PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jared Mathis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Castro (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.

Mathis
vs
Castro

210 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jared 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, Sonny Castro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mathis gets the takedown into side control.
Castro parries the strikes from Mathis easily there. Mathis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Castro to escape.
Castro struggling a bit here.
Castro is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathis working the ground and pound from side control.

Mathis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Castro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Mathis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro is trying to control Mathis's posture but Mathis avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castro is trying to improve his position.
Check out the look on Mathis's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mathis working away.
Mathis working the head with strikes.
Mathis in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Mathis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mathis wants to control but Castro is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castro is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mathis has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Mathis decides to stand back up. Mathis steps back and let's Castro get back to his feet.

Mathis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Castro's guard.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mathis cracks Castro with a solid left hand.

Castro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mathis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mathis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mathis is in close to Castro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mathis with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mathis stands up and waves to Castro to follow him.

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

Mathis stands up.
Mathis blocks a head kick by Castro.

Castro darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Castro looks winded!
Castro is trying to control. Mathis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mathis works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis managing to control the position.
Mathis keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.
Mathis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mathis is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Mathis dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Castro misses with a series of wild punches.

Castro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mathis can't do much from the bottom here.

Castro swings around for an armbar but Mathis sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Castro's guard.
Mathis won't allow Castro to sweep him here.
Mathis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mathis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castro closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mathis quickly recovers to half guard.
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!
Mathis is trying to maintain the position but Castro is very close to passing his half guard.
Castro is breathing heavily.

Mathis has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Castro is on him like a limpet, forcing Mathis back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castro gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mathis is holding on to half guard well.
Mathis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mathis 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.
Castro postures up in Mathis's guard and throws a big left but Mathis blocks it.
Castro stopping the sweep attempt from Mathis.
Castro looking to pass the guard.
Castro won't allow Mathis to get back to his feet.
Mathis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis is looking to sweep but instead, Castro has passed into half guard.
Jared Mathis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Castro is thwarting Mathis's attempts to control the position.
Castro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mathis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mathis moves into full guard.
Castro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mathis is keeping the position for now.
Mathis looking for a sweep. Not yet Mathis, not yet.
Castro content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Castro is one step ahead there.
Mathis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Castro can do to turn this around?
Mathis keeping moving, preventing Castro from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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

Mathis throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Mathis darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mathis seems to be working for a kimura but Castro defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis wants to stand up but Castro has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Mathis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Castro defending well though.
Castro is looking to escape.
Castro wants to control the action here but instead Mathis manages to pass to full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mathis lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mathis lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Mathis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Castro throws a right hand that misses

and Mathis counters by clinching up.
Mathis has Castro pressed against the cage, preventing Castro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mathis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Castro walks away with a smile on his face. Mathis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Castro doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathis circles away.
Mathis tries to counter with a takedown but Castro is quick to defend against it.
Castro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mathis counters by clinching up.

Castro pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mathis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Castro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castro lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mathis is on top in guard.

Mathis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Castro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mathis gets to his feet. Castro looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Castro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mathis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mathis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Castro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Castro's back!

Mathis working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Mathis has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Castro! Can he survive? No! He's out! Mathis gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jared Mathis!