PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josh Moore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Matrione (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Moore
vs
Matrione

174 cm
25
192 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

170 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Moore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Matrione!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matrione cracks Moore with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Moore misses with a takedown attempt - Matrione sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Moore takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Moore shoots for a double leg takedown but Matrione sprawls well. He's pushed Moore's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matrione wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matrione throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Matrione wants to slow Moore down by chopping away at his legs.
Moore on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Moore throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matrione counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrione clobbers Moore with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Moore misses with a straight left.
Moore swings away with a body shot that misses
and Matrione counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Moore thinking.
Matrione avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matrione dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matrione shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moore but Moore pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moore throws a combination that misses
and Matrione makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matrione cracks Moore with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matrione throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Moore.
Matrione dodges the punch combination from Moore.
Moore misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matrione lands a right hook to the body.
Moore keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A punch combination from Moore misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Moore. Those never looked like landing.
Matrione jabs Moore right on the nose. Moore blinks but takes it well.
Moore misses with a left hand
and Matrione counters with a straight right hand.
Moore throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matrione cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matrione misses with a takedown attempt - Moore sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Josh Moore has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Matrione.
No luck for Matrione with that takedown attempt.
Matrione throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matrione as he jumps to the side.
Moore defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matrione.
Moore gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Matrione counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moore throws a right hand that Matrione ducks under and follows up with a left that Matrione also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Matrione 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.

Matrione tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Moore swivels and escapes.
Matrione keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Moore takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matrione swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Moore.
Josh Moore is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moore pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moore throws a hook but Matrione avoids it easily.
Moore misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Matrione to counter with a crisp jab.
Moore takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moore falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matrione counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matrione jabs at Moore's body.
A jab from Matrione finds it's way through Moore's defenses.
Moore throws a series of punches but Matrione moves out of range.
Moore fails to land the takedown.
Matrione swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Moore.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moore moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Moore throws a hook to the side of Matrione's head but Matrione sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Moore throws an overhand right that lands on Matrione's shoulder, as Matrione tries to avoid the shot.
Matrione is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Matrione avoids the body shot from Moore.
Matrione fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Moore on the side of the head.
Matrione dodges the punch combination from Moore.
Moore swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Matrione to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrione lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Moore swinging wildly here.
Matrione fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Moore on the side of the head.
Matrione slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matrione stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matrione with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Moore swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Matrione makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matrione is defended easily by Moore.

Moore fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Matrione to the ground. Moore is now in Matrione's guard.

Matrione working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Moore doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Moore manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moore postures up in Matrione's guard and throws a big left but Matrione blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moore trying to control the position from guard on top but Matrione is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matrione tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Matrione showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Horrible takedown by Moore or perhaps it was just good defense by Matrione which made him look bad.
Mark Matrione seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matrione steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moore.
Matrione connects with a right hand. Moore shakes it off.
Matrione lands a nice shot that snaps Moore's head back.
Matrione fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A cross from Matrione lands.
Matrione moves into range and connects with a jab.
Moore looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrione goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Matrione moves out of range of the strikes.
Moore fails with the takedown.
Moore looks for a takedown but Matrione sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Moore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matrione throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Moore tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Matrione is in Moore's guard.
Matrione is working Moore over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Moore had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matrione defends it easily.
Matrione has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matrione landing some decent shots from guard.
Matrione stands and throws Moore's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matrione cracks Moore with a big right hand but Moore just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Matrione cracks Moore with a big right hand but Moore just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Moore tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matrione wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Matrione landing a few strikes.

Moore is rocked!
Matrione throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Matrione wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moore keeps working.
Matrione working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrione scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Moore to see if he's OK.
Moore prevents Matrione from improving position.
Matrione looks up at the clock and then as Moore takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matrione smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Oh Moore is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matrione works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Moore can't do much from the bottom here.
Moore is not content to let Matrione control the position.
Moore is looking to regain half guard here but Matrione keeps moving and retains side control.
Moore seems to have got his legs back now.
Moore sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moore is trying to maintain the position but Matrione is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Matrione connects with a nice short shot to Moore's temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moore has his hands clasped together around Matrione's back. He's all about the action.
Moore is trying to maintain the position but Matrione is very close to passing his half guard.
Mark Matrione is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matrione not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Moore slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Moore keeping moving, preventing Matrione from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matrione loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Matrione comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matrione 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Matrione!