PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Garcon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hardijan Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Garcon
vs
Matic

165 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

166 cm
24
146 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Perkele!
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pierre Garcon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hardijan Matic!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matic takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Garcon looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Garcon scores with a nice body kick.
Garcon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Garcon displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matic throws out the jab.
Garcon throws the kick towards the body but Matic avoids it.
Garcon avoids the head kick by Matic.
Garcon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matic.
Garcon fails with a takedown attempt.
Matic is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garcon with a body shot.
Garcon throws a solid leg kick but Matic takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Garcon.
Garcon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Matic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcon connects with a body shot that sends Matic's belly button to the back.
An inside leg kick from Garcon misses.
Garcon uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matic swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matic throws a head kick that misses
and Garcon counters with a left and a right that stings Matic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcon forces Matic back against the cage and clinches.
Matic throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Garcons head.

Garcon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Garcon tries to clinch but Matic moves out of range.
Garcon moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMatic.
Garcon checks a low kick from Matic.
Garcon tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Matic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matic. That's going to slow Garcon down.
Garcon throws a push kick but Matic slaps the foot to one side.
Matic checks a leg kick.
Matic throws a chopping leg kick but Garcon manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
As Matic tries to get set, Garcon tries to push him back and clinch up but Matic manages to avoid the attempt.
Garcon takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Garcon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matic avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Garcon moves into the clinch.

Garcon breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcon thumps Matic with a low kick.
Garcon is looking to clinch.
Garcon lands a slapping body shot.
Matic connects with a leg kick. Garcon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Garcon tries to close the distance and clinch but Matic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Garcon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Garcon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcon just misses with a punch to the body.
Matic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matic misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Matic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Garcon scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hardijan Matic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcon lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matic backs up against the cage.

Garcon shoots in and bounces Matic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Garcon trying to control the position from guard on top but Matic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matic being controlled here, momentarily.
Garcon looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Garcon stands up and waves to Matic to follow him.
Garcon throws a right and a left that Matic avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Matic.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcon takes a swing at Matic's ribcage but misses.
Matic takes a swing at Garcon's ribcage but misses.
Garcon scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Garcon slips a straight right by Matic.
Garcon is looking to wear down Matic with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Garcon ducks under a wild hook from Matic.
Matic throws a series of strikes that have Garcon backpedaling.
Garcon is looking to clinch.
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 Pierre Garcon will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Matic takes a swing at Garcon's ribcage but misses.
Matic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Garcon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matic has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pierre Garcon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matic on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Garcon misses with a few strikes there.

Garcon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matic, pushing him back against the cage.
Matic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Garcon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Garcon scores with a jab to the body.
Matic moves out of range of the body kick.
Matic raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Garcon blocks a jab.

Garcon moves into range and clinches up with Matic.
Matic misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcon has Matic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Garcon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matic walks away with a smile on his face. Garcon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matic moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Garcon cracks Matic with a good jab.
Garcon throws a wild body kick that Matic sees coming a mile off.
Garcon staying out of range there.
Garcon tries to clinch but Matic is having none of it.
Garcon checks a low kick from Matic.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matic. Garcon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Garcon wants to clinch up but Matic keeps it at a distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matic.
Garcon avoids the body shot from Matic.
Garcon doesn't manage to clinch there - Matic circles away.
Matic throws a leg kick but Garcon sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matic throws the left hand but Garcon avoids the punch easily.

Garcon clinches up with Matic and pushes him back against the cage.
Matic throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcon's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matic swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Garcon gets a clinch.
Matic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcon has him pressed against the cage.

Matic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matic avoids the head kick by Garcon.
Matic was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matic looks to throw the jab but Garcon is out of range.

Garcon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matic lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Matic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Matic misses with the head strike.

Garcon breaks from the clinch.
Matic takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Garcon is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matic lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matic breaks from the clinch.
Garcon blocks a low kick nicely.
Garcon tries to clinch up but Matic circles away and keeps his distance.
Matic throws a leg kick but Garcon sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Garcon scores with a leg kick.
Matic throws a right hand that misses
enabling Garcon to counter with a crisp jab.
Pierre Garcon is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab by Garcon.
Matic throws a head kick that misses.
Garcon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Matic tries to get set, Garcon tries to push him back and clinch up but Matic manages to avoid the attempt.
Matic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garcon.
Matic throws a fast counter high kick but Garcon manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Garcon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Matic misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcon tries to close the distance and clinch but Matic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matic misses with a body shot.

Garcon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Garcon decides to stand up.
Garcon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Garcon gets the takedown into side control.
Matic can't do much from the bottom here.

Garcon decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Matic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garcon was well out of range. Poor timing from Matic.
Matic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garcon.
Matic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Garcon dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Garcon jabs Matic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Garcon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matic is looking for the big counter here.
Matic throws a sloppy head kick and Garcon moves out of range easily.
Garcon wants to clinch up but Matic keeps it at a distance.
Garcon throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matic on the side of the head.
Garcon checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Garcon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matic punishes Garcon's body with a nice straight punch.
Matic sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Garcon wants to clinch up but Matic keeps it at a distance.
Matic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Matic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garcon was well out of range. Poor timing from Matic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matic loads up on a big right hand but Garcon slips the punch.
Garcon lands a really nice looking cross but Matic seems unphased.
Matic blocks the body kick.
Garcon moves in looking to clinch but Matic pushes him off.
Garcon doesn't manage to clinch there - Matic circles away.
Matic only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A leg kick checked by Garcon.
Matic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matic misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Garcon misses the target.
Garcon moves in looking to clinch but Matic pushes him off.
Garcon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matic manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Matic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matic with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Garcon just misses with a punch to the body.
Matic slaps away a takedown attempt from Garcon, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matic throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Garcon slips under a jab from Matic.
Matic throws a head kick but Garcon moves out of range.
Garcon throws a leg kick
and Garcon takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matic throws out a counter right but Garcon avoids it with no problem.
Garcon avoids the head kick by Matic.
Garcon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matic doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Garcon gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcon is trying to control. Matic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Garcon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Matic is looking to escape.
Hardijan Matic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Garcon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matic tries to get to full guard but Garcon has control of the leg.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Garcon wants to free his trapped foot but Matic is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Garcon avoids the body shot from Matic.
Garcon drops down looking for a counter takedown but Matic sprawls and moves away.
Matic misses the shot to the body.
Garcon connects with an inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Matic.
Garcon ducks under a wild hook from Matic.
As Matic tries to get set, Garcon tries to push him back and clinch up but Matic manages to avoid the attempt.

Garcon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Garcon is in Matic's guard.
Matic is wriggling around but Garcon manages to pass to half guard.

Garcon escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcon scores with a one two! Matic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Matic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Garcon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Garcon tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Garcon somewhat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matic tries to move into range but Garcon moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matic misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Garcon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matic leaves Garcon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pierre Garcon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Garcon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcon slips under a jab.
Garcon tries to counter with a takedown but Matic is quick to defend against it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pierre Garcon.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garcon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Garcon!