao closes the distance and clinches.
Marshall Matthews misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barao.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Barao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch there but Barao circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.

Barao clinches up against the cage.
Barao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barao is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barao misses with some punches.
Barao is trying to pull guard but Marshall Matthews has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Barao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Barao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marshall Matthews is looking to clinch but Barao is avoiding it.

Barao instigates a clinch.
Marshall Matthews avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marshall Matthews has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barao has managed to get both his arms back between Marshall Matthews's legs - danger averted.
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!
Barao looking to pass the guard.
Barao slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Marshall Matthews trying to control the position.
Barao wants to control from the top but Marshall Matthews keeps moving.
Barao with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marshall Matthews is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Marshall Matthews is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews misses with a punch to the body.
Barao blocks the elbow strike.
Marshall Matthews wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Renan Barao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch up but Barao keeps it at a distance.

Barao clinches with his opponent.
Barao holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Marshall Matthews is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews is trying to break free.
Marshall Matthews working hard to break the clinch.
Come on Marshall Matthews - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Marshall Matthews scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barao keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marshall Matthews's efforts to push away.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Barao closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A frustrated look appears on Barao's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barao tries a body shot but Marshall Matthews blocks it.
Barao's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marshall Matthews with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Marshall Matthews has had enough of the clinch but Barao keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Barao on the inside.
Barao has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marshall Matthews after a bit of a struggle.
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 Renan Barao will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barao forces Marshall Matthews back against the cage and clinches.
Barao blocking some punches.
Marshall Matthews struggles to land a body shot inside as Barao controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Barao.

Barao has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marshall Matthews regains guard immediately.
Marshall Matthews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Marshall Matthews is looking to stand up but Barao isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marshall Matthews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barao wants to control from the top but Marshall Matthews keeps moving.
Barao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marshall Matthews swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barao is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews pulls Barao in close to prevent any damage.
Marshall Matthews has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at London MMA Club. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Morton Marshall Matthews has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Barao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barao lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marshall Matthews throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Marshall Matthews misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marshall Matthews can't break the clinch.
Marshall Matthews throws an elbow but it misses.
Barao lands a body punch.
Barao scores with a hook to the body.
Barao has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Marshall Matthews using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barao has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marshall Matthews lands an elbow inside.

Barao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Barao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Marshall Matthews as Barao tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao avoiding damage as Marshall Matthews throws knees to the body.
Barao is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marshall Matthews is defending well.
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!
Marshall Matthews lands a hook that snaps the head of Barao backwards.

Barao manages to break the clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up but Barao circles away and keeps his distance.
Barao pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Marshall Matthews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barao tries to score a body lock takedown but Marshall Matthews shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nice body punch from Marshall Matthews.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Marshall Matthews.
Barao changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Marshall Matthews fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barao circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marshall Matthews scores a nice knee to the body.
Barao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marshall Matthews is leaning against Barao and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Marshall Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Barao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barao working aggressively here.
Renan Barao has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews landing knees to the head.
Marshall Matthews is stalling here.

Barao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barao swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews tries to bum rush Barao with a series of wild strikes but Barao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marshall Matthews throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Barao drives through and clinches with Marshall Matthews against the cage.
Barao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marshall Matthews's elbow.
Marshall Matthews is pressed up against the cage. Barao has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marshall Matthews down to the mat. Marshall Matthews avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marshall Matthews keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Barao has managed to clinch.
Barao misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marshall Matthews trying to land knees to the body.
Barao takes a shot to the head.
Barao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Morton Marshall Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barao drives through and clinches with Marshall Matthews against the cage.
Marshall Matthews blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marshall Matthews tries a body shot but Barao blocks it.
Barao is trying to break the clinch but Marshall Matthews has him pressed against the cage.
Barao prevents Marshall Matthews from breaking the clinch.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.

Barao closes the distance and pushes Marshall Matthews back into the cage.
Marshall Matthews can't find room to land a body shot as Barao controls the action.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Barao rushes Marshall Matthews and presses him up against the cage.
Barao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barao misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marshall Matthews comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Barao doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marshall Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marshall Matthews stops a takedown attempt from Barao.

Barao tightens his grip and picks Marshall Matthews up, before dumping him to the ground. Marshall Matthews manages to land in guard.
Barao postures up.
Marshall Matthews wants to get back to his feet but Barao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barao wants to pass the guard but Marshall Matthews is keeping the position.
Barao postures up.
Marshall Matthews keeping moving, preventing Barao from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marshall Matthews is keeping the position for now.
Marshall Matthews wants to stand up but Barao is controlling him.
Marshall Matthews is trying to control the position but Barao postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Morton Marshall Matthews hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Barao has managed to clinch.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Barao throws a sloppy head kick and Marshall Matthews moves out of range easily.

Marshall Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Barao has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A body shot lands from Barao.
Barao pushes Marshall Matthews back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Marshall Matthews looking to stall.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Marshall Matthews gets tackled into the cage by Barao. Barao maintains the clinch.
Marshall Matthews's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A body shot lands from Barao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews working hard to break the clinch.
Marshall Matthews working aggressively here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Marshall Matthews throws an elbow but misses.
Barao tries to throw a body punch but Marshall Matthews avoids it by throwing Barao back against the cage.
Barao fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Renan Barao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barao makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Barao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marshall Matthews's elbow.
Marshall Matthews slows down the pace here.
Barao tries a body shot but Marshall Matthews blocks it.
Marshall Matthews is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marshall Matthews goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barao blocks a body shot from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews lands a body shot.
Barao is working Marshall Matthews over against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Barao's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Barao breaks the clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to bum rush Barao with a series of wild strikes but Barao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Barao gets a clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries to work over Barao's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barao can't find room to land a body shot as Marshall Matthews controls the action.
Barao tries to circle away but Marshall Matthews has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barao throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Marshall Matthews's head.

Barao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barao throws a head punch that misses.

Marshall Matthews is fighting off a takedown attempt but Barao is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Marshall Matthews to the mat. Marshall Matthews regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renan Barao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barao 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renan Barao!
A victorious Renan Barao thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.