PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Matiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Gaarlandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matiss
vs
Gaarlandt

186 cm
44
210 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

184 cm
28
207 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Matiss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Gaarlandt!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Matiss misses.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Gaarlandt throws a fast counter high kick but Matiss manages to duck under it in time.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick but Matiss moves out of range.
Matiss throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gaarlandt lands with a slapping head kick.
Gaarlandt ducks right into an uppercut from Matiss.
Matiss avoids the head kick by Gaarlandt.
Matiss scores with a nice strike.
Gaarlandt has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Matiss tried to score with a low kick but Gaarlandt checks it.
A head kick misses from Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick but Matiss moves out of range.
Gaarlandt throws a sloppy head kick and Matiss moves out of range easily.

Matiss gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gaarlandt blocks an uppercut.
Matiss blocking some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaarlandt is trying to break free.
Matiss misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matiss keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gaarlandt's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matiss tries to work over Gaarlandt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matiss looking to throw knees to the head but Gaarlandt is blocking nicely.
Gaarlandt scores with a shot to the side of Matiss's head.
Gaarlandt throws a head punch that misses.
Matiss landing knees to the body.

Gaarlandt breaks the clinch.
Matiss blocks a leg kick.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaarlandt takes one to the chin there.
Gaarlandt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gaarlandt throws the kick towards the body but Matiss avoids it.
Gaarlandt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Despite the aggression on Gaarlandt's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Matiss throws a solid leg kick but Gaarlandt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matiss.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick but Matiss moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Matiss.

Matiss moves into range and clinches up with Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt is trying to force a seperation but Matiss has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matiss is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gaarlandt is defending well for now.
Gaarlandt is trying to stall.

Gaarlandt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matiss throws a chopping leg kick but Gaarlandt manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matiss will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gaarlandt feints a jab promting Matiss to slip. Gaarlandt then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Matiss slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Matiss lands with a kick to the temple. Gaarlandt shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Matiss misses with a two punch combination.
Matiss cracks the inside of Gaarlandt's front leg.
Gaarlandt misses with a wild combination.
Gaarlandt keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matiss blocks a head kick by Gaarlandt.
Matiss looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Gaarlandt scores with a head kick. Matiss tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matiss drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matiss lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Matiss throws a nice outside leg kick.
Matiss misses with a wild body shot.
Gaarlandt lands a head kick. Matiss smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Matiss tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Gaarlandt is able to avoid easily.
Gaarlandt lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matiss backs up against the cage.
Matiss fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gaarlandt throws a one two combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matiss moves out of range as Gaarlandt throws a body kick.
Matiss stuns Gaarlandt with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matiss.
Gaarlandt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matiss with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A head kick from Matiss lands but Gaarlandt takes it in his stride.
Matiss lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gaarlandt's sensitive parts.
Matiss looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Matiss ducks under a wild hook from Gaarlandt.
Matiss misses with a wild body shot.
Gaarlandt unleashes a big counter combination but Matiss bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick that misses.
Gaarlandt throws a sloppy head kick and Matiss moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Matiss misses the target.
Gaarlandt lands with a kick to the ribs.
Matiss takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Gaarlandt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss thinks about countering with a head kick.
Good work by Gaarlandt as he checks the leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaarlandt takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick that Matiss semi-blocks.
Matiss lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gaarlandt circles away quickly and effectively.
Matiss throws a wild body kick that Gaarlandt sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ricardo Gaarlandt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gaarlandt throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gaarlandt keeps Matiss at a distance using the push kick.
A head kick from Gaarlandt lands but Matiss takes it in his stride.
Matiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matiss has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gaarlandt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matiss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gaarlandt throws a big shot that misses.
Matiss lands a glancing blow to the side of Gaarlandt's head.
A head kick from Gaarlandt lands but Matiss takes it in his stride.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matiss.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gaarlandt.
Matiss tries to clinch up but Gaarlandt circles away and keeps his distance.
A clash of legs there as Gaarlandt blocks the low kick.
Gaarlandt blocks a leg kick.
Gaarlandt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Matiss.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A leg kick checked by Gaarlandt.
Ricardo Gaarlandt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matiss bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss misses with a low kick as Gaarlandt jumps back.
Gaarlandt misses with a head kick.
Matiss wants to clinch.
Matiss cracks Gaarlandt with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gaarlandt.
Ricardo Gaarlandt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matiss lands with an overhand left.
Matiss throws a body shot but no joy.
Gaarlandt uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matiss.
Matiss looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses.
Matiss is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matiss gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gaarlandt counters with a two punch combo.
Gaarlandt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gaarlandt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaarlandt is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Matiss avoids the head kick by Gaarlandt.
Matiss throwing a counter right hand but Gaarlandt manages to avoid it.
A lazy left from Matiss finds it's target.
Gaarlandt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A quick step to the side and Matiss tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gaarlandt throws a sloppy head kick and Matiss moves out of range easily.
Matiss throws a shot from downtown. Gaarlandt moves away and avoids it.
Matiss showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gaarlandt.
Good shot there by Matiss.
Gaarlandt misses with a double jab.
Gaarlandt throws the kick towards the body but Matiss avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt looks for the body kick but Matiss saw that one coming.
Gaarlandt misses with a kick to the body.
Matiss tries a low kick but Gaarlandt avoids it.
Gaarlandt throws a counter combo.
Gaarlandt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gaarlandt throws an overhand right that lands on Matiss's shoulder, as Matiss tries to avoid the shot.
Matiss throws a sloppy head kick and Gaarlandt moves out of range easily.
Gaarlandt fails to land with a series of punches.
Gaarlandt goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Matiss!
Matiss throws a leg kick but Gaarlandt checks it.
Gaarlandt has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matiss.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matiss.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses.
Gaarlandt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matiss circles away quickly and effectively.
Gaarlandt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matiss avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matiss tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaarlandt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gaarlandt blocks a low kick nicely.

Matiss darts in and clinches Gaarlandt up against the cage.
Matiss is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gaarlandt is defending well for now.
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!
Gaarlandt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matiss blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gaarlandt lands an uppercut.
Matiss connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gaarlandt's face.
Matiss tries a knee to the head but Gaarlandt blocks it.
Matiss lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matiss lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Matiss is pushing Gaarlandt up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Gaarlandt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mario Matiss will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gaarlandt misses with a head kick.
It looked like Matiss wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gaarlandt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss is looking to score with low kicks.
Gaarlandt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gaarlandt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matiss appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gaarlandt drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matiss tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gaarlandt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gaarlandt throws a counter combo.
Gaarlandt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danga de danga de dang - Gaarlandt scores with a four punch combination!
Matiss throws a leg kick
and Gaarlandt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Matiss chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matiss scores with a three punch combo!
Gaarlandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matiss misses with a leg kick
and Gaarlandt counters with a left and a right that stings Matiss.
Matiss fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matiss throws a low kick but Gaarlandt avoids it.
Gaarlandt misses with the body kick
and Matiss counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Gaarlandt.
Matiss was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gaarlandt steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matiss.
Gaarlandt throws a head kick that half lands.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matiss cracks Gaarlandt with an open hand slap.
Matiss fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gaarlandt is out of range.
Gaarlandt shapes to counter with a head kick.
Gaarlandt moves out of range of the body kick from Matiss.
Matiss throws a sloppy head kick and Gaarlandt moves out of range easily.
Matiss lands a head kick. Gaarlandt smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Matiss avoids the head kick by Gaarlandt.

That's two 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!
Matiss takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gaarlandt misses with a two punch combination.
Gaarlandt misses with a head kick.
Gaarlandt tries a head kick but it misses.
Matiss is looking to land body kicks.
Gaarlandt looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Matiss drives through and clinches with Gaarlandt against the cage.
Matiss landing knees to the head.
Matiss works on Gaarlandt's body with a couple of short punches.
Gaarlandt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matiss working Gaarlandt over with knees to the body.
Matiss landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Matiss scores a nice knee to the body.
Matiss tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gaarlandt avoids it.
Matiss lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short uppercut from Matiss.
Matiss lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gaarlandt backwards.
Gaarlandt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaarlandt swings wildly with an uppercut but Matiss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gaarlandt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matiss lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gaarlandt backwards.
A short left from Matiss.
Gaarlandt throws a head punch that misses.
Matiss misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaarlandt.
Matiss lands with a light punch inside.
Gaarlandt tries to circle away but Matiss has him pinned against the cage.
Gaarlandt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Matiss throws a punch but it's blocked by Gaarlandt.
Gaarlandt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matiss keeps control of Gaarlandt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matiss throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gaarlandt blocks it with crossed arms.
Matiss doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matiss lands a knee to the body.
Matiss trying to control the position but instead, Gaarlandt has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matiss into the cage.
Matiss misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matiss misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matiss blocking some punches.
Matiss swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matiss keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gaarlandt's efforts to push away.
Matiss tries to land a knee to the head but Gaarlandt blocks with his arms.
Matiss swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matiss tries to work over Gaarlandt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gaarlandt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matiss has him pressed against the cage.
Matiss misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Matiss showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matiss 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mario Matiss!
A victorious Mario Matiss thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Ricardo Gaarlandt had this to say: 'i will never suffer defeat ,i ll come stronger and better in my next fight,thanks to all the fans out there..'.