PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Mathis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malan De Wet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Mathis
vs
De Wet

153 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

179 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jesse Mathis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Malan De Wet!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathis closes this distance looking for a takedown but De Wet circles away.

De Wet closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mathis quickly recovers to half guard.
Mathis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
De Wet thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mathis's head.
De Wet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mathis keeps working.
De Wet looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Wet prevents Mathis from improving his position.

De Wet is looking for a kimura but Mathis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for De Wet to get the leverage.
Mathis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Wet performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Mathis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mathis wants to control but De Wet is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

De Wet closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Mathis sneaks out the side door and pushes De Wet away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

De Wet has taken the fight to the clinch.
De Wet presses Mathis against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
De Wet on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

De Wet pulls guard successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

De Wet had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mathis defends it easily.
Mathis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Wet has control of Mathis's left arm, preventing Mathis from doing any damage.
De Wet looking to control.

Mathis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
De Wet managing to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The fighters are working up against the cage. De Wet manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
De Wet is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

De Wet is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mathis can't fight it off and eventually De Wet manages to take the fight to the floor. Mathis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
De Wet in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mathis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Wet gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mathis trying to keep a closed guard but De Wet is proving a slippery customer.
De Wet wants to control from the top but Mathis keeps moving.
De Wet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mathis is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathis keeping moving, preventing De Wet from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malan De Wet dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

De Wet tries to close the distance and clinch but Mathis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
De Wet tries to clinch up but Mathis circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathis appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Malan De Wet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Wet tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mathis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
De Wet throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Mathis's head.
Mathis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but De Wet avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Wet changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mathis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Mathis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
De Wet looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mathis is avoiding damage well.
De Wet is looking to take a break and control but Mathis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mathis is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
De Wet tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mathis's legs.

De Wet thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
De Wet happy to just control the position for now.
Mathis can't do much from the bottom here.
Mathis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mathis is trying to get back to his feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Wet closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - De Wet lands in his opponent's guard.

Mathis wriggles free and stands up.

De Wet drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
De Wet slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mathis is looking for a triangle but De Wet pushes his legs off easily.
Mathis being controlled here, momentarily.
De Wet pushes down on Mathis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

De Wet is working for a kimura here but Mathis manages to reverse the position and he's now in De Wet's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Malan De Wet will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

De Wet shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than De Wet was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Mathis sneaks out the side door and pushes De Wet away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
De Wet misses with a double jab.

De Wet scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Wet with the ground and pound but Mathis uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Mathis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
De Wet trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Mathis manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Wet is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
De Wet wants to sweep here but Mathis controlling him for the moment.

Mathis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mathis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mathis stands up over De Wet, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mathis postures up.
Mathis with a nice head shot there.

Mathis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on De Wet, up you get!
De Wet takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Wet misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by De Wet.

De Wet gets a takedown into half guard.

Mathis has one foot on De Wet's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mathis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mathis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mathis tries to counter with a takedown but De Wet is quick to defend against it.
De Wet swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Wet 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.

Mathis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. De Wet presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Mathis jumps guard but De Wet turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mathis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. De Wet just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mathis creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through De Wet's defenses.
Mathis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mathis struggles to land a body shot inside as De Wet controls his hands.

De Wet has picked Mathis up - he's going for a ride! De Wet dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Mathis manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mathis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Mathis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Mathis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts De Wet as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Mathis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

De Wet gets the takedown into side control.

De Wet goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mathis has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for De Wet but great work by Mathis.
Jesse Mathis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malan De Wet is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mathis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mathis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Mathis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think De Wet 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malan De Wet!