PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brian Claremont (ranked 3186 p4p, 281 weight class) and Jackson Matthews (ranked 2061 p4p, 212 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Claremont
vs
Matthews

178 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Pit Bull Development
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Claremont!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jackson Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Claremont. That snapped Matthews's head back.
Claremont works the jab nicely.
Claremont misses with a looping left.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Claremont manages to avoid it.
Claremont moves into range and connects with a jab.
A left and a right from Matthews both land. Nice combination.
Claremont definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch up but Claremont swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
Claremont appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Claremont misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matthews scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Claremont doesn't seem bothered though.
Matthews will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Matthews darts in and clinches Claremont up against the ropes.
Matthews looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Claremont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claremont lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Claremont displaying some good clinch control by pressing Matthews up against the ropes.
Matthews misses with some punches.
Claremont tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matthews's elbow.
Claremont tries to throw a body punch but Matthews avoids it by throwing Claremont back against the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Matthews.
Good body shot from Claremont.
Stalling in the clinch from Claremont.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Claremont.
Matthews has a couple of punches blocked by Claremont.
Claremont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Claremont presses Matthews against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Matthews lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Claremont working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from Matthews - that landed with a thud.
A head punch on the inside from Matthews fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Claremont fails to land.
Matthews can't find room to land a body shot as Claremont controls the action.
Matthews fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Claremont.
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's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matthews.
Claremont misses with a punch to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Claremont tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Claremont misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Claremont misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claremont swings wildly with an uppercut but Matthews uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matthews.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Claremont as Matthews tries to tie him up.
Claremont makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Claremont working aggressively here.
Claremont tries to work over Matthews's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Claremont blocks an uppercut.
Matthews prevents a body shot from Claremont.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claremont struggles to land a body shot inside as Matthews controls his hands.
Matthews tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Claremont misses with a punch on the inside.
Claremont lands a body shot in the clinch.
Matthews misses with a body punch.
Claremont tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matthews lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Claremont lands a shoulder strike.
Matthews misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews lands a hook to the side of the head.
Matthews stalling against the ropes.
Claremont tries to break the clinch but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Claremont misses with the head strike.
Claremont throws a head punch that misses.
Claremont working aggressively here.
Matthews blocks a body shot from Claremont.
A head punch on the inside from Matthews fails to land.
Matthews throws a head punch that misses.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claremont lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matthews backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Claremont lands an uppercut.
Claremont tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matthews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthews.
Still in the clinch, Claremont scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Matthews creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Matthews.
Claremont fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matthews blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matthews throws a punch but it's blocked by Claremont.
Claremont has a couple of punches blocked by Matthews.
Claremont pushes Matthews back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Claremont misses with some punches.

Matthews breaks the clinch.

Claremont takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews misses with some punches.
Matthews tries to throw a body punch but Claremont avoids it by throwing Matthews back against the ropes.
Matthews swings wildly with an uppercut but Claremont uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Claremont dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matthews throws a series of strikes that have Claremont backpedaling.
Matthews lands with a nice body punch.
Claremont walks into a stiff left hand from Matthews.
Claremont takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matthews shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Matthews throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Claremont counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matthews throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Claremont counter with a right hand.
Matthews swings for the body but Claremont moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Claremont misses its target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Matthews tries to clinch
enabling Claremont to counter with a crisp jab.
Claremont is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Matthews misses with a hook
and Claremont counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Claremont circles away from the clinch attempt.
Claremont keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Claremont manages to avoid it.
Claremont lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Claremont, right into the meat.

Matthews moves into the clinch successfully.
Claremont tries a body shot but Matthews blocks it.
Matthews swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Claremont misses with the head strike.
Matthews trying to control the position but instead, Claremont has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matthews into the ropes.
Claremont lands a body shot.
Claremont tries to throw a body punch but Matthews avoids it by throwing Claremont back against the ropes.
Matthews lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matthews blocks a body shot from Claremont.
Matthews misses with a hook to the ribs.
Claremont misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matthews lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Claremont misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claremont tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matthews misses with some punches.
Matthews doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Claremont lands a body punch in the clinch.
Matthews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Claremont lands with a left to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Matthews working aggressively here.
Claremont lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Claremont tries to work over Matthews's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Claremont blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Brian Claremont has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Claremont swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Claremont.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matthews.
Claremont misses with some punches.
Matthews misses with a hook from the clinch.

Claremont breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matthews misses with a double jab.
Claremont throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Claremont moves away from the strike by Matthews.
Matthews lands an overhand right.
Matthews moves to clinch but Claremont breaks away
enabling Claremont to counter with a crisp jab.
Claremont missing with a left hand there. Matthews was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Claremont lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Claremont fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Claremont takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matthews scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Claremont doesn't seem bothered though.
Matthews throws an overhand right that lands on Claremont's shoulder, as Claremont tries to avoid the shot.
Good leg kick by Claremont there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Claremont takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matthews misses with a hook to the body
and Claremont counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands with a cross.
Claremont explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Matthews tries to clinch but Claremont moves away
and Claremont counters with a stiff right hand.
Claremont uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matthews.
A little feinted left hand from Claremont on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matthews misses with a looping right.
A quick step to the side and Claremont tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Claremont lands with a shot to the body.
Claremont takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Claremont swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Claremont misses its target.
Matthews is looking to clinch but Claremont is avoiding it.
Claremont tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Claremont.
A left lands for Matthews.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Claremont lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Claremont throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Claremont dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matthews darts in trying to clinch
and Claremont connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matthews on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matthews looks to clinch
enabling Claremont to counter with a crisp jab.
Claremont takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matthews tries to clinch up
and Claremont counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews misses with a shot to the body
and Claremont counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Claremont tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Claremont.
Matthews looks to score with a jab to the body but Claremont is just out of range.
Matthews tries to clinch up.
Claremont turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claremont ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Matthews looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Matthews has managed to clinch.
Matthews blocking some punches.
Claremont tries to throw a body punch but Matthews avoids it by throwing Claremont back against the ropes.
A short right from Matthews on the inside.
Claremont has a couple of punches blocked by Matthews.
Claremont has Matthews pressed against the ropes, preventing Matthews from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matthews misses with the head strike.
Claremont misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Claremont lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matthews backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Claremont.

Matthews is rocked!
A short right from Claremont.
Matthews is still on wobbly legs! Can Claremont finish him?
Matthews prevents a body shot from Claremont.
Claremont misses with a body punch.
Matthews lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Claremont backwards.
Matthews seems to have recovered his senses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Claremont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Claremont scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Claremont fails to land.
A shot in the inside from Claremont.
Claremont misses with a body punch.

Claremont escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matthews swings widly with a right hand
and Claremont counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Claremont avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matthews takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Matthews clinches up with Claremont and pushes him back against the ropes.
Claremont lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Claremont pushes Matthews against the ropes. Claremont is working some dirty boxing. Claremont pushes off with a quick right hook! Matthews goes down! Matthews tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Claremont moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brian Claremont!
Brian Claremont retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Brian Claremont thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.