PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between AJ Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Severino Holyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Matthews might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Falling Away From Me by Korn. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matthews
vs
Holyfield

192 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[MMABR] Killer Bee Supplements
[MMABR]: TechNutri - Ensuring the quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, AJ Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Severino Holyfield!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews gets a takedown into half guard.
Holyfield gets full guard.
Holyfield wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews preventing the sweep.
Matthews throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holyfield looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matthews is one step ahead there.
Holyfield has momentary wrist control but Matthews slips an elbow through the middle.
Matthews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Holyfield wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matthews showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holyfield.
Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holyfield shoots and misses

and Matthews counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matthews.
Holyfield looks gassed!
Matthews is working Holyfield over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Matthews scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Matthews has gone for a leg lock! Holyfield slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matthews's guard.

Matthews is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holyfield is aware though and is defending well.
Holyfield wants to stand but Matthews is controlling his posture from full guard.
Holyfield postures up.
Holyfield pushing down on Matthews's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matthews is looking for a sweep. Holyfield is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matthews gets full guard.

Matthews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Holyfield showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Matthews looking for a guillotine here but Holyfield defends easily.
Holyfield working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Holyfield doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Holyfield manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Holyfield is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Holyfield scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holyfield accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Matthews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Holyfield tries to stand but Matthews is controlling from the bottom.

Matthews is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Holyfield decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matthews, up you get!
Holyfield tries to clinch

and Matthews counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Holyfield trying to control but Matthews postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Matthews lands with a punch from half guard.
Holyfield wants to get back to his feet.

Holyfield is defending against the submission attempts here by Matthews.
Holyfield has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matthews is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holyfield fails with the takedown

so Matthews counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Matthews postures up in Holyfield's guard and throws a big left but Holyfield blocks it.
AJ Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holyfield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matthews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews landing some decent shots from guard.
Matthews with a nice head shot there.
Matthews postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Holyfield wants to stand up but Matthews is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matthews fails to land the takedown.
Holyfield wants to clinch but Matthews slips to the side

and Matthews counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Holyfield's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holyfield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matthews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Holyfield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Holyfield working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.

Holyfield pushes Matthews off and gets back to his feet.

Matthews is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Holyfield's half guard.
Matthews missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Holyfield moves into full guard.
Matthews prevents Holyfield from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Holyfield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matthews works over Holyfield with some ground and pound from guard.
Matthews is looking to work some ground and pound but Holyfield has wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holyfield shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matthews defends it nicely.
Holyfield closes the distance looking to clinch

and Matthews counters with a takedown into side control.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holyfield gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holyfield keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matthews not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Holyfield has one foot on Matthews's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Holyfield closes the distance but Matthews moves to the side

and Matthews counters with a takedown into side control.
Matthews is putting a hurting on Holyfield here, landing some big shots from side control.
Holyfield taking a bit of punishment here - Matthews scoring with strikes.
Holyfield lands a decent little punch to the body.
Matthews avoids the strikes from the bottom by Holyfield.
Matthews misses with the ground and pound.
Holyfield is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Holyfield is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Matthews scoring with strikes to the body and head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matthews changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Holyfield tries to avoid it but Matthews manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Holyfield to the ground. Holyfield escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Holyfield clinches but Matthews breaks the clinch

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Holyfield won't be happy with that.
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!
Who's going to make the next move?
An elbow from Matthews crashes against the mat.
Holyfield takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holyfield tries to escape but Matthews is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Matthews dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matthews scores with a takedown into Holyfield's guard.
Holyfield working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Holyfield avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matthews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Holyfield is pulling down on Matthews's head to control his posture.
Holyfield is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matthews is controlling him.
Matthews won't allow Holyfield to sweep him here.
Holyfield wants to stand and escape but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Holyfield misses with a takedown

and Matthews decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Holyfield's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews connects with a couple of short punches.
Matthews throws a big right hand that misses.

Matthews thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Holyfield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matthews throws a strike but Holyfield rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Holyfield avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Matthews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Matthews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
AJ Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holyfield tries to clinch up

and Matthews counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Holyfield!
Matthews avoids the attempt from Holyfield to control.
Holyfield flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Matthews lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Holyfield's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Matthews tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matthews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holyfield can do to turn this around?
Matthews can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Holyfield is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews punching from mount but Holyfield doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Matthews looking to control and managing it successfully.
Matthews's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Holyfield is wriggling around trying to escape.
Matthews looking to control and managing it successfully.
Holyfield regains half guard.

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.
Holyfield wants to stand back up but Matthews manages to pass into side control.
Matthews moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Matthews has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Holyfield tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matthews moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The referee stands the fighters back up. AJ Matthews just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Matthews decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matthews, 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Matthews!