PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asal Tolkem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tolkem is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Drunken Lullabies. Mathews is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Joshua Mathews is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mathews
vs
Tolkem

180 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

198 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joshua Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Asal Tolkem!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews tries to clinch up.
Mathews is breathing heavily.
Tolkem shoots in for a takedown but Mathews shows good takedown defense.

Tolkem feints and as Mathews raises his hands in defense, Tolkem changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tolkem passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mathews trying to remain calm as Tolkem controls from the top position.
Tolkem wants to control but Mathews is keeping him busy.
Tolkem misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Tolkem has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tolkem shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathews as he avoids it easily.
A left lands for Tolkem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolkem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tolkem has a takedown stuffed.
Joshua Mathews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Asal Tolkem.

Mathews gets caught flat footed, as Tolkem shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tolkem stays in close to Mathews's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathews wants to sweep here but Tolkem controlling him for the moment.
Mathews doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Mathews knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tolkem on the ground.
Mathews trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mathews keeping moving, preventing Tolkem from controlling successfully.
Tolkem forces his way into half guard.
Mathews on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mathews tries to get out of the position.
Tolkem prevents Mathews from standing back up.

Tolkem stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Mathews to get to his feet.
Tolkem keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolkem lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tolkem shoots in but no luck this time.

Mathews feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mathews wanted to stand there but Tolkem had control of the position.
Mathews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tolkem looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tolkem trying to keep a closed guard but Mathews is proving a slippery customer.
Mathews pushing down on Tolkem's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mathews is just content to waste time from the top position. Tolkem takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews throws and elbow that misses. Tolkem uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mathews's guard. Nice move by Tolkem!
Tolkem trying to control but Mathews is working from the bottom.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tolkem manages to pass to side control.
Tolkem missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tolkem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asal Tolkem dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tolkem throws a series of punches but Mathews avoids them all with ease.

Tolkem gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tolkem changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mathews fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tolkem closes the distance and pushes Mathews back into the cage.

Tolkem drags the fight down to the ground.
Tolkem keeping moving, preventing Mathews from controlling successfully.
Tolkem is looking to stand up but Mathews isn't so interested in that idea.
Mathews might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mathews throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mathews is looking to work some ground and pound but Tolkem has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolkem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mathews throws a strike but Tolkem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mathews wants to stand up but Tolkem is controlling him.
Tolkem advances position into side control!
Mathews is not content to let Tolkem control the position.
Mathews tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
You can see the frustration on Mathews's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mathews wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Tolkem prevents Mathews from escaping the position.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet but Tolkem is dominant here and he's now got Mathews's back!
Mathews has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tolkem's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Mathews just trying to survive but Tolkem is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mathews can't escape the position.
Mathews wants to get back to his feet.
Tolkem really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Mathews.
Mathews trying to get back to his feet but Tolkem is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mathews is in bad spot here.
Tolkem punches the canvas rather than the man.
Mathews looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tolkem.
Mathews trying to control the action but Tolkem just sinks the hooks in.
Tolkem throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mathews has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Tolkem tries to keep control of the position but Mathews is staying busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asal Tolkem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mathews has a takedown stuffed.
Tolkem with a poor takedown

and Mathews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tolkem won't be happy with that.
Tolkem dodges the ground and pound from Mathews.
Asal Tolkem has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mathews swings around for an armbar but Tolkem sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mathews's guard.
Mathews is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tolkem forces his way into half guard.
Tolkem content to control rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolkem is looking to advance position but Mathews won't allow it.
Tolkem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mathews does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tolkem is thwarting Mathews's attempts to control the position.
Tolkem wants to advance to full mount but Mathews doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Tolkem stops Mathews from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mathews is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Mathews isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tolkem stacks Mathews on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tolkem!
Tolkem wants to control but Mathews is keeping him busy.
Mathews prevents Tolkem from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Tolkem crashes against the mat.
Tolkem trying to control the position but Mathews is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mathews misses with a takedown attempt

and Tolkem moves into the clinch.
Mathews can't break the clinch.
Mathews throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tolkem blocks it with crossed arms.
Tolkem tries to score a body lock takedown but Mathews shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mathews trying to control the position but instead, Tolkem has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mathews into the cage.
Mathews is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tolkem pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tolkem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mathews smiles and moves away.
Mathews tries to bum rush Tolkem with a series of wild strikes but Tolkem uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mathews with a jab.
Mathews throws a combination. Tolkem tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mathews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tolkem.
Mathews takes a kick to the side of the head.

Tolkem scores a takedown into full mount!
Mathews is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tolkem looking to control but Mathews is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Joshua Mathews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Asal Tolkem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joshua Mathews.
Well Tolkem 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asal Tolkem!