PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Gustin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Matrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gustin
vs
Matrix

192 cm
27
184 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

180 cm
33
195 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Melvin Gustin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Matrix!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matrix.
Matrix connects with an inside leg kick.
Gustin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gustin's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gustin duly obliges.
Gustin misses with a jab, cross combination.

Matrix changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gustin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Matrix goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gustin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Matrix's guard! Nice work there by Gustin!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matrix holds on and takes a little breather.

Matrix isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gustin stacks Matrix on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gustin!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matrix manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gustin's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustin trying to mount his opponent but Matrix defends it.
Gustin is working hard here to advance position.
Gustin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matrix manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matrix looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gustin postures up in Matrix's guard and throws a big left but Matrix blocks it.
Matrix wants to hit a switch here but Gustin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Matrix there!
Matrix tries to hold on but Gustin postures up.
Gustin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustin looking to control but Matrix is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matrix tries to reverse the position but Gustin maintains control.
Gustin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Matrix keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gustin looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gustin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Matrix is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gustin avoids the attempt from Matrix to control.
Matrix is working to get back to half guard.
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 Melvin Gustin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matrix throws the left hand but Gustin avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gustin. Matrix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matrix thows a left - swing and a miss!
John Matrix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matrix tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gustin misses with a wild body shot.
Gustin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Matrix on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matrix stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gustin.
Matrix throws a hook to the side of Gustin's head but Gustin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matrix feints and then cracks Gustin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gustin down.
Gustin throws a hook but Matrix blocks it.
Matrix misses with a head kick.
Matrix looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gustin looks to land a body kick but Matrix moved away.
Melvin Gustin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A leg kick checked by Gustin.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Matrix crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gustin - the referee stops the clock and Matrix gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gustin. Matrix manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Gustin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matrix paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matrix lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Matrix attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Good exchange - Gustin coming out on top.
Gustin misses with a low kick.
Matrix misses with a hook. Gustin ducked under it nicely.

Gustin lands a left and a right that send Matrix crashing to the mat, dazed. Gustin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Matrix is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A telegraphed right hand from Gustin misses the target.
Matrix is still on wobbly legs! Can Gustin finish him?
Gustin lands with a good body shot.
Matrix seems to have recovered his senses.
Matrix bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Matrix loads up on a big right hand but Gustin slips the punch.
Gustin tries to clinch up but Matrix circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gustin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gustin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matrix.
Gustin slips under a jab.
Matrix throws a hook but Gustin blocks it.
Gustin wants to clinch up but Matrix keeps it at a distance.
Matrix tries to land a leg kick but Gustin saw it coming and moves away.
Matrix tries to work over Gustin's front leg with a kick but Gustin checks it.
Gustin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matrix throws a push kick but Gustin slaps the foot to one side.
Nice shot by Matrix.
Matrix throws out a loose jab but Gustin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gustin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matrix swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gustin looks to land a combination but Matrix avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gustin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gustin swings for the body but Matrix moves out of range.
Melvin Gustin is winning the standup battle so far.
Gustin misses with a low kick.
Gustin misses with a series of wild punches.
Gustin tries to close the distance and clinch but Matrix swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matrix lands with a nice body punch.
Matrix throws a leg kick but Gustin moved away.

Gustin drops Matrix with a beautiful combination! Matrix stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Gustin is looking for the KO!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gustin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matrix. Matrix obviously looking to wear him down.
Matrix thumps Gustin with a low kick.
Gustin avoids a kick to the body.
Gustin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matrix connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gustin scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Gustin misses.
Gustin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Matrix stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gustin swinging wildly here.
Gustin tried to score with a low kick but Matrix checks it.
Matrix chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matrix takes a swing at Gustin's ribcage but misses.
Matrix fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gustin is out of range.
Matrix misses with a series of wild punches.
Matrix throws out a loose jab but Gustin uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gustin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matrix.
A head kick misses from Gustin.
Gustin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Matrix counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Gustin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gustin scores with a body shot.
Matrix lands a leg kick that knocks Gustin off balance momentarily.
A jab lands there for Gustin.
Gustin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gustin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Matrix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustin manages to avoid it.
Gustin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matrix throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gustin counters with a low kick, right behind Matrix 's knee.
Matrix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matrix avoids the body shot from Gustin.
Matrix fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gustin.
Matrix looks to land a left hand but Gustin moved out of range nicely.
Gustin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matrix throws a low kick but Gustin moves out of range easily.
Matrix missing with a left hand there. Gustin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matrix on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gustin. Gustin obviously looking to wear him down.
Gustin slips under a jab from Matrix.
Jab from Matrix.
Matrix takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matrix misses with a right hand
and Gustin counters with a nice body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gustin. Matrix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matrix slips a jab and a cross from Gustin.
Matrix looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gustin is fending him off so far but Matrix persists. Nope, Gustin circles away and we're back to standing.

Matrix drives through with a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gustin holds on and takes a little breather.
Matrix postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matrix stands up over Gustin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Matrix controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gustin has control of Matrix's left arm, preventing Matrix from doing any damage.
Matrix tries to free his leg and advance position but Gustin is retaining full guard.
Matrix trying to control but Gustin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

John Matrix has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gustin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice uppercut lands for Matrix. That snapped Gustin's head back.

Gustin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gustin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matrix is one step ahead there.
Matrix looking to sit in guard and control but Gustin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Matrix has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gustin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matrix.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Matrix.
I think Gustin 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 Paul Aken scores the fight for Melvin Gustin!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Melvin Gustin!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Melvin Gustin!

Melvin Gustin wins by unanimous decision!
Melvin Gustin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
John Matrix spoke after the fight, saying 'I think it is time for me to retire and focus on something else. I have had enough of this mma bullshit!'.