PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Laverne Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eitan Eliyahu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Mathews
vs
Eliyahu

198 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Laverne Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eitan Eliyahu!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eliyahu lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Eliyahu stuffs the takedown attempt from Mathews. Mathews gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Eliyahu with that takedown attempt.
Mathews went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Eliyahu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Eliyahu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mathews at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Eliyahu is defended easily by Mathews.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mathews rushes Eliyahu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eliyahu is trying to drag Mathews to the mat but Mathews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laverne Mathews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eitan Eliyahu.

Eliyahu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mathews dodges the punch combination from Eliyahu.
Mathews takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Eliyahu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mathews defends well and Eliyahu ends up having to push Mathews into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Eliyahu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathews but Mathews pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eliyahu tries to clinch
and Mathews counters with a two punch combo.
Eliyahu shoots in looking for a takedown. Mathews tries to sprawl out of it but Eliyahu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mathews manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Eliyahu fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mathews closes the distance and clinches.

Eliyahu lands a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathews pulls Eliyahu in close to prevent any damage.
Eliyahu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Eliyahu looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathews is controlling Eliyahu's posture.
Mathews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mathews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mathews is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mathews tries to clinch but Eliyahu moves away
and Eliyahu counters with a right hand to the body.

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.
Eliyahu wants to clinch.
Eliyahu tries to clinch up but Mathews circles away and keeps his distance.
Eliyahu throws a sloppy head kick and Mathews moves out of range easily.
Eliyahu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eliyahu shoots in for a double leg but Mathews sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Eliyahu tries a head kick but it misses.
Eliyahu looks winded!
Nice sprawl there from Mathews as Eliyahu shoots in.
It looked like Mathews was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eitan Eliyahu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mathews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Eliyahu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathews as he avoids it easily.
Mathews slaps away a takedown attempt from Eliyahu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Eliyahu has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mathews avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Laverne Mathews is winning the standup battle so far.
Eliyahu wants to clinch up but Mathews keeps it at a distance.
Mathews appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eliyahu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mathews sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Eliyahu somewhat.
Laverne Mathews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eitan Eliyahu.
Eliyahu is breathing heavily.
Mathews misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Eliyahu has taken the fight to the clinch.

Eliyahu breaks from the clinch.
Mathews looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mathews throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Mathews scores with a takedown into Eliyahu's guard.
Eliyahu has a closed guard, preventing Mathews from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eliyahu is looking for a triangle but Mathews pushes his legs off easily.
Mathews landing some decent shots from guard.
Mathews makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mathews postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mathews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mathews would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eliyahu shoots for a double leg takedown but Mathews sprawls well. He's pushed Eliyahu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mathews seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mathews displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Eliyahu.
Mathews misses with a head kick.
Eliyahu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mathews sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mathews scores with a nice body kick.
Mathews scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Eliyahu gets caught napping as Mathews dives in and scores a takedown. Eliyahu manages to retain guard.
Mathews really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mathews stands up over Eliyahu, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mathews chips away with some ground and pound.
Mathews landing with the ground and pound.
Mathews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eliyahu can do to turn this around?
Eliyahu trying to strike off his back.
Mathews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Eliyahu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Eliyahu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Eliyahu is defended easily by Mathews.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mathews closes the distance and pushes Eliyahu back into the cage.
Mathews is looking for a takedown.
Mathews jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Eliyahu walks away with a smile on his face. Mathews gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mathews.
Eitan Eliyahu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eliyahu cracks the inside of Mathews's front leg.
Eliyahu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eliyahu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathews but Mathews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Eliyahu misses with a takedown attempt
and Mathews counters with a three punch combo that has Eliyahu backing up. Eliyahu nods at Mathews to acknowledge the strikes.
Eliyahu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eliyahu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Eliyahu wants to clinch but Mathews slips to the side
and Mathews counters with a two punch combo.
Eliyahu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mathews sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Laverne Mathews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eitan Eliyahu.
Mathews slaps away a takedown attempt from Eliyahu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mathews is looking for a counter combo.

Mathews drives through with a takedown into Eliyahu's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mathews chips away with some ground and pound.
Mathews lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Eliyahu has momentary wrist control but Mathews slips an elbow through the middle.
Mathews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mathews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mathews lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mathews's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mathews cracks Eliyahu with a solid left hand.

Mathews stands up and waves to Eliyahu to follow him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mathews clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mathews works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Eliyahu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mathews working some strikes from top position.
Mathews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Eliyahu is proving hard to escape from.
Mathews with a nice head shot there.
Mathews landing with the ground and pound.
Mathews working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Eliyahu's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mathews throwing strikes but missing.
Mathews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mathews distracts Eliyahu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mathews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Eliyahu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathews tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Eliyahu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Mathews shoots in and gets a takedown into Eliyahu's guard.
Mathews scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Laverne Mathews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mathews has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Laverne Mathews!