PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harold Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Armstrong
vs
Mathews

191 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harold Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tommy Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mathews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mathews putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Armstrong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mathews utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Armstrong wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mathews has him pressed against the cage.
Mathews holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Armstrong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Armstrong avoiding damage as Mathews throws knees to the body.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Mathews lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Mathews pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mathews tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mathews using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mathews lands a good knee to the midsection. Armstrong won't want to take too many of those.
Mathews tries a body shot but Armstrong blocks it.
Mathews misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mathews with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Mathews looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Armstrong breaks from the clinch.
Armstrong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Armstrong throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mathews sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Armstrong throws a series of punches but Mathews moves out of range.
Mathews feints a counter leg kick.

Mathews clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Armstrong takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mathews with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mathews crunches a lovely knee into Armstrong's ribcage.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Mathews lands a good knee to the midsection. Armstrong won't want to take too many of those.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mathews with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mathews crunches a lovely knee into Armstrong's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to break the clinch but Mathews has him pressed against the cage.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
Mathews tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Armstrong is trying to break the clinch but Mathews has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mathews.
Mathews scores with a knee to the head.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mathews unloads a knee to the mid-section. Armstrong lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mathews landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mathews has Armstrong pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.
Mathews lands a nice knee to the body.
Mathews stalling.
Mathews lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong tries to throw a body punch but Mathews avoids it by throwing Armstrong back against the cage.
Mathews connects with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathews tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Armstrong trying to stall but Mathews improves his position.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armstrong avoids it.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mathews avoiding damage.
Armstrong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Mathews dominated that round.
That's time! Armstrong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Armstrong lands a nice looking body shot.
Mathews tries to close the distance and clinch up but Armstrong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Armstrong seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mathews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Armstrong fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Armstrong cracks a nice hook into Mathews's ribs.
Mathews tries to land a front kick but Armstrong steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Armstrong keeps the fight on the outside.
Mathews wants to clinch but Armstrong slips to the side
letting Armstrong counter with a right hand.
Harold Armstrong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Armstrong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Armstrong takes a swing at Mathews's ribcage but misses.
Armstrong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Armstrong lands a really nice looking cross but Mathews seems unphased.
Armstrong tries to bum rush Mathews with a series of wild strikes but Mathews uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mathews misses with a wild body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathews takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Mathews clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mathews.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mathews.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mathews landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mathews unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Armstrong is trying to break the clinch but Mathews has him pressed against the cage.
Armstrong is looking to break free of the clinch but Mathews has double underhooks.
Mathews tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Armstrong takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tommy Mathews seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mathews utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Armstrong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mathews is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Mathews is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Armstrong is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.

Armstrong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Armstrong is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mathews ducks under a wild hook from Armstrong.
Mathews tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Armstrong misses the shot to the body.

Mathews drives through and clinches with Armstrong against the cage.
Mathews putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Armstrong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathews landing knees to the body.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.
Mathews has Armstrong pressed against the cage, preventing Armstrong from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mathews prevents Armstrong from breaking the clinch.
Mathews landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Armstrong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mathews landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Armstrong is trying to push Mathews away but Mathews has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Armstrong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
Mathews misses with a knee strike.
Armstrong wants to break free but Mathews has control.
Mathews is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mathews misses with a body punch.
Armstrong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mathews scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mathews - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Armstrong tries to circle away but Mathews has him pinned against the cage.
Mathews working Armstrong over with knees to the body.
Mathews stalling in the clinch.
Armstrong can't break the clinch.
Mathews keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Armstrong's efforts to push away.
Armstrong takes a knee to the side of the body.
Mathews utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mathews tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Mathews 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! This is the final round!

Mathews avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mathews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Armstrong dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Armstrong connects with a nice looking jab.
Armstrong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mathews throws a leg kick
and Armstrong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Armstrong throws a series of punches but Mathews avoids them all with ease.
Mathews throws a jab but it's blocked by Armstrong.
As Mathews looks to move away, Armstrong throws a big counter combo but Mathews just gets out of the way.

Mathews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mathews.
Armstrong blocks a body shot from Mathews.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mathews landing knees to the body.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mathews has Armstrong pressed against the cage, preventing Armstrong from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mathews slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mathews misses with a hook to the ribs.
Armstrong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Armstrong dodges an elbow strike from Mathews.
Mathews tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Mathews misses with a knee strike.
Armstrong is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mathews stalling against the cage.
Armstrong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong blocks an elbow strike.
Armstrong wants to get back to striking at distance but Mathews won't allow it.
Mathews misses with the head strike.

Armstrong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Armstrong lands a right hook to the body.
Armstrong goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Mathews clinches up against the cage.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armstrong avoids it.
Armstrong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mathews connects with a nasty looking knee right to Armstrong's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mathews keeps control of Armstrong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mathews lands a knee to the head.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Armstrong avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mathews lands a knee to the body.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong is struggling to control the position.
Mathews tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Armstrong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Mathews.
Mathews with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mathews missing with knees to the body.
Mathews crunches a lovely knee into Armstrong's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Harold Armstrong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathews throws a punch but it's blocked by Armstrong.
Mathews looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Mathews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mathews taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mathews scores with a knee to the head.
Mathews pushes off an throws an elbow but Armstrong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong wants to break free but Mathews has control.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mathews as Armstrong tries to tie him up.
Armstrong tries to break free but Mathews pushes him back against the cage.
Mathews using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Armstrong just leaning against Mathews, taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Mathews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mathews winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Mathews!
Tommy Mathews decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.