PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thor has chosen Boom - P.O.D as his entrance music. Jonathan Thor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Thor

205 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Soul Supremacy Nutrition (90% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan Thor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thor tries to clinch but Matthews moves out of range.
We've been informed that Thor has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Thor wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Matthews checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matthews takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matthews swings away with a leg kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Thor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thor throws a half hearted mid kick.

Thor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thor is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thor gets to mount! Matthews was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Thor swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Matthews is now in Thor's guard. A big mistake from Thor there, giving up the dominant position!
Matthews is looking to stand up but Thor won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thor controlling Matthews's posture.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mike Matthews has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thor throws a sloppy head kick and Matthews moves out of range easily.
Thor shoots in for a double leg but Matthews sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Matthews as Thor shoots in.
Matthews avoids a kick to the body.
Matthews swinging wildly here.
Matthews moves out of range as Thor throws a body kick.
Thor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Matthews counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mike Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Thor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Thor has wrist control.
Matthews sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thor's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews stands up from half guard.
Good shot there by Matthews.

Matthews closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thor did well to prevent Matthews getting side control.

Matthews is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thor is just riding it out for now. Matthews eventually gives up the hold.
Matthews with the ground and pound but Thor uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Thor keeps moving.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thor is proving hard to escape from.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Thor keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Matthews dominated that round.
That's time! Matthews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matthews throws a sloppy head kick and Thor moves out of range easily.
Thor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matthews checks a leg kick.
Thor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matthews's sensitive parts.
Thor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thor.
Thor misses the shot to the body.
Thor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matthews.
Thor scores with a kick to the body.

Matthews gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Thor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A control attempt from Thor but he's now mounted!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thor is looking to escape.
Thor is looking to improve his position but Matthews isn't that keen on the idea.
Matthews controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thor to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thor shrugs it off.
Matthews tries to control but Thor wriggling away.
Matthews throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Matthews scoring with strikes but Thor is staying in there.
Matthews wants to control but Thor has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thor trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
Matthews is keen to just control but Thor is a slippery customer.
Thor is looking for a sweep. Matthews is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matthews wants to stand up but Thor has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Matthews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matthews not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matthews wants to stand but Thor has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Thor is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thor's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Matthews dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Matthews goes for a double leg but Thor avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Thor continues to drive forward.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matthews misses with a head kick.
Thor avoids the body shot from Matthews.
Matthews tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Thor.
Matthews wants to clinch up but Thor keeps it at a distance.
Thor takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Thor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matthews.
Mike Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thor gets a double leg takedown into Matthews's guard.
Thor advances position into side control!
Matthews avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thor has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Thor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Matthews's face.
Thor throws a wild left hand from mount and Matthews manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

Thor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Matthews manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Matthews is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thor, into his guard.
Matthews won't allow Thor to sweep him here.
Jonathan Thor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Thor pushes Matthews off and scrambles back to his feet.
Thor throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with the combination.
Thor blocks a leg kick.
Thor misses with a low kick.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Thor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Matthews counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Good leg kick by Thor there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matthews misses with a wild body shot.
Thor avoids the body shot from Matthews.
Thor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matthews takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matthews takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matthews pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Matthews checks the leg kick.
Thor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sloppy strikes from Matthews. Those never looked like landing.
Thor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matthews is out of range and Thor settles back down.
Thor tries to land a front kick but Matthews steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A low kick from Thor is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Matthews shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thor napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Matthews goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thor rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Matthews's guard! Nice work there by Thor!
Mike Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Thor from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews wants to stand but Thor is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jonathan Thor.
I think 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Matthews!
During a confident post fight interview, Mike Matthews thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.