PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lee
vs
Matthews

182 cm
24
167 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

167 cm
26
161 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clay Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews takes one on the button.
Matthews misses with a right hand
and Lee counters with an inside leg kick.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Lee moved out of range.
Lee tries to clinch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lee connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matthews misses with a straight right.

Lee has Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
Lee fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews is trying to drag Lee to the mat but Lee just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lee misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Matthews turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Matthews manages to end up in side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Matthews postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sloppy strikes there by Matthews.
Matthews working the ground and pound but Lee is defending the strikes.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Matthews has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matthews working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
An elbow from Matthews crashes against the mat.
Matthews postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Matthews with the ground and pound but Lee regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Matthews trying to pass the guard but Lee defending well.
Lee definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matthews throwing shots but Lee is blocking nicely.
Matthews thows a huge punch but Lee dodges it nicely.
Matthews missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matthews throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Matthews looks for the body kick but Lee saw that one coming.

Lee tries to keep at a distance but Matthews has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matthews backwards.
Matthews being controlled against the cage.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Lee holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lee lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lee misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lee swings wildly with an uppercut but Matthews uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lee can't find room to land a body shot as Matthews controls the action.
Matthews has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Lee seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Matthews can turn it around.
Matthews blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee looking to stall.
Lee misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matthews fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lee throws a punch but it's blocked by Matthews.
Lee lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lee cracks Matthews with a nice body shot.
Matthews has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lee is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthews.
Matthews is trying to break free.
Lee gets through Matthews's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Matthews misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Lee dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lee lands with a shot to the body.
Matthews looks to land a left hand but Lee moved out of range nicely.
Lee misses with a body kick.
Lee takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lee takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lee moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lee avoids the head kick by Matthews.
Lee misses with a hook. Matthews ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lee throws a right and a left that Matthews avoids nicely.
Matthews looks to land a combination. Lee sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Matthews moves into range and clinches up with Lee.
Bruce Lee has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Matthews blocking some punches.
Matthews being controlled against the cage.
Lee misses with a punch to the body.
Lee dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Matthews.

Matthews wants the takedown. Lee is fighting it off but Matthews persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Lee's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lee keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews looking to sit in guard and control but Lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matthews wants to sweep here but Lee controlling him for the moment.
Matthews looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lee puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews trying to control but Lee postures up.
Matthews punching from the bottom.
Matthews tries to get to full guard but Lee has control of the leg.
Matthews gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lee manages to get himself to full guard.

Lee is controlling Matthews's posture.
Matthews keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lee's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews throws an elbow that misses. Lee uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matthews's guard. Nice move by Lee!

Lee will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Matthews trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lee misses with a jab, cross combination.

Matthews drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Matthews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews throws a big elbow that misses.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Matthews postures up in Lee's guard and throws a big left but Lee blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthews chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews lands a couple of digs.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lee takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Matthews!
Lee is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matthews.
Matthews just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Lee gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lee scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Clay Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with an uppercut
and Lee counters with a one-two to the body.
Lee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthews takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice jab there from Matthews.
Matthews goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Lee is rocked!
Lee switches off momentarily and Matthews cracks him with a monster right hand! Lee topples backwards and makes a semi conscious attempt to cover up, as Matthews dives in to land one more shot, before the referee has time to call the fight. What a finish by Matthews!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Clay Matthews!
A relieved looking Clay Matthews thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.