PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Justin Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Cranmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthews's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Remember Everything. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matthews
vs
Cranmer

174 cm
19
135 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

225 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Justin Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyle Cranmer!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
Matthews looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Matthews throws a lazy uppercut
and Cranmer counters with a series of strikes. Matthews will be more careful next time no doubt.
Matthews misses with a double jab
and Cranmer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt.

Cranmer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cranmer wants to stand up but Matthews has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pushes Cranmer off looking to stand but Cranmer dives back in and keeps control.
It looks like Cranmer is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranmer stops Matthews from getting back to his feet.
Cranmer tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranmer is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Matthews manages to get to full guard.

Matthews has his feet on Cranmer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.
Cranmer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matthews backs up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matthews throws an off balance right hand
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cranmer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matthews misses with a double jab
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
Cranmer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matthews backs up against the cage.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cranmer counters with a series of strikes. Matthews will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cranmer is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cranmer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cranmer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matthews paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cranmer scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Cranmer tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cranmer stalks Matthews and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Matthews's face. Matthews staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cranmer gets the takedown into side control.

Cranmer stands up.
Cranmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cranmer wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cranmer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cranmer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt.
Justin Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranmer throws a one two combo.
Matthews misses with a double jab
and Cranmer counters with a three punch combo that has Matthews backing up. Matthews nods at Cranmer to acknowledge the strikes.

Cranmer gets the takedown into side control.

Cranmer stands up and beckons Matthews to his feet.
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!
Cranmer is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Matthews throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cranmer moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cranmer does no damage.
Matthews throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cranmer counters with a series of strikes. Matthews will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cranmer throws a head kick but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews is looking to clinch.
Justin Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matthews is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Cranmer.
Matthews tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cranmer counters with a left and a right that stings Matthews.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matthews.
Cranmer scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Cranmer.
Cranmer tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews has his takedown stuffed
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Cranmer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Cranmer.
Cranmer doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthews circles away.
Cranmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kyle Cranmer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cranmer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matthews manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cranmer tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cranmer wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.
Cranmer keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cranmer fails to land with a series of punches.
Cranmer tries to clinch there but Matthews circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a double jab
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
Cranmer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews throws a head kick but Cranmer moves out of range.
Cranmer wants to clinch up but Matthews keeps it at a distance.

Cranmer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Matthews!

Cranmer gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Cranmer throws a series of punches but Matthews avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cranmer throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cranmer is in Matthews's guard.
Cranmer wants to stand but Matthews has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cranmer wants to stand and escape but instead Matthews has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cranmer can do anything to dispel that myth.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matthews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cranmer being controlled here, momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews is looking to stand up but Cranmer won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Justin Matthews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Some wild striking there from Cranmer.
Matthews throws a combination that misses
and Cranmer counters with a one-two to the body.
Matthews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Matthews takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranmer tries for a takedown but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cranmer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Cranmer.
Matthews shoots and misses
and Cranmer counters with a series of strikes. Matthews will be more careful next time no doubt.
Matthews throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Matthews has closed the distance and engaged Cranmer in a clinch.
Kyle Cranmer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cranmer wants to get back to striking at distance but Matthews won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Cranmer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cranmer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Cranmer!
Kyle Cranmer thanked the fans post fight for their support.