PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Hellwig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mathers comes to the cage accompanied by Buck cherry. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Mathers
vs
Hellwig

178 cm
31
178 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

180 cm
27
176 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Karl Mathers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, James Hellwig!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hellwig lands a glancing blow to the side of Mathers's head.
Mathers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hellwig swivels and escapes.
Mathers thows a body shot but no joy.
Mathers tries for a takedown but Hellwig sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Hellwig gets caught flat footed, as Mathers shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hellwig pushes Mathers off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mathers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hellwig counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Mathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hellwig looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hellwig trying to control from half guard but Mathers is working away.

Mathers with the active half guard here but Hellwig passes nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers is looking for a sweep.

Hellwig is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mathers has escaped the position, nice work there.

Hellwig tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hellwig has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Hellwig decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hellwig blocks a jab.
Mathers misses with a left hand

and Hellwig decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mathers's guard.
Hellwig is working Mathers over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig is looking to work some ground and pound but Mathers has wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mathers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hellwig gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hellwig has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mathers is proving hard to escape from.
Hellwig is in close to Mathers's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mathers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hellwig manages to get himself to full guard.

Mathers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hellwig has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mathers has managed to get both his arms back between Hellwig's legs - danger averted.
Mathers advances position into side control!

Mathers tries for a kimura but Hellwig is defending well.
Hellwig is trying to buck Mathers off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hellwig bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Mathers fails with the takedown.
Mathers fails with the takedown
and Hellwig counters with an inside leg kick.
Hellwig closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mathers walks into a stiff left hand from Hellwig.
Mathers misses with a double jab.
Hellwig ducks under a wild hook from Mathers.
Mathers misses with a takedown
and Hellwig counters with a stiff right hand.
Mathers is breathing heavily.
Hellwig cracks Mathers with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathers throws a lazy right hand but Hellwig sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hellwig misses with a two punch combination.
Mathers with a poor takedown
and Hellwig counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hellwig lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mathers circles away quickly and effectively.
Mathers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hellwig makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hellwig slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathers, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Hellwig shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hellwig jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Mathers manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Hellwig thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hellwig dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hellwig closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mathers quickly recovers to half guard.

Hellwig is working for a submission of some sort.

Hellwig is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mathers has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mathers gets full guard.
Mathers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hellwig decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mathers, up you get!
Hellwig dodges the punch combination from Mathers.
Mathers shoots for a double leg takedown but Hellwig sprawls well. He's pushed Mathers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Mathers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hellwig stuffs the takedown attempt from Mathers. Mathers gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good standup being displayed there by Hellwig as he connects with a hook.
Hellwig avoids the body shot from Mathers.
Mathers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hellwig tries to avoid it but Mathers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hellwig to the ground. Hellwig escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Mathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hellwig slips a straight right by Mathers.
Hellwig shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mathers as he jumps to the side.
Mathers shoots in looking for a takedown but Hellwig manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mathers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hellwig shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mathers but Mathers pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Mathers. Those never looked like landing.
Mathers walks into a stiff left hand from Hellwig.
Hellwig fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mathers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hellwig sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mathers somewhat.
Mathers fails with a takedown attempt.

Hellwig drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hellwig chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hellwig decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mathers fails with the takedown.

Hellwig shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hellwig can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mathers is looking to escape.
Mathers tries to reverse the position but Hellwig maintains control.
Mathers tries to hold on but Hellwig pushes him away.
Hellwig landing shots from mount.
Hellwig postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mathers looks a forlorn figure.

Hellwig looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hellwig connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Mathers is trying desperately to improve position.
Hellwig landing shots from mount.
James Hellwig has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mathers really wants to buck Hellwig off and get back to his feet.
Hellwig with a couple of short strikes.

Hellwig looking to secure an arm triangle but Mathers defends it well.
Hellwig postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mathers looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mathers working to try and regain half guard.
Mathers is in a horrible position here. Hellwig smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Hellwig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hellwig with a nice cross.
Hellwig looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hellwig shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karl Mathers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Mathers misses the target.
Mathers fails with the takedown
and Hellwig counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hellwig throws a leg kick but Mathers checks it.
Hellwig fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mathers has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hellwig scores with a hook to the body. Mathers takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mathers rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hellwig counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathers showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hellwig.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellwig takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mathers throws a right hand that misses
and Hellwig counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Mathers gets caught napping as Hellwig dives in and scores a takedown. Mathers manages to retain guard.

Hellwig stands up and waves to Mathers to follow him.
Mathers throws a good cross that connects.
Hellwig swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mathers.
Hellwig takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Hellwig closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mathers to the mat! Mathers manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mathers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hellwig defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hellwig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hellwig drops back looking for a leg! Mathers is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mathers manages to kick Hellwig off! Hellwig jumps back into Mathers's guard.
Mathers keeping moving, preventing Hellwig from controlling successfully.
Hellwig trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mathers's guard.
Hellwig is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Hellwig stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers shoots in looking for a takedown but Hellwig manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mathers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mathers throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hellwig throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mathers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hellwig as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Mathers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hellwig sizes up Mathers with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Hellwig looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hellwig stands up and waves to Mathers to follow him.
Karl Mathers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hellwig sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mathers somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hellwig shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mathers'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!
Hellwig distracts Mathers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Mathers has his foot on Hellwig's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hellwig works his way back into a safe position though.

Hellwig gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hellwig has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mathers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hellwig.
Mathers scores with the left hand. Hellwig knows he should have avoided that one.
Karl Mathers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Hellwig is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice cross by Hellwig.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hellwig drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hellwig controlling from the top position.

Mathers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hellwig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Hellwig comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hellwig 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 James Atkins scores the fight for James Hellwig!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for James Hellwig!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for James Hellwig!

James Hellwig wins by unanimous decision!