PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cletus Buckley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Buckley
vs
Mathews

206 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cletus Buckley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Topper Green and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews throws a series of punches but Buckley avoids them all with ease.

Mathews closes the distance and pushes Buckley back into the cage.

Buckley gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Buckley manages to pass to side control.

Buckley controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Buckley stands up out of the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley tries for a takedown but Mathews circles away easily
and Mathews counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Buckley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathews, pushing him back against the cage.
Mathews gets underhooks to prevent Buckley's takedown attempt.
Mathews is trying to drag Buckley to the mat but Buckley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews is looking to control Buckley's arms but Buckley gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mathews has his back to the cage.

Buckley turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Buckley scoring with punches from side control.
Buckley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Check out the look on Buckley's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
A lull in the action here as Buckley stalls from top position.
Mathews wants to control but Buckley postures up.
The referee asks Buckley politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Buckley prefers to stall for the moment though.
Mathews can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee asks Buckley politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Buckley prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mathews is trying to control Buckley's posture but Buckley avoids it.
Buckley lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mathews takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Buckley scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mathews to see if he's OK.
Buckley looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mathews is avoiding damage well.
Buckley postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Buckley scoring with punches and elbows.
Buckley controls the position.
Mathews avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Buckley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Buckley is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Mathews is looking to improve his position but Buckley isn't that keen on the idea.
Buckley controlling from the full mount.
Buckley raining down hammerfists from mount.
Buckley is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Mathews is in real trouble.
Buckley has good solid back control here.
Buckley has the hooks in. Mathews is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Buckley. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Buckley is hanging on to Mathews's back as he tries to escape.
Buckley is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Mathews up.
Buckley trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Mathews doesn't escape.
Mathews is taking damage to the body and head.
Buckley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Buckley just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Buckley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Buckley is landing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cletus Buckley dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mathews moves into the clinch.

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

Buckley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Buckley postures up and lands a big shot to Mathews's brow.
Buckley sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mathews tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Buckley is looking to work some ground and pound but Mathews has wrist control.
Buckley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Buckley postures up in Mathews's guard and throws a big left but Mathews blocks it.
Buckley controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mathews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Buckley avoids it really well and circles away.
Buckley is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
James Mathews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathews throws a body shot but no joy.
Buckley moves out of range of the body kick.

Mathews closes the distance and clinches.

Buckley drags the fight down to the ground.
Buckley is pulling down on Mathews's head. It's preventing any offense from Mathews, at least for the moment.
Mathews trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buckley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mathews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Buckley is controlling Mathews's posture.
Mathews trying to control but Buckley is working from the bottom.
Mathews wants to get up but he can't break Buckley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews trying to control the position from guard on top but Buckley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Mathews gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Buckley managing to block the knees to the body from Mathews.

Buckley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Buckley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mathews throwing strikes from guard but Buckley blocks nicely.
Mathews tries to free his leg and advance position but Buckley is retaining full guard.
Mathews postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mathews would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Buckley is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews looking to sit in guard and control but Buckley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Buckley won't allow Mathews to sweep him here.
Mathews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mathews wants to control but Buckley passes easily into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mathews wants to control but Buckley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cletus Buckley dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Mathews as Buckley shoots in.
Mathews stuffs the takedown attempt from Buckley. Buckley gets slowly back to his feet.
Mathews goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A punch combination from Mathews misses.
Mathews throws a right hand that Buckley ducks under and follows up with a left that Buckley also avoids with ease.
Mathews fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Buckley fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathews, pushing him back against the cage.
Buckley slowing the pace effectively.

Buckley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mathews throws a strike but Buckley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buckley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Buckley is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Buckley is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Buckley controlling from the top position.
Buckley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Buckley with a nice head shot there.
Mathews is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Buckley sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Buckley throws a big elbow that misses.
Buckley won't allow Mathews to sweep him here.
Mathews working a defensive guard here.
Buckley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Buckley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buckley dives in and scores a takedown into Mathews's guard.
Mathews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Buckley throws a big right hand that misses.
Buckley's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Mathews has his feet on Buckley's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Mathews rushes Buckley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
James Mathews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Buckley avoids it.
A short right from Mathews on the inside.
Mathews misses with a knee to the head.
Mathews tries to pull guard but Buckley holds him up against the cage and eventually Mathews drops back down to his feet.

Buckley pulls guard effortlessly.
Buckley has his hands on Mathews's head, controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathews trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mathews stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cletus Buckley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathews misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Mathews.
I think Buckley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cletus Buckley!