PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ezio Auditoire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Auditoire
vs
Connor

182 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Full Mount Clothing

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ezio Auditoire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Connor!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Auditoire is looking to clinch.
Auditoire misses with a head kick.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Connor swats away the attempt to clinch by Auditoire.

Connor closes the distance and clinches.

Connor manages to break the clinch.
Connor throws a one two combo.
Connor blocks a head kick by Auditoire.
Connor tries to clinch but Auditoire moves out of range.
Auditoire throws a half hearted mid kick.
Connor wants to clinch up but Auditoire keeps it at a distance.

Connor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Auditoire, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Connor throws an elbow but misses.
Auditoire throws a knee to the head but misses.

Connor breaks the clinch.
Auditoire lands with a kick to the ribs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Auditoire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Auditoire misses with a body kick.
Auditoire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connor tries to clinch up but Auditoire circles away and keeps his distance.
Connor doesn't manage to clinch there - Auditoire circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Auditoire rushes Connor and presses him up against the cage.
Connor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Auditoire blocks it with crossed arms.
Connor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Auditoire up against the cage.
Connor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Auditoire.
Auditoire gets underhooks to prevent Connor's takedown attempt.
Connor lands an elbow inside that Auditoire shrugs off.

Connor manages to break the clinch.

Connor clinches up against the cage.
Connor has Auditoire pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Auditoire manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Connor looks gassed!
Connor prevents Auditoire from breaking the clinch.
Auditoire tries to break the clinch but Connor is controlling the position.
Connor tries a knee to the head but Auditoire blocks it.
Auditoire wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Connor has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Auditoire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Auditoire swats away the attempt to clinch by Connor.
Connor tries to clinch up but Auditoire circles away and keeps his distance.
Connor avoids the head kick by Auditoire.
Connor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Auditoire swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Auditoire throws a sloppy head kick and Connor moves out of range easily.
Connor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connor bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Connor is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Auditoire gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ezio Auditoire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Connor.
Connor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Auditoire tries a knee to the head but Connor blocks it.
Auditoire connects with a nasty looking knee right to Connor's face.
Connor has Auditoire pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Auditoire is looking to chop away at Connor's legs.

Connor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Connor is working for takedown but Auditoire is calmly controlling the position for now.
Connor tries for a takedown but Auditoire manages to get underhooks.
Connor tries to score a body lock takedown but Auditoire shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Auditoire breaks from the clinch.
Auditoire misses with the body kick
and Connor counters with a big head kick but Auditoire shrugs it off.
Auditoire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Auditoire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Auditoire needs to keep his hands up - Connor had a free shot at his head there.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Auditoire, pushing him back against the cage.

Connor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Connor.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Connor takes the fight into the clinch.
Connor is pushing Auditoire up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Connor keeps control of Auditoire as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Connor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Auditoire smiles and moves away.

Auditoire darts in and clinches Connor up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Connor dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Connor instigates a clinch.
Connor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Auditoire has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Connor tries to pull guard but Auditoire holds him up against the cage and eventually Connor drops back down to his feet.
Connor misses with a knee to the head.
Connor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Auditoire blocks it with crossed arms.
Auditoire prevents the takedown attempt.
Auditoire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.
Connor connects with a knee to the head.

Auditoire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses
and Connor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Connor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Connor closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Connor wants a takedown.
Ezio Auditoire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Connor.
Auditoire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Auditoire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick by Auditoire misses
and Connor counters with a low kick, right behind Auditoire 's knee.
A head kick by Auditoire misses

and Connor counters by moving into the clinch.

Connor gets control of Auditoire's arms and successfully pulls guard. Connor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Connor pulls Auditoire in close to his closed guard and prevents Auditoire from doing any damage or advancing position.
Connor wants to get back to his feet but Auditoire is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Connor has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Auditoire gets to his feet - Connor follows without any prompting.

Connor moves into the clinch successfully.
Connor tries to land knees in the clinch but Auditoire avoids the damage to the body.
Connor tries to pull guard but Auditoire won't allow it.

Auditoire breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Auditoire avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Connor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Connor fails with an attempt to clinch.

Connor closes the distance and clinches.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Auditoire fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Connor checks it well.
Connor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Auditoire swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Auditoire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Connor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Auditoire. That did some damage!
Auditoire pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Connor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Connor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Connor keeps control of Auditoire as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor goes for a takedown attempt but Auditoire pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses

and Connor counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Connor connects with a knee to the head.
Connor prevents Auditoire from breaking the clinch.
Connor throws a knee to the head but misses.

Connor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matt Connor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Connor avoids the head kick by Auditoire.
Connor tries to close the distance and clinch but Auditoire swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Auditoire throws a lazy head kick
and Connor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Connor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Connor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Connor postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Auditoire to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Connor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Connor is looking to clinch but Auditoire is avoiding it.
Connor feints and then cracks Auditoire's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Auditoire down.

Connor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Connor is trying to drag Auditoire to the mat but Auditoire just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Connor goes for a takedown attempt but Auditoire pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Connor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Auditoire circles away quickly and effectively.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Auditoire.
Auditoire with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Auditoire throws a head kick that misses
and Connor counters with a three punch combo that has Auditoire backing up. Auditoire nods at Connor to acknowledge the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Connor is looking to clinch.
Auditoire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Auditoire misses with a head kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Connor. Auditoire shrugs it off though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor tries to clinch but Auditoire moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Auditoire.
Connor blocks a head kick by Auditoire.
Auditoire swats away the attempt to clinch by Connor.
Connor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Auditoire lands a nice leg kick that just misses Connor's sensitive parts.
Connor tries to clinch up.
Connor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Connor takes the fight into the clinch.
Auditoire with a knee to the head.
Auditoire prevents the takedown attempt.
Ezio Auditoire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Connor.
Connor wants a takedown.
Auditoire takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Connor pushes off an fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Auditoire as Connor tries to tie him up.
Connor is working for takedown but Auditoire is calmly controlling the position for now.
Connor misses with a knee strike.
Connor tries to pull guard but Auditoire won't allow it.

Connor breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Connor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Auditoire goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Auditoire darts in trying to clinch

and Connor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Auditoire tries to land a knee to the head but Connor blocks with his arms.
A body shot lands from Connor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor lands a knee to the head.
Auditoire is looking to break free of the clinch but Connor has double underhooks.
Connor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Auditoire stops a takedown attempt from Connor.

Auditoire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ezio Auditoire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Connor clinches.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Auditoire throws a low kick, looking for Connor's leg but Connor calmly moves out of range.
Auditoire throws a front kick aimed at Connor's knee but Connor avoids it well.

Connor clinches up against the cage.
Auditoire throws a knee to the head but misses.
Connor is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Connor throws an elbow but it misses.
Connor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Auditoire has him pressed against the cage.
Connor drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Auditoire gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Auditoire misses with a knee to the head.
Connor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Auditoire just stands there and leans against the cage.
Connor holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Auditoire breaks the clinch.
Ezio Auditoire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Connor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head kick by Auditoire misses

and Connor counters by clinching up.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Connor.
Well Connor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Connor!