PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nissin Miojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Matthews's choice of entrance music: Remember Everything. Justin Matthews is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Miojo
vs
Matthews

178 cm
22
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nissin Miojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews looks to land a combination but Miojo avoids it well.
Miojo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matthews.
Matthews doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Miojo counters with a single leg into guard. Matthews didn't expect that.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Miojo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matthews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews is trying to hold Miojo in close to prevent damage but Miojo has managed to pass into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miojo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Matthews for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews looks like he's trying to stand up.
Miojo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

We're going to have a standup here because Nissin Miojo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Miojo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is looking to clinch.
Miojo avoids the head kick by Matthews.
Nice sprawl there from Miojo as Matthews shoots in.
Nissin Miojo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Matthews.
Miojo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Matthews gets caught flat footed, as Miojo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matthews can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miojo controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nissin Miojo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Miojo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matthews is fending him off so far but Miojo persists. Nope, Matthews circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miojo.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Miojo but Miojo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Miojo blocks a head kick by Matthews.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws the kick towards the body but Miojo avoids it.
Matthews stuffs the takedown attempt from Miojo. Miojo gets slowly back to his feet.

Matthews moves into the clinch.
Miojo is looking to take this one to the mat.

Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Miojo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matthews sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miojo somewhat.
Miojo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matthews.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miojo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matthews pinned against the cage. Matthews gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matthews wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nissin Miojo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Matthews dives in and grabs Miojo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miojo pushes down on Matthews's head and hops out.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miojo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matthews.
Miojo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Miojo with that takedown attempt.
Matthews misses with a body kick.

Matthews moves into the clinch successfully.
Miojo looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nissin Miojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miojo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Matthews gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matthews tries to pull guard but Miojo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Miojo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Matthews after a bit of a struggle.
Matthews stops a takedown attempt from Miojo.
Miojo is looking for a takedown.
Miojo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Matthews after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Miojo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Miojo.
Miojo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matthews.
Matthews dives in and grabs Miojo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Miojo pushes down on Matthews's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Miojo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matthews wants to clinch.
No luck for Miojo with that takedown attempt.
Miojo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews with a lazy takedown attempt

and Miojo counters with a shoot takedown. Matthews fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Miojo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

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

Miojo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matthews sprawls well initially but Miojo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Miojo prevents Matthews from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miojo stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nissin Miojo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Matthews leaves Miojo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nissin Miojo dominated that second round.
That's time! Miojo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Miojo leaves Matthews with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Miojo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matthews on his heels. He'll look to pass Matthews's guard now, I'm sure.
Miojo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nissin Miojo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nissin Miojo.
Matthews displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Miojo.
Miojo shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matthews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miojo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nissin Miojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews has a takedown stuffed.
Miojo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Miojo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Miojo lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miojo is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Nissin Miojo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice sprawl there from Matthews as Miojo shoots in.
Matthews is looking to clinch.
Miojo shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Miojo leaves Matthews with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Justin Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miojo defends it nicely.

Miojo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matthews is trying to defend but Miojo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nissin Miojo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miojo, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nissin Miojo!
A victorious Nissin Miojo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.