PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Kyle (ranked 3333 p4p, 431 weight class) and Petiah Mathis (ranked 2994 p4p, 396 weight class). Kyle comes to the cage accompanied by Barbie Girl. Mike Kyle could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Petiah Mathis's chin.

Kyle
vs
Mathis

195 cm
26
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

187 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Kyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petiah Mathis!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kyle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mathis takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kyle looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Mathis clinches.
Mathis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kyle avoids it.
Kyle lands with a left to the head.

Kyle successfully pulls guard.

Mathis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kyle throws a head kick that misses.
Mathis misses with a wild body shot.
Mathis connects with a crisp jab.
Mathis swings for the body but Kyle moves out of range.
Kyle lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
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!
Kyle slips a jab from Mathis.

Kyle has closed the distance and engaged Mathis in a clinch.

Kyle jumps guard and drags Mathis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kyle looking for a sweep. Not yet Kyle, not yet.
Kyle controls Mathis momentarily but Mathis frees himself.
Kyle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mathis working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kyle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mathis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kyle trying to keep a closed guard but Mathis is proving a slippery customer.

Mathis stands up from Kyle's guard - Mathis perhaps looking for a knockout.

Mathis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kyle is trying to break the clinch but Mathis is controlling him.
Kyle scores with a shot to the side of Mathis's head.
Mathis blocks an elbow strike from Kyle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Mathis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Mathis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kyle doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mathis.
Kyle won't allow Mathis to pass to mount.

Kyle makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kyle has Mathis up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Kyle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mathis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathis misses the jab.
Mathis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mathis drops his hands momentarily and Kyle takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Petiah Mathis has been cut.
Kyle tries to clinch there but Mathis circles away.
Kyle changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Mathis pushes Kyle up against the cage in a clinch.
Mathis pushes off an throws an elbow but Kyle leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mathis tries to score a body lock takedown but Kyle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kyle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathis walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kyle.
A head kick misses from Kyle.
Mathis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mathis missing with a left hand there. Kyle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kyle stalks Mathis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mathis's face. Mathis staggers backwards, shaken.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kyle moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Mathis.
Mathis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kyle lands a nice looking body kick.
Mathis looks winded!
Kyle misses with a two punch combination.

Kyle lands a big head kick that sends Mathis tumbling to the mat! Kyle takes a step backwards and waves Mathis back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Mathis is rocked!

Kyle clinches with his opponent.
Kyle lands a hook that snaps the head of Mathis backwards.
Mathis is still on wobbly legs! Can Kyle finish him?
A short body shot lands from Kyle as the two fighters clinch.
Mathis seems to have recovered his senses.
Kyle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mathis's elbow.
Mathis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kyle.
Kyle lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kyle trying to stall but Mathis improves his position.
A body shot lands from Kyle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Kyle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Petiah Mathis's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mathis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mathis misses with a wild combination.
Mathis needs to keep his hands up - Kyle had a free shot at his head there.

Kyle gets caught napping as Mathis dives in and scores a takedown. Kyle manages to retain guard.
Kyle has momentary wrist control but Mathis slips an elbow through the middle.
Kyle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mathis wriggles free and stands up.
Kyle looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mathis! But no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kyle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mathis somewhat.
A combination from Kyle does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Mathis misses.
Kyle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mathis can do to turn this around?
Kyle swinging wildly here.
Mathis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mike Kyle is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kyle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mathis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mathis lands in his opponent's guard.
Mathis wants to control from the top but Kyle keeps moving.

Kyle working for a triangle but Mathis defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis being controlled here momentarily.
Mathis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mathis trying to control the position from guard on top but Kyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kyle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mathis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mathis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mathis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kyle pulls Mathis in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis wants to control from the top but Kyle keeps moving.

Mathis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kyle looking for a sweep. Not yet Kyle, not yet.
Mathis throws a big elbow that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kyle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mathis scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mathis just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Kyle misses the target.
A head kick from Mathis lands but Kyle takes it in his stride.
Kyle misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mathis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kyle misses with a knee strike.
Mathis is trying to push Kyle away but Kyle has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kyle lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kyle avoids the elbow strike from Mathis, against the cage.
Kyle lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Petiah Mathis's cut even more.
Mathis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kyle avoids it.

Kyle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kyle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mathis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mathis throws a fast counter high kick but Kyle manages to duck under it in time.
Kyle lands a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathis looks for a takedown but Kyle sprawls well.
Mathis steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kyle. That one must have hurt.
Kyle displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Petiah Mathis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Petiah Mathis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A cross from Kyle lands.
Kyle smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kyle misses with a head kick.

Mathis moves into the clinch.
Mathis tries to circle away but Kyle has him pinned against the cage.
Kyle scores with a shot to the side of Mathis's head.
Kyle is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mathis tries to circle away but Kyle has him pinned against the cage.
Kyle misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right from Kyle.

Kyle gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Mathis is trying to control but can't.
Mathis is looking for a sweep. Kyle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kyle is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kyle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathis wants to get back to his feet.

Mathis manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kyle scores with a jab to the body.
Kyle throws a leg kick which misses Mathis's front leg but catches the back leg as Mathis tries to avoid it.
Kyle moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mathis missing with a left hand there. Kyle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kyle throws a right and a left that Mathis avoids nicely.
Kyle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kyle cracks Mathis with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Both fighters circling a little - Kyle finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kyle tries to clinch there but Mathis circles away.
Kyle connects with a body shot that sends Mathis's belly button to the back.
Mathis slips a jab and a cross from Kyle.

Kyle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kyle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kyle stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kyle slips a jab from Mathis.

Mathis has managed to clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kyle.
Mathis unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Kyle breaks from the clinch.
Mathis looks to land a combination but Kyle avoids it well.
Kyle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathis as he avoids it easily.
Mike Kyle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mathis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kyle on his heels. He'll look to pass Kyle's guard now, I'm sure.

Kyle has his feet on Mathis's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mathis clinches.
Mathis tries to land a knee to the head but Kyle blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Kyle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kyle is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis avoids the elbow strike from Kyle, against the cage.
Mathis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kyle.
Mike Kyle has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kyle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mathis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mathis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kyles head.
Mathis misses with a punch on the inside.
Kyle is trying to break free.

Kyle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kyle tries to clinch up but Mathis circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathis swinging wildly here.
Mike Kyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mathis throws a wild body kick that Kyle sees coming a mile off.
Kyle misses with a shot to the body
and Mathis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kyle looks for a takedown but Mathis sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Kyle showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kyle has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Kyle!
An out of breath and clearly excited Mike Kyle thanked Dr. Dogood (160 quality for $135) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Petiah Mathis stepped up to the mic, saying 'Man Boom, what a fight. You deserve that Title shot man, good luck. But if you do win the belt remember I'm coming for you!'.