PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Grey Worm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hardijan Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Worm comes to the cage accompanied by Der Kaptain. Hardijan Matic has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Worm
vs
Matic

166 cm
25
140 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

166 cm
25
146 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Grey Worm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hardijan Matic!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Worm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Worm looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Worm is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matic knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Matic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Worm is looking to take a break and control but Matic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Worm is trying to get an arm triangle but Matic is defending well.
Matic tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Worm is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matic has escaped the position, nice work there.
Worm prevents Matic from escaping the position.
You can see the frustration on Matic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matic lands a body shot.
Hardijan Matic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matic misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matic looks to land a right hand but Worm moved out of range.
Worm has his takedown stuffed
and Matic counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Worm is defended easily by Matic.
Worm goes for a double leg but Matic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Matic continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grey Worm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Worm shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matic as he jumps to the side.
Matic throws a nice looking combination but Worm bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matic stuffs the takedown.
Matic swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Worm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matic cracks Worm with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matic throws a shot to the body.
Worm shoots in for a double leg but Matic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Worm has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Worm fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Worm backing away here, and Matic unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Matic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Worm's head.
Worm slips a straight right by Matic.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Matic moves into the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Matic tries to work over Worm's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hardijan Matic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Worm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matic counters with a stiff right hand.

Matic moves into the clinch.
Worm is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Matic gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Matic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Worm goes for a double leg but Matic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Matic continues to drive forward.
Grey Worm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Worm tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matic sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Worm somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grey Worm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matic drops Worm with a beautiful combination! Worm stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Matic is looking for the KO!

Worm is rocked!
Hardijan Matic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matic fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worm chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matic can pounce on him.
Worm swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Matic as Worm shoots in.
Worm moves out of range as Matic throws a body kick.
Matic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Worm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Worm shoots in and gets a takedown into Matic's guard.
Matic keeping moving, preventing Worm from controlling successfully.
Matic can't keep his opponent in guard - Worm advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Matic wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Worm is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Matic is trying to stand.
Matic trying to control but Worm postures up.
Matic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Worm throwing shots but Matic is blocking nicely.

Worm is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matic sees it coming and defends easily.
Worm prevents Matic from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Worm gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hardijan Matic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matic pushes Worm up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Worm's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matic working aggressively here.

Matic manages to break the clinch.

Worm scores with a takedown into Matic's guard.

Worm stands up from Matic's guard - Worm perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matic explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Matic tries to clinch but Worm is having none of it.
Nice sprawl there from Matic as Worm shoots in.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch but Worm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Matic moves into the clinch.

Matic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matic swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Matic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Worm went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hardijan Matic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Matic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Matic cracks the inside of Worm's front leg.
Matic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matic misses with a low kick as Worm jumps back.
Worm is looking for a counter combo.
Matic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matic tries to bum rush Worm with a series of wild strikes but Worm uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No joy there for Worm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matic tries to clinch but Worm moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matic lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Matic is looking to clinch.
Worm appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Worm or perhaps it was just good defense by Matic, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Worm is out of range.
Worm misses with a takedown
and Matic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Matic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Worm misses with a wild combination.
Matic lands a jab to the head.
Matic throws a leg kick
letting Worm counter with a right hand.
Matic has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Matic tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Worm blocks the leg kick.
Worm throwing a counter right hand but Matic manages to avoid it.
Worm has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grey Worm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matic lands a nice hook to Worm's body. Worm takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matic throws a solid leg kick but Worm takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matic.
Worm fails with the takedown.
Matic works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worm shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matic as he avoids it easily.
Matic leaves Worm with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matic! But no joy.
Worm changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matic tries to avoid it but Worm manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matic to the ground. Matic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Worm moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Oh Worm is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matic with a jab.
Whack! Matic lands a heavy head kick that drops Worm. The ref tackles Matic to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Worm was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Hardijan Matic!
An out of breath and clearly excited Hardijan Matic thanked Perkele! for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).