PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julian Mathews (ranked 5122 p4p, 496 weight class) and John Kempt (ranked 5074 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mathews
vs
Kempt

176 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julian Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Kempt!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews tries for a takedown but Kempt circles away easily

and Kempt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kempt is pressed up against the cage. Mathews has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kempt down to the mat. Kempt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Kempt closes the distance and pushes Mathews back into the cage.
Kempt is trying to break free.
Mathews tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathews wants to take the fight to the mat but Kempt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mathews misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kempt stalls.
Kempt goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mathews prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathews can't find room to land a body shot as Kempt controls the action.
Kempt working hard to break the clinch.

Mathews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempt throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kempt slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathews, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kempt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mathews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kempt.
Mathews gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kempt moves into the clinch.
Mathews is trying to pull guard but Kempt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kempt goes for a takedown attempt but Mathews pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mathews closes the distance and clinches up with Kempt, looking for a takedown. Mathews pushes Kempt against the cage but Kempt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Mathews clinches with his opponent.
Mathews is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kempt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Mathews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews misses with a wild body shot.
Kempt looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mathews is fending him off so far but Kempt persists. Nope, Mathews circles away and we're back to standing.

Kempt clinches with his opponent.

Mathews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good work by Mathews as he checks the leg kick.
Kempt moves to clinch but Mathews breaks away
and Mathews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mathews lands a two punch combo.
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!
Mathews doesn't manage to clinch there - Kempt circles away.
Kempt stuffs the takedown.

Kempt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathews, pushing him back against the cage.

Mathews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Mathews misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kempt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mathews sprawls well. Mathews wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kempt gets slowly back to his feet.

Mathews shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mathews was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Kempt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mathews tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mathews fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kempt is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kempt is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Kempt kicks off Mathews and gets to his feet.
Kempt throws a head kick that misses
and Mathews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mathews swats away the attempt to clinch by Kempt.
Mathews catches Kempt with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
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 Julian Mathews will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mathews has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mathews breaks from the clinch.
Mathews tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kempt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kempt throws a sloppy body shot

and Mathews counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mathews.
Mathews has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kempt is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mathews prevents Kempt from breaking the clinch.
Mathews gets underhooks to prevent Kempt's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kempt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Mathews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kempt doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathews circles away.
Kempt shoots for a takedown but Mathews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kempt avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathews dives in for a single leg takedown but Kempt sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kempt wants to counter the offense by Mathews and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kempt shoots in for a takedown but Mathews shows good takedown defense.
Mathews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kempt.

Mathews darts in and clinches Kempt up against the cage.

Mathews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kempt throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mathews's waist but Mathews gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kempt off to one side.
Kempt takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kempt throws a hook to the side of Mathews's head but Mathews sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kempt tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mathews defends well and Kempt ends up having to push Mathews into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kempt is breathing heavily.

Mathews takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kempt is pressed up against the cage. Mathews has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kempt down to the mat. Kempt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kempt shoots and misses
and Mathews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kempt throws a sloppy head kick and Mathews moves out of range easily.
Julian Mathews is winning the standup battle so far.

Mathews clinches.

Mathews breaks from the clinch.
Mathews shoots in for a takedown but Kempt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mathews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kempt is fending him off so far but Mathews persists. Nope, Kempt circles away and we're back to standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kempt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathews but Mathews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
An attempted straight right counter from Mathews misses the target.
Mathews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews wants to clinch but Kempt slips to the side
and Kempt counters with a left and a right that stings Mathews.
Mathews scores with a hook to the body. Kempt takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mathews fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mathews has a takedown stuffed.
Mathews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kempt avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathews fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kempt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kempt shoots in looking for a takedown but Mathews manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kempt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Mathews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mathews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mathews slaps away a takedown attempt from Kempt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mathews tries to score with a low kick but Kempt moves his leg out of the way.
Kempt lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mathews looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kempt counters with a body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mathews.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Mathews 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!

Mathews fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mathews tries for a takedown but Kempt circles away easily
and Kempt counters with a two punch combo.
Kempt wants to clinch.
Mathews lands with a nice combination. Kempt backs away looking to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kempt shoots in for a takedown but Mathews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mathews scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Kempt
and Mathews counters with a two punch combo.
Kempt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mathews moves into the clinch.

Mathews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kempt looks for a takedown but Mathews sprawls well.

Mathews gets a clinch.
Kempt tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mathews smiles and moves away.
Julian Mathews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Kempt.
Kempt shoots and misses
and Mathews makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mathews wants to slow Kempt down by chopping away at his legs.
Mathews tries to clinch there but Kempt circles away.
Kempt fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews fails to land the takedown.
Julian Mathews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kempt avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kempt defends it nicely.
Kempt is looking for the big counter here.
Kempt shoots in but Mathews avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mathews takes the fight into the clinch.
Mathews fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kempt pulls guard successfully.
Mathews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kempt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kempt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mathews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mathews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kempt trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kempt throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mathews knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kempt on the ground.
Kempt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kempt can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mathews wants to get up but he can't break Kempt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kempt keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mathews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kempt defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mathews.
John Kempt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julian Mathews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathews shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kempt as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Mathews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mathews, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Julian Mathews!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Julian Mathews!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Julian Mathews!

Julian Mathews wins by unanimous decision!