PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dario Nitiguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as David Matthews enters the cage!

Nitiguchi
vs
Matthews

180 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

174 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dario Nitiguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nitiguchi avoids the head kick by Matthews.

Matthews scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews tries to control but Nitiguchi wriggling away.
Matthews tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nitiguchi is working to get back to half guard.
Matthews tries to control but Nitiguchi wriggling away.
Nitiguchi swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitiguchi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nitiguchi is squirming around, avoiding Matthews's attempts to control the action.
Nitiguchi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Matthews manages to capitalize on a mistake by Nitiguchi to take his back!
Nitiguchi trying to control the hands but Matthews breaks the grip.
Matthews connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Nitiguchi to escape the position.
Matthews gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

That's two 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.
Matthews is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Matthews punches the canvas rather than the man.
Nitiguchi rolls, trying to escape but Matthews keeps control of the position.
Nitiguchi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matthews on the ground.
Nitiguchi prevents Matthews from getting a body triangle.
Matthews looks gassed!
Matthews is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Matthews working for a choke but Nitiguchi is defending well.
Nitiguchi trying to control the hands but Matthews breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitiguchi rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nitiguchi is trying to get back to full guard.

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

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nitiguchi is pressing down on Matthews's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nitiguchi working a defensive guard but Matthews manages to pass into side control anyway.
Nitiguchi is trying to improve his position.
Nitiguchi struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews stands up and beckons Nitiguchi to his feet.

Nitiguchi closes the distance and clinches.

Matthews works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nitiguchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Matthews trying to control but Nitiguchi is working from the bottom.

Matthews drops back looking for a leg! Nitiguchi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nitiguchi manages to kick Matthews off! Matthews jumps back into Nitiguchi's guard.
Nitiguchi trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nitiguchi shoots in and bounces Matthews off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Nitiguchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matthews swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nitiguchi is working hard here to advance position.
Matthews preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matthews is trying to keep Nitiguchi in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Nitiguchi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Matthews is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Nitiguchi decides to stand back up. Nitiguchi steps back and let's Matthews get back to his feet.

Nitiguchi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Matthews wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is doing well to control the position and prevent Nitiguchi from advancing to side control.
Matthews is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matthews moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matthews throwing short punches from the bottom.
Matthews working a defensive guard here.

Matthews is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matthews trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Nitiguchi tries to pass.
Matthews manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Matthews goes for an armbar but Nitiguchi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nitiguchi.
Nitiguchi wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Matthews looking for a sweep. Not yet Matthews, not yet.
Matthews is trying to control the position but Nitiguchi postures up.
Nitiguchi wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Nitiguchi won't allow Matthews to sweep him 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.
Nitiguchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nitiguchi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Nitiguchi tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Matthews changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nitiguchi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Matthews wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nitiguchi, who protects the arm well.
Nitiguchi is looking for a sweep.
Nitiguchi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
David Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nitiguchi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Matthews is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Nitiguchi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nitiguchi wants to clinch but Matthews slips to the side

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nitiguchi won't be happy with that.
Matthews wants to control but Nitiguchi is keeping him busy.
Nitiguchi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Matthews is controlling him well.
Nitiguchi tries to bench press Matthews off him but Matthews keeps the position.
Matthews working the head with strikes.
Nitiguchi is looking for a sweep.
Nitiguchi trying to remain calm as Matthews controls from the top position.
Check out the look on Matthews's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Matthews laying and praying for a moment but Nitiguchi takes advantage and regains half guard.
Matthews looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matthews is looking to stall here but Nitiguchi recovers full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Nitiguchi keeps moving.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nitiguchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Nitiguchi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Matthews works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nitiguchi has hold of Matthews's hands but Matthews slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Matthews is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nitiguchi defends it well.

Matthews decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitiguchi clinches but Matthews breaks the clinch

and Matthews decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nitiguchi's guard.
Nitiguchi keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Nitiguchi wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matthews won't allow Nitiguchi to sweep him here.
Nitiguchi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nitiguchi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to control but Nitiguchi manages to pass to mount!
Nitiguchi tries to control but Matthews wriggling away.
Nitiguchi breaks from Matthews's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Matthews can't escape the position.
Nitiguchi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matthews sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Matthews is looking to control Nitiguchi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matthews avoid being mounted?

Nitiguchi decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nitiguchi scores with a takedown into Matthews's guard.

Matthews is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nitiguchi stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
Nitiguchi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nitiguchi wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

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