PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mata Usi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Israel Sweet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Usi
vs
Sweet

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mata Usi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Israel Sweet!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Usi darts in and clinches Sweet up against the cage.

Usi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sweet sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Usi has his hands on Sweet's head, controlling the position.
Usi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Israel Sweet has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Usi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sweet as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sweet avoids it really well and circles away.

Usi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sweet stalling in the clinch but Usi improves position.

Sweet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Usi shoots in looking for a takedown but Sweet manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Usi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mata Usi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Usi has managed to clinch.
Usi prevents a body shot from Sweet.

Sweet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sweet avoids a punch combination nicely.
Usi has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweet closes the distance looking to clinch

and Usi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Usi pulls Sweet into guard.
Sweet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Usi is keeping the position for now.
Usi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sweet wants to stand but Usi is controlling his posture from full guard.

Usi working for a triangle but Sweet defends it easily.
Sweet trying to control but Usi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Usi holds on and takes a little breather.
Sweet must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sweet trying to control but Usi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sweet postures up.
Sweet in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sweet stuffs the takedown attempt from Usi. Usi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet misses with a takedown attempt - Usi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sweet clinches.

Usi pulls guard.

Usi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sweet defends it easily.

Sweet avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sweet trying to stand up but can't free himself from Usi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Usi drives through and clinches with Sweet against the cage.
Sweet looking for a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Usi.

Sweet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sweet connects with a solid leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Usi or perhaps it was just good defense by Sweet which made him look bad.
Usi connects with a looping right hand.
Mata Usi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sweet throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Usi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Usi connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Israel Sweet has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sweet misses with a double jab
and Usi counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sweet shoots in for a takedown but Usi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mata Usi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Israel Sweet.
Sweet is breathing heavily.
Usi lands with an uppercut that bounces Sweet off the cage and back into range.
Usi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sweet swivels and escapes.

Usi moves into the clinch.

Usi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sweet uses from the top position.
Sweet wants to control from the top but Usi keeps moving.

Usi scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweet misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Usi shoots in but no luck this time.
Usi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sweet defends it nicely.
Sweet misses with a low kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sweet.
Sweet closes this distance looking for a takedown but Usi circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sweet tries to clinch up
letting Usi counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usi connects with the punch.
Usi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sweet takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sweet keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Usi misses with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick from Usi misses.
Usi cracks Sweet with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Horrible takedown by Usi or perhaps it was just good defense by Sweet which made him look bad.
Sweet tries to clinch there but Usi circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Usi but Usi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Usi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sweet's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Usi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sweet keeps working.
Sweet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Usi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Usi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sweet is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Usi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Usi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mata Usi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Israel Sweet's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Usi shoots in for a takedown but Sweet shows good takedown defense.
Sweet displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Usi.
A shot to the body from Sweet misses

and Usi counters by clinching up.

Sweet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sweet closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Usi keeps control of Sweet as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sweet is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Usi to keep the fight standing.
Sweet is working for takedown but Usi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Usi wants to take the fight to the mat but Sweet manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mata Usi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Usi is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweet looking for a takedown.
Usi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sweet prevents it.
Usi is trying to drag Sweet to the mat but Sweet just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Usi looking for a takedown.
Usi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Usi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sweet after a bit of a struggle.
Usi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sweet is defending well for now.

Sweet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Usi tries to clinch there but Sweet circles away.
Usi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sweet defends it nicely.

Sweet rushes Usi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sweet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Usi shoots in but Sweet avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Usi slaps away a takedown attempt from Sweet, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Usi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sweet.
Sweet throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Usi's waist but Usi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sweet off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweet leaves Usi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sweet lands a slapping body shot.
Mata Usi is winning the standup battle so far.
Sweet shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Usi as he avoids it easily.
Usi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sweet but Sweet pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sweet is looking to clinch.
Sweet scores with a head kick. Usi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sweet takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sweet tries to close the distance and clinch up but Usi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Usi throws a right and a left that Sweet avoids nicely.
Sweet swings for the body but Usi moves out of range.
Usi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sweet tries to avoid it but Usi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sweet to the ground. Sweet escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Usi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sweet.
Usi fails to land the takedown.
Sweet doesn't manage to clinch there - Usi circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sweet looks for a takedown but Usi sprawls well.
Israel Sweet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mata Usi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Usi closes the distance and clinches up with Sweet, looking for a takedown. Usi pushes Sweet against the cage but Sweet circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Sweet comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Usi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mata Usi!