PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felipe Matipuno (ranked 8640 p4p, 670 weight class) and Frank Lamphard (ranked 3711 p4p, 424 weight class). Frank Lamphard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Matipuno
vs
Lamphard

185 cm
26
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
32
200 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Felipe Matipuno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Lamphard!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matipuno shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lamphard sprawls well. Lamphard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matipuno gets slowly back to his feet.

Matipuno feints and as Lamphard raises his hands in defense, Matipuno changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lamphard trying to control the position here.
Matipuno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamphard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matipuno's guard.

Lamphard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Matipuno definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matipuno looking to control but Lamphard passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Lamphard 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.
Matipuno is looking to improve his position.
Lamphard is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Matipuno trying to hold on to Lamphard's head to control him but Lamphard postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lamphard controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lamphard moves nicely into side control.
Lamphard is staying tight to Matipuno's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Matipuno slips a jab from Lamphard.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matipuno checks a leg kick.
Matipuno is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Matipuno blocks the leg kick.
Matipuno misses with a takedown attempt - Lamphard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lamphard jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Matipuno with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lamphard counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felipe Matipuno. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matipuno throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lamphard's waist but Lamphard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matipuno off to one side.
Matipuno takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lamphard tries to sprawl but Matipuno drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Lamphard gets back to full guard.
Lamphard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lamphard is pulling down on Matipuno's head to control his posture.
Matipuno wants to control from the top but Lamphard keeps moving.
Lamphard trying to control the position here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Lamphard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matipuno misses with a kick to the body.
Lamphard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matipuno manages to avoid it.
Matipuno gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lamphard.
Matipuno will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lamphard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matipuno attempts a counter takedown but Lamphard avoids it well and moves away.
Felipe Matipuno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lamphard throws a head kick but Matipuno moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Matipuno.
Lamphard works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matipuno dives in and grabs Lamphard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lamphard pushes down on Matipuno's head and hops out.

Lamphard moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamphard lands with a left to the head.
Matipuno jumps guard but Lamphard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lamphard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matipuno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lamphard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matipuno tries to work over Lamphard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lamphard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lamphard gets through Matipuno's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Lamphard fails to land.
Lamphard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Matipuno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matipuno is trying to push Lamphard away but Lamphard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Lamphard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lamphard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Matipuno closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lamphard quickly recovers to half guard.
Matipuno thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lamphard's head.

Matipuno is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Lamphard as he works his way to full guard.
Lamphard pulls Matipuno in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lamphard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Matipuno working for submissions but it's allowed Lamphard to get to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lamphard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lamphard is thwarting Matipuno's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamphard stalling.
Matipuno is trying to get back to full guard.
Lamphard not doing much here.
Matipuno is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lamphard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Lamphard passes into side control, despite Matipuno's attempt to control the position.
Lamphard is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matipuno's shoulder. That is not cool.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matipuno on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Matipuno tries to get out of the position.
Matipuno is looking for a sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Lamphard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Matipuno.
Matipuno displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lamphard throws out the jab.
Matipuno tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Lamphard manages to circle out of the way.
Lamphard scores with a jab. Matipuno acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lamphard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Lamphard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lamphard takes a swing at Matipuno's ribcage but misses.
Frank Lamphard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lamphard takes a swing at Matipuno's ribcage but misses.
Lamphard connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lamphard throws a head kick that misses.

Matipuno scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matipuno throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Lamphard to regain full guard.
Lamphard controlling Matipuno's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamphard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matipuno manages to get himself to full guard.

Matipuno can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lamphard controls the pace.
Matipuno working a defensive guard but Lamphard passes into half guard.
Lamphard controlling the pace.
Matipuno has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lamphard is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matipuno is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Lamphard trying to control the pace.
Frank Lamphard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matipuno is trying to control but can't.
Frank Lamphard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matipuno is looking for a sweep. Lamphard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matipuno wants to control the action here but instead Lamphard manages to pass to full mount!
Lamphard avoids the attempt from Matipuno to control.
Matipuno working to try and regain half guard.
Lamphard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matipuno wants to get back to his feet.
Lamphard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matipuno is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Lamphard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lamphard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Frank Lamphard!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Frank Lamphard!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Frank Lamphard!

Frank Lamphard wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Frank Lamphard started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.