PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Nile (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nile has chosen Walk Like An Egyptian as his entrance music. King Nile has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Nile

195 cm
32
263 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

205 cm
34
270 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, King Nile!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews darts in looking for a takedown but Nile gets double underhooks and turns Matthews into the cage.
Nile avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nile throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Matthews counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nile working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nile pulls Matthews in close to prevent any damage.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Matthews sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nile's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matthews trying to control from half guard but Nile is working away.
Matthews thows a huge punch but Nile dodges it nicely.

Nile manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Matthews keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nile is trying to push Matthews away but Matthews has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nile is trying to force a seperation but Matthews has the dominant position.

Matthews tightens his grip and picks Nile up, before dumping him to the ground. Nile manages to land in guard.
Nile keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

Nile manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Matthews has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nile after a bit of a struggle.
Nile working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Matthews is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nile pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nile gets through Matthews's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Matthews has clasped his hands together around Nile's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matthews is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nile has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nile tries to buck Matthews off but Matthews is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nile dodges the ground and pound from Matthews.
Matthews has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Matthews working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Matthews has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but Nile is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nile tries to buck Matthews off but Matthews is having none of it.
Nile is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Matthews looks up at the clock and then as Nile takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matthews smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Matthews trying to control the action but Nile is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Matthews.
Nile is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Matthews is controlling him well.
Matthews in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Matthews tries for a kimura but Nile is defending well.
Nile is trying to improve his position.
Nile avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Matthews.
Matthews misses with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matthews trying to control the position but Nile is working away.
Nile wants to control but Matthews postures up.
Matthews with the ground and pound but Nile regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Matthews wants to control but Nile is keeping him busy.
Matthews is thwarting Nile's attempts to control the position.
Matthews is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Matthews scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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 trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nile is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nile throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Nile lands a big head kick that sends Matthews tumbling to the mat! Nile takes a step backwards and waves Matthews back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Max Matthews has been cut.
Nile fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matthews looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matthews takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matthews takes one to the chin there.
Matthews darts in looking for a takedown but Nile gets double underhooks and turns Matthews into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Matthews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Matthews drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matthews is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nile gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nile pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nile looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Matthews gets the takedown into side control.
Matthews working the ground and pound but Nile is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nile manages to get back to half guard.
Max Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Still in half guard, Matthews seems content to control.
Nile trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.

Matthews is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nile still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nile has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Nile is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nile has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nile throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
King Nile is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nile misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nile. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nile swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A cross from Nile lands.
Nile looks to throw the jab but Matthews is out of range.
Nile lunges at Matthews with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Matthews's hand.
A nice combination there by Matthews.

It looks like King Nile has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fight stays on the outside here - Matthews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nile steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Nile is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Matthews rather than just go for the knockout.
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt - Nile sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nile swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nile sprawls well. Nile wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Nile connects with an inside leg kick.
Nile stuffs the takedown.
Matthews shoots in and drives through. Nile sprawls well.
Matthews wants to clinch up but Nile keeps it at a distance.
Matthews with a poor takedown
and Nile counters with a thumping low kick.
Nile lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matthews at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nile jabs Matthews to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Matthews is looking to clinch.
Matthews swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nile tries a quick counter leg kick but Matthews is wise to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nile swivels and escapes.
A solid body kick from Nile.
King Nile seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nile throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nile lands with a thumping leg kick.
Max Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nile tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Nile.
Nile lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matthews at a distance.
Nile lands with a nice body punch.
Nile lands a nice hook to Matthews's body. Matthews takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nile tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Nile.
Nile scores with a kick to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nile. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matthews blocks a head kick by Nile.
Nile throws a body shot but no joy.
Nile throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Nile showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matthews wants to stay close but Nile steps back to make room for something. Matthews seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Nile and Matthews drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). King Nile!
During a confident post fight interview, King Nile thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.