PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Mathis (ranked 24276 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucio Delevi (ranked 5013 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mathis
vs
Delevi

170 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
25
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacob Mathis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucio Delevi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mathis throws a big counter combination but Delevi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mathis leaves Delevi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Delevi goes for a double leg but Mathis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mathis continues to drive forward.
Mathis throws a big counter combination but Delevi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Delevi shoots in for a takedown but Mathis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jacob Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Delevi.
Horrible takedown attempt by Delevi or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathis, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mathis gets tackled into the cage by Delevi. Delevi maintains the clinch.
Delevi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mathis's efforts to push away.
Mathis really is a fat lump.
A hook to the body from Mathis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Delevi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Delevi tries to pull guard but Mathis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mathis wants to get back to striking at distance but Delevi won't allow it.

Delevi manages to break the clinch.
Delevi tries to clinch there but Mathis circles away.
Delevi tries for a takedown but Mathis circles away easily
and Mathis counters with a series of strikes. Delevi will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck for Delevi with that takedown attempt.
Delevi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mathis pinned against the cage. Mathis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delevi shoots in but Mathis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Delevi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mathis's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mathis manages to escape and get back to his feet.
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!
Delevi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Delevi tries to clinch up
and Mathis counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delevi wants to clinch up but Mathis keeps it at a distance.
Delevi scores with a one two! Mathis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Jacob Mathis has been cut.

Delevi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Delevi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Delevi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mathis is looking to break free of the clinch but Delevi has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Mathis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mathis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Delevi smiles and moves away.
Delevi has his takedown stuffed
and Mathis counters with a straight right hand.

Delevi clinches.
Mathis is trying to pull guard but Delevi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mathis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mathis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Delevi wants the takedown. Mathis is fighting it off but Delevi persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mathis's guard against the cage.

Mathis pushes Delevi off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Delevi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mathis backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jacob Mathis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jacob Mathis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Delevi rushes Mathis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mathis wants to break free but Delevi has control.
Delevi blocks a body shot from Mathis.
Mathis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Delevi avoids it.

Mathis breaks from the clinch.
Delevi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mathis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mathis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Delevi takes the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Delevi has clasped his hands together around Mathis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Delevi working the strikes but Mathis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Mathis pushes Delevi off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Delevi is looking to slow Mathis down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Delevi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mathis quickly recovers to half guard.
Mathis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mathis is staying active underneath Delevi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mathis is trying to stand back up but Delevi is controlling him
Mathis trying to control from the bottom.

Mathis actively working from the bottom here.

Mathis makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Delevi shoots in and drives through. Mathis sprawls well.
Delevi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mathis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Delevi counters with a two punch combo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Delevi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Delevi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Delevi instigates a clinch.
Delevi wants a takedown.
Jacob Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Delevi.
Mathis wants to break free but Delevi has control.
Delevi prevents Mathis from breaking the clinch.
Delevi lands an uppercut.
Mathis prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Delevi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Delevi obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Delevi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mathis's efforts to push away.
Mathis throws a punch but it's blocked by Delevi.
Mathis is trying to break free.
Knees to the body from Delevi.
Delevi is looking for a takedown.
Delevi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mathis prevents the takedown attempt.
Delevi fails to pull guard.
Mathis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A shot in the inside from Delevi.
Mathis is trying to break free.
Delevi looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis tries to pull guard but Delevi holds him up against the cage and eventually Mathis drops back down to his feet.
Delevi is trying to pull guard but Mathis has him pressed against the cage.
Mathis misses with the head strike.
Mathis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Delevi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Delevi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Delevi takes the fight into the clinch.

Delevi manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucio Delevi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jacob Mathis's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Delevi or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathis, which made it look bad.
Delevi misses with a takedown attempt - Mathis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Delevi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mathis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathis is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mathis is looking for a sweep.
Mathis gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathis is looking to escape.
Mathis trying to hold on to Delevi's head to control him but Delevi postures up.
Delevi blocks the strikes from Mathis.
Mathis wants to get back to his feet.
Delevi controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mathis manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Delevi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Mathis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Delevi cracks Mathis with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delevi shoots in for a double leg but Mathis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jacob Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucio Delevi.
Delevi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mathis swats away the attempt to clinch by Delevi.
Mathis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Delevi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mathis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jacob Mathis is winning the standup battle so far.
Delevi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Delevi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mathis circles away quickly and effectively.
Mathis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Delevi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delevi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Delevi has Mathis up against the cage in a clinch.
Delevi is trying to pull guard but Mathis has him pressed against the cage.
Mathis misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Mathis's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mathis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mathis is trying to break the clinch but Delevi is controlling him.

Delevi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathis slips a jab from Delevi.
Mathis appears to be looking for a big counter.

Delevi closes the distance and clinches.
Mathis is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delevi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mathis feints and as Delevi raises his hands in defense, Mathis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Delevi kicks Mathis off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Delevi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mathis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Delevi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Delevi misses with a series of wild punches.
Mathis swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Delevi pushes Mathis up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucio Delevi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Delevi 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucio Delevi!