PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bismarck De Jager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Jager comes into the arena with Afrikanerhart blaring out of the sound system. 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.

De Jager
vs
Matthews

189 cm
30
210 lbs
19 - 12 - 1

194 cm
35
203 lbs
19 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 19 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bismarck De Jager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clay Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Jager changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Matthews tries to sprawl but De Jager drives through with a takedown into half guard.
De Jager looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews pushes De Jager off looking to stand but De Jager dives back in and keeps control.
De Jager wants to pass the guard but Matthews is defending well.
Matthews is not content to let De Jager control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Jager not landing any meaningful shots this time.
De Jager is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Matthews reverses the position - he's now on top in De Jager's guard.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but instead De Jager has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Jager is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
De Jager works a leg free and moves into half guard.
De Jager wants to take a breather but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matthews manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
De Jager is looking to pass into half guard but Matthews pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matthews is in guard.

Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of De Jager is proving hard to escape from.
De Jager trying to keep a closed guard but Matthews is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to stand but De Jager is controlling from the bottom.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but De Jager is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Jager has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.
De Jager pulls Matthews in close to prevent any damage.
De Jager wants to control but Matthews passes easily into half guard.
Matthews has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, De Jager works to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Jager wants to sweep but no luck.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of De Jager is proving hard to escape from.
De Jager is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

De Jager is trying to control the action in half guard but Matthews is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
De Jager drops an elbow to the side of Matthews's head.
Well, if De Jager is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Matthews has hold of De Jager's hands but De Jager slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews has hold of De Jager's hands but De Jager slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

It looks like Clay Matthews has been cut.
De Jager wants to take a breather but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
Matthews has hold of De Jager's hands but De Jager slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews trying to control here.
Matthews pushes De Jager off looking to stand but De Jager dives back in and keeps control.
De Jager tries to pass to full mount but Matthews defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bismarck De Jager dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clay Matthews's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

De Jager fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
De Jager scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
De Jager misses with a low kick.
De Jager throws a body shot but no joy.
De Jager is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matthews can do to turn this around?
Matthews defending well as De Jager loads up on a big left hand.
De Jager throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Matthews lands a head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews throws a combination that misses
and Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matthews just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from De Jager on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but De Jager moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a hook.
De Jager throws a sloppy head kick and Matthews moves out of range easily.
De Jager swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matthews misses with a looping right.
Matthews throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Bismarck De Jager has been cut.
Matthews on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses.
De Jager feinted there with a counter leg kick.
De Jager ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.
De Jager ducks under a wild hook from Matthews.
De Jager misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Matthews throws a right hand that De Jager ducks under and follows up with a left that De Jager also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Jager scoring well with a low kick there.
De Jager throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Matthews slips under a jab.
Matthews is clearly trying to counter these attacks from De Jager with a body shot.
De Jager throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews shapes to counter with a head kick.
Matthews looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Jager takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A telegraphed right hand from De Jager misses the target.
De Jager swings widly with a right hand
and Matthews counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.
Matthews uses good head movement to avoid the hook from De Jager.
De Jager throws a leg kick but Matthews checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews cracks a nice hook into De Jager's ribs.
De Jager fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matthews checks it well.
De Jager throws a jab when Matthews was well out of range.
Matthews ducks under a wild hook from De Jager.
It seemed like Matthews was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matthews. De Jager does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matthews lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matthews bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clay Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
De Jager throws a lazy body kick
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Jager looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
De Jager dives in for a single leg takedown but Matthews sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Matthews ducks under a wild hook from De Jager.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That has opened up Clay Matthews's cut even more.
Matthews stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Matthews wants it to stay on the feet.
De Jager uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Matthews has time to react.
Matthews looks to land a combination but De Jager avoids it well.
Matthews throws a right and a left that De Jager avoids nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matthews walks into a stiff left hand from De Jager.
Clay Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but De Jager bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matthews slips under a jab.
A low kick from De Jager is predictable there
and Matthews counters with a leg kick.
Matthews dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Clay Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

De Jager misses with a wild combination.
A thudding body kick lands there by Matthews!
Matthews throws a lazy uppercut
and De Jager connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Jager throws a lazy body kick
and Matthews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Jager avoids the head kick by Matthews.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews throws a left and a right that both miss
and De Jager counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matthews showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Jager.
Matthews is looking for the big counter here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Jager throws a series of punches but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
De Jager throws a big shot that misses.
Matthews tries a quick counter leg kick but De Jager is wise to it.
Matthews displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Jager throws out the jab.
De Jager moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMatthews.
De Jager thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matthews! But no joy.
Matthews swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matthews misses with a head kick.
De Jager is looking to counter punch.
That kick from Matthews tenderised De Jager's leg. De Jager is trying to keep his angry face on.
De Jager throws a hook but Matthews blocks it.
De Jager misses with an uppercut.
Matthews lands a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews cracks De Jager with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Matthews displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De Jager fails with a takedown attempt.
Matthews looks for the body kick but De Jager saw that one coming.
De Jager thinks about countering with a body kick.
Matthews lands an overhand right.
De Jager throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matthews sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matthews doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by De Jager.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Jager misses with a body shot.
De Jager misses with a few strikes there.
De Jager avoids the head kick by Matthews.
De Jager is looking to counter punch.
De Jager slips under a jab.
Matthews slips a jab from De Jager.
Matthews tries a quick counter leg kick but De Jager is wise to it.
De Jager shoots in looking for a takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl out of it but De Jager 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.
De Jager takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Jager misses with a hook.
Matthews unleashes a big counter combination but De Jager bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Clay Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Jager changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matthews slips a straight right by De Jager.
Matthews misses with a looping left.
Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from De Jager.
De Jager misses with a series of wild punches.
Matthews is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
De Jager slips a jab from Matthews.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Clay Matthews.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Matthews!
A victorious Clay Matthews thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.