PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Dean (ranked 4257 p4p, 4651 weight class) and Antwan Wang (ranked 433 p4p, 458 weight class). Matthew Dean could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Antwan Wang's chin.

Dean
vs
Wang

186 cm
26
193
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
26
198
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Determined

BANZAI NUTRITION

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 Las Vegas, Matthew Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antwan Wang!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wang tries to clinch but Dean moves away

and Dean counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dean is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wang keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wang pushes Dean off looking to stand but Dean dives back in and keeps control.
Dean throwing shots but Wang is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dean seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wang looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nice strikes from Dean there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dean.
Dean slows the pace down in half guard.
Dean trying to control the action but Wang is working from the bottom.
Dean is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dean is keen to just control but Wang is a slippery customer.
Dean keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Wang is refusing to be controlled, as Dean sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dean avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wang tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dean manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dean stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dean wants it to stay on the feet.
Wang tries to clinch

and Dean counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Wang has one foot on Dean's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Dean fails with a takedown attempt.

Wang gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang has control of Dean's left arm, preventing Dean from doing any damage.
Dean is looking to work some ground and pound but Wang has wrist control.
Dean looking to sit in guard and control but Wang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wang wants to control from the top but Dean keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Dean looking for a sweep. Not yet Dean, not yet.
Dean controls Wang momentarily but Wang frees himself.
Dean wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dean has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Wang stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wang fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Dean dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wang misses with a leg kick

so Dean counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Wang has his feet on Dean's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Wang tries to close the distance and clinch but Dean swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dean attempts a counter takedown but Wang avoids it well and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wang.

Dean closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dean lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Wang is looking to stand up but Dean isn't so interested in that idea.
Dean throwing strikes from guard but Wang blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang being controlled here, momentarily.
Wang wants to stand and escape but Dean is having none of it.
Dean working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dean loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dean wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dean looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dean throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dean slows the pace down in half guard.
Dean trying to control from Wang's half guard. Wang has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Dean throws a strike but Wang rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to sweep here but Wang controlling him for the moment.
Dean is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dean 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.
Dean has Wang pulled in close to control his posture.
Dean wants to sweep but no luck.
Wang not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wang stopping the sweep attempt from Dean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wang wants to stand but Dean is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Dean is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Wang moves to clinch but Dean breaks away

and Dean counters with a single leg into guard. Wang didn't expect that.

Wang scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wang tries to clinch up but Dean circles away and keeps his distance.
Dean appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Wang moves in looking to clinch but Dean pushes him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matthew Dean will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Wang tries to clinch but Dean moves away

and Dean counters with a single leg into guard. Wang didn't expect that.

Wang pushes Dean off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick by Wang misses

and Dean counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dean trying to control but Wang is working from the bottom.
Wang wants to stand and escape but Dean is having none of it.
Dean in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dean throws a big right hand that misses.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Wang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wang is trying to control the position but Dean postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dean keeps the fight on the outside.

Dean feints and as Wang raises his hands in defense, Dean changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dean controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dean has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dean throws a strike but Wang rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dean controls Wang momentarily but Wang frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean looking for a sweep. Not yet Dean, not yet.
Dean has his hands on Wang's head, controlling the position.
Dean 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.
Dean controls Wang momentarily but Wang frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to get up but he can't break Dean's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dean is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dean trying to control from half guard but Wang is working away.
Dean stops Wang from getting back to his feet.
Dean performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Antwan Wang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wang looks to clinch

and Dean counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dean's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dean is looking to work some ground and pound but Wang has wrist control.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Dean from controlling successfully.
Dean stands up over Wang, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Matthew Dean is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dean trying to control but Wang is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Dean showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dean has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Dean!