PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Junior Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Matson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gracie
vs
Matson

190 cm
26
223 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Josh Matson!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracie looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Matson's shoulder, as Matson tries to avoid the shot.
Matson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matson lands a nice looking body shot.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie misses with a straight right.
Gracie thows a body shot but no joy.
Matson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Matson throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie connects with a body shot.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matson to the mat! Matson manages to get full guard.
Matson pulls Gracie in to control the position.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Matson is keeping the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matson is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Matson pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
Matson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gracie is trying to hold Matson in close to prevent damage but Matson has managed to pass into half guard.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, Matson has passed into half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Matson has control of the leg.
Gracie is trying to control but Matson manages to pass to mount!
Matson prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Matson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Matson controlling the pace for now.
Matson prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Matson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matson controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matson wants to get back to his feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josh Matson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Matson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gracie is thwarting Matson's attempts to control the position.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Matson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matson scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Gracie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gracie lands a head shot.
Matson blocks a jab.
Matson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gracie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matson's head.
Gracie misses the jab.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Matson.
Matson throws a leg kick that misses.
Matson loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Matson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie slips under a jab from Matson.
Matson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matson moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice combination there by Matson.

It looks like Junior Gracie has been cut.
Junior Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Good work by Gracie as he checks the leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gracie slips a straight right by Matson.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Matson misses with a hook.
Matson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matson works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Matson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Josh Matson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Matson swinging wildly here.
Junior Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Matson sprawls well.
Matson looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Matson ducks down to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
Matson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Matson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gracie defending well as Matson loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Matson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Matson misses with a body shot.
Matson misses with a wild combination.
Matson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Matson - just one landing.
Matson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matson lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matson.
Matson throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Gracie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gracie.
Matson throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Matson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matson is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Matson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matson.
Gracie takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd cheers as Matson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Matson lands a nice shot to the body.
Matson throws a good cross that connects.
Matson throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matson throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Matson.
Matson throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Matson works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
A jab from Matson misses.
Matson misses with a two punch combination.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheers as Matson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gracie doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice cross by Matson.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matson.
Josh Matson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jab by Matson.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matson.
Matson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Matson.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Matson sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Matson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Junior Gracie's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matson lands with a shot to the body.
Jab by Gracie.
Matson lands a nice hook to Gracie's body. Gracie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Matson misses with a body shot.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matson scores with a jab. Gracie acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Matson looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
A slow jab from Matson misses its intended target.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matson throws out the jab.
Matson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Matson.
Matson misses the jab.
Matson misses with a leg kick.
Gracie moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Matson.
Matson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matson throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Matson lands with a good body shot.
Matson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matson drops his hands momentarily and Gracie takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie misses with a hook. Matson ducked under it nicely.
Gracie is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gracie to score with a decent uppercut.
Gracie tries to move into range but Matson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matson throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Matson stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Matson.
Matson ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matson wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Sloppy strikes from Matson. Those never looked like landing.
A lazy left from Matson finds it's target.
Matson tries to score with a low kick but Gracie moves his leg out of the way.
Matson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Matson throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Matson moved out of range nicely.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matson thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fight stays on the outside here - Matson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matson looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matson enables Gracie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Matson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Matson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Matson keeps moving.
Gracie stands and throws Matson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Josh Matson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Gracie has hold of Matson's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Matson tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Gracie cranks the arm and Matson screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Matson, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Junior Gracie!