PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jolly Tanglib (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jolly Tanglib has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tanglib
vs
Mathews

167 cm
24
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jolly Tanglib!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gray Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mathews takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A nice combination there by Tanglib.
A punch combination from Tanglib misses.
Tanglib throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tanglib misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tanglib looks to land a combination but Mathews avoids it well.
Tanglib misses with the combination.
Tanglib misses with a few strikes there.
Tanglib misses with a combination

and Mathews counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tanglib!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mathews trying to control the position but Tanglib is working away.

Mathews is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tanglib knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanglib defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Tanglib is not content to let Mathews control the position.

Mathews thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tanglib is trying to get back to his feet.
Mathews throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Mathews crashes against the mat.
Tanglib is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mathews working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mathews lands an elbow.
Tanglib is looking to reverse the position.
Tanglib is trying to get back to his feet.
Tanglib takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Check out the look on Mathews's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tanglib is trying to get back to his feet.
Mathews cracks Tanglib with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathews scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanglib tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mathews working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mathews goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tanglib has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mathews but great work by Tanglib.
Mathews is trying to control Tanglib's posture but Tanglib avoids it.
Mathews tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tanglib throws a strike aimed at the side of Mathews's head but Mathews avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Tanglib is controlling him well.

Tanglib decides to stand back up. Tanglib steps back and let's Mathews get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Tanglib.
Tanglib misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tanglib rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mathews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mathews misses with a hook. Tanglib ducked under it nicely.
Jolly Tanglib seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanglib looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Tanglib misses.
Tanglib is breathing heavily.
No joy there for Tanglib, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tanglib misses with a series of wild punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanglib misses with a two punch combination.

Mathews closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mathews lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Mathews dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tanglib misses with a wild combination.
Tanglib throws a series of strikes that have Mathews backpedaling.
Tanglib throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tanglib will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tanglib misses with a series of wild punches.
Tanglib works over Mathews's head and body with a nice combination.
Tanglib throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tanglib will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tanglib throws a series of punches but Mathews moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some wild striking there from Tanglib.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tanglib sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tanglib throws a nice looking combination but Mathews bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mathews throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tanglib's waist but Tanglib gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mathews off to one side.
Tanglib misses with a series of wild punches.
Tanglib scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tanglib misses with a double jab.
Mathews doesn't manage to clinch there - Tanglib circles away.
Mathews dodges the punch combination from Tanglib.
Mathews fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tanglib has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tanglib misses with a double jab.
Tanglib misses with a few strikes there.
Mathews fails to land the takedown.
Jolly Tanglib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gray Mathews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Tanglib does no damage.
Tanglib misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tanglib misses with a series of wild punches.
Mathews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tanglib will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mathews will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tanglib misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mathews is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tanglib's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanglib on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanglib wants to get back to his feet.
Mathews trying to mount his opponent but Tanglib defends it.
Mathews looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mathews is working for a kimura but Tanglib is defending it quite comfortably.
Mathews lands with a punch from half guard.
Mathews is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tanglib defending well though.
Mathews wants to advance to full mount but Tanglib doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanglib wants to sweep but no luck.
Mathews throws a strike but Tanglib rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tanglib gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Jolly Tanglib is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanglib fails to land with a series of punches.
Mathews slips a jab and a cross from Tanglib.
Mathews shoots in looking for a takedown. Tanglib tries to sprawl out of it but Mathews keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tanglib manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jolly Tanglib dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mathews drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tanglib is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mathews is controlling him well.

Mathews tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mathews has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tanglib is trying to buck Mathews off.
Mathews trying to control the action but Tanglib is working from the bottom.
Tanglib is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gray Mathews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mathews trying to control the position but Tanglib is working away.
Mathews lands a few punches from side control.
Mathews wants to control for a moment but Tanglib uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathews prevents Tanglib from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathews scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews wants to pass the guard but Tanglib is defending well.
Tanglib throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mathews trying to control from half guard but Tanglib is working away.
Tanglib tries to kick Mathews off but Mathews keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tanglib punching from the bottom.
Mathews wants to advance to full mount but Tanglib doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Mathews lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews looking to pass the guard.
Mathews trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanglib is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mathews is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tanglib is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tanglib has escaped and now he's on top!
Tanglib postures up in Mathews's guard and throws a big left but Mathews blocks it.

Tanglib gets to his feet. Mathews looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanglib.
Tanglib throws a right hand that Mathews ducks under and follows up with a left that Mathews also avoids with ease.
Mathews thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mathews throws a shot from downtown. Tanglib moves away and avoids it.
Tanglib displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mathews.
Tanglib rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mathews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tanglib misses with a two punch combination.
Mathews shoots in but Tanglib avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tanglib slips under a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanglib lands with a nice combination. Mathews backs away looking to recover.
Mathews throws a hook but Tanglib blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gray Mathews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mathews 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Mathews!