PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darryl Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hayden Matthews (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.

Swanson
vs
Matthews

205 cm
24
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darryl Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hayden Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews shoots in looking for a takedown but Swanson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matthews's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Swanson has Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
Swanson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Matthews looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Swanson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Matthews to keep the fight standing.
Swanson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Matthews fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darryl Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Matthews throws out a counter right but Swanson avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.

Matthews pulls guard successfully.

Swanson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Swanson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt - Swanson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Matthews is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Swanson's half guard.

Swanson has one foot on Matthews's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swanson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swanson moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMatthews.

Swanson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matthews tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Swanson presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Matthews is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Swanson tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Swanson is working for a kimura but Matthews is defending it quite comfortably.

Matthews actively working from the bottom here.
Matthews is trying to get back to full guard.
Matthews wants to get back to full guard but Swanson has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Matthews is looking to improve his position but Swanson isn't that keen on the idea.
Swanson lands a big shot there that rocks Matthews but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Swanson prevents Matthews from getting the reversal.

Swanson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Matthews looks winded!
Left hook, right uppercut from Swanson.

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

The fighters are working up against the cage. Swanson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darryl Swanson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Swanson wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Matthews throws out a counter right but Swanson avoids it with no problem.
Matthews fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Swanson gets tackled into the cage by Matthews. Matthews maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matthews jumps into guard, dragging Swanson to the mat.

Matthews isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Swanson stacks Matthews on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Swanson!

Swanson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Matthews to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Swanson.
Matthews fails with the takedown
and Swanson counters with a nice body shot.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Swanson as he jumps to the side.
Darryl Swanson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hayden Matthews.
Matthews doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swanson counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Swanson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Swanson tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Swanson wants to get back to his feet but Matthews drags him back down.
Matthews lands a decent elbow from side control.
Swanson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Swanson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Swanson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matthews gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Swanson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
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!
Matthews won't allow Swanson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Swanson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Swanson is looking to clinch.

Swanson shoots in and gets a takedown into Matthews's guard.
Swanson is standing up over Matthews. Matthews looks to escape but Swanson dives into side control.

Swanson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Swanson shoots in looking for a takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl out of it but Swanson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matthews manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Matthews was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matthews, pushing him back against the cage.
Swanson jumps guard but Matthews turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Swanson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darryl Swanson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matthews misses with a hook
and Swanson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Matthews rushes Swanson and presses him up against the cage.
Matthews trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Swanson.
Swanson blocking some punches.
Swanson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Matthews is defending well.
Matthews using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Swanson wants a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Matthews fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darryl Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matthews closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matthews lands in his opponent's guard.
Darryl Swanson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matthews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews landing with the ground and pound.
Matthews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Swanson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthews's guard.

Matthews is looking for a triangle but Swanson pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matthews swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It seemed like Matthews was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt.
Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.

Matthews fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Swanson sprawls well initially but Matthews persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Swanson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Matthews is on him like a limpet, forcing Swanson back against the cage.
Matthews using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Swanson jumps into guard, dragging Matthews to the mat.
Swanson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matthews can do to turn this around?
Matthews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Swanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matthews is one step ahead there.
Matthews won't allow Swanson to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Swanson is on top in guard.

Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matthews looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Swanson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Swanson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matthews tries to roll over but Swanson keeps him under control.
Swanson sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Swanson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darryl Swanson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Swanson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darryl Swanson!