PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bret Schultz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schultz
vs
Matthews

180 cm
26
197 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

205 cm
21
200 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Knockout power

GREEN!160

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bret Schultz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schultz throws a big shot that misses.

Matthews clinches with his opponent.

Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Schultz appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matthews enables Schultz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matthews manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Schultz throws a big elbow that misses.
Schultz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Schultz slips nicely into half guard.

Schultz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matthews sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Schultz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Schultz working the head and body with strikes.
Schultz throwing shots but Matthews is blocking nicely.

Schultz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matthews defends it well.

Schultz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matthews is trying to stand.
Schultz controlling the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Schultz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matthews circles away.
Matthews keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matthews!
Matthews has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Schultz is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Schultz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matthews to the mat! Matthews manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Schultz is looking to pass into half guard but Matthews pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matthews is in guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Schultz wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
Matthews is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Schultz 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.
Matthews trying to stand up but can't free himself from Schultz's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Schultz is keeping the position.
Matthews postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schultz tries to strike from the bottom.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schultz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Schultz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Schultz.

Matthews pushes Schultz up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz has Matthews pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matthews manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matthews throws a leg kick that misses.

Matthews scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Matthews dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matthews takes the fight into the clinch.
Schultz stalling the fight.
Schultz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Matthews after a bit of a struggle.
Matthews gets underhooks to prevent Schultz's takedown attempt.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Matthews motions for Schultz to come forward. Matthews throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Matthews or perhaps it was just good defense by Schultz, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews trying to control the position but instead, Schultz has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matthews into the cage.
Matthews prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bret Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schultz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Matthews sprawls and moves away.
Schultz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matthews paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matthews throws a body shot but no joy.
Schultz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.

Schultz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Matthews's half guard.
Matthews is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Schultz trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Schultz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Schultz is stalling here. Matthews is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Schultz seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Matthews has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've been hearing good reports from Schultz's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Matthews's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Schultz struggling a bit here.
Schultz is looking to reverse the position.
Schultz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schultz moves into full guard.

Schultz looking for a guillotine here but Matthews defends easily.
Matthews scoring with some ground and pound.
Schultz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz pulls Matthews in close to prevent any damage.
Matthews content to stall in guard here.

Schultz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Matthews is aware though and is defending well.
Matthews sitting in guard here, content to control.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Schultz has wrist control.
Matthews postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Schultz is really struggling to control Matthews but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Schultz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Matthews gets a clinch.

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

Matthews closes the distance and clinches.
Schultz goes for a takedown attempt but Matthews pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Matthews misses with a hook.
Schultz fails to land the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Schultz counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Matthews!
Matthews seems a little lost for a moment, as Schultz dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Matthews. Those never looked like landing.
Schultz misses with a wild body shot.

Schultz tries to keep at a distance but Matthews has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matthews is looking to break free of the clinch but Schultz has double underhooks.
Matthews tries to break the clinch but Schultz is controlling the position.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Matthews throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Schultz's waist but Schultz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matthews off to one side.
Schultz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A jab lands there for Matthews.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews misses with a hook. Schultz ducked under it nicely.

Schultz clinches up against the cage.
Matthews is trying to break free.
Schultz prevents Matthews from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matthews pulls his leg out and moves away.

Matthews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Schultz, pushing him back against the cage.
Schultz is trying to drag Matthews to the mat but Matthews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Schultz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Matthews prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bret Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Schultz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matthews just stands there and leans against the cage.
Schultz can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Schultz avoids the head kick by Matthews.
Schultz wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Schultz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matthews wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Schultz works the jab nicely.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.

Schultz feints and as Matthews raises his hands in defense, Schultz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schultz throws a big elbow that misses.
Schultz wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Matthews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Schultz trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but Schultz is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schultz trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matthews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Schultz.
Matthews throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Schultz's head.

It looks like Bret Schultz has been cut.

Schultz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Schultz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Matthews rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Schultz's guard! Nice work there by Matthews!
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Schultz is proving hard to escape from.
Mike Matthews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matthews not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matthews winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Matthews!
After winning the bout, Mike Matthews thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.