PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Levi Mathis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Baxter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel Baxter has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Levi Mathis's chin.

Mathis
vs
Baxter

209 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Levi Mathis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Samuel Baxter!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baxter shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mathis's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Baxter stops Mathis from standing up.
Baxter trying to control but Mathis is working from the bottom.
Baxter tries to free his leg and advance position but Mathis is retaining full guard.
Mathis pulls Baxter in close to prevent any damage.
Baxter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Baxter postures up in Mathis's guard and throws a big left but Mathis blocks it.
Mathis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathis wants to stand up but Baxter is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baxter throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mathis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Baxter is in Mathis's guard.
Mathis controlling Baxter's posture.
Baxter not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Baxter being controlled here momentarily.
Baxter's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis keeping full guard, as Baxter tries to pass.
Mathis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mathis looking for a sweep. Not yet Mathis, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mathis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Mathis is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baxter can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis stops Baxter from getting back to his feet.
Baxter is trying to get back to full guard.
Baxter is trying to control but can't.
Baxter tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Mathis has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Mathis avoids the attempt from Baxter to control.

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.
Baxter is desperately trying to improve his position but Mathis has a good base and remains in mount.
Mathis manages to capitalize on a mistake by Baxter to take his back!

Mathis is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Baxter has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Baxter just trying to survive but Mathis is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baxter can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Levi Mathis will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Baxter drives through with a takedown into Mathis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Baxter wants to control from the top but Mathis keeps moving.
Baxter throwing strikes from guard but Mathis blocks nicely.
Mathis looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Baxter puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Baxter looks to land a strike but Mathis avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter controlling from the top position.
Baxter prevents Mathis from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baxter engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mathis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathis wants to stand but Baxter is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Baxter closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mathis did well to prevent Baxter getting side control.
Baxter trying to control from Mathis's half guard. Mathis has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Baxter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baxter has gone for a leg lock! Mathis slips out almost immediately though and dives into Baxter's guard.

Mathis stands up over Baxter, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mathis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baxter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mathis is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis landing some decent shots from guard.
Baxter wants to control the position but Mathis says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Mathis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baxter defends it well.
Samuel Baxter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baxter trying to control from the bottom.
Baxter controlling the position for now.

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.

Mathis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Baxter has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mathis seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Baxter is defending against the submission attempts here by Mathis.
Baxter trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samuel Baxter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baxter looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Baxter is pressing down on Mathis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mathis is holding on for now.
Mathis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mathis wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baxter trying to move into half guard but instead Mathis has managed to sweep!

Baxter looking for a guillotine here but Mathis defends easily.
Mathis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathis wants to stand but Baxter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mathis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mathis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Baxter's guard.
Baxter manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mathis manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mathis wants to sweep here but Baxter controlling him for the moment.
Baxter controlling from the top position.
Baxter won't allow Mathis to get back to his feet.
Mathis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathis is really struggling to control Baxter but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baxter trying to control but Mathis is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mathis drives through and clinches with Baxter against the cage.

Baxter has picked Mathis up - he's going for a ride! Baxter dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Baxter tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mathis.
Baxter throws a strike but Mathis avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Mathis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baxter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mathis wants to stand and escape but Baxter is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baxter looking to sit in guard and control but Mathis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baxter throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mathis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baxter has his foot on Mathis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mathis works his way back into a safe position though.
Baxter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mathis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Baxter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Baxter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mathis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Baxter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baxter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!