PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Succus Matarazzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Herman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Matarazzo
vs
Herman

197 cm
18
270 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

225 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Succus Matarazzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Herman!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matarazzo looks for a takedown but Herman sprawls well.
Herman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matarazzo swivels and escapes.
Herman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Herman circles away from the clinch attempt
and Herman counters with a nice body kick.
Herman thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Matarazzo if he has to take too many more of those.
A lazy body kick from Matarazzo

and Herman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Herman tries to break the clinch but Matarazzo is controlling the position.
Herman tries to pull guard but Matarazzo won't allow it.
Matarazzo looking to slow down the pace here.

Herman manages to pull guard.

Herman uses the cage to get back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Herman.
Succus Matarazzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Herman.
A low kick from Matarazzo misses
and Herman makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Horrible takedown by Herman or perhaps it was just good defense by Matarazzo which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matarazzo with a poor takedown
and Herman counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Matarazzo is breathing heavily.
Herman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Herman closes the distance and clinches up with Matarazzo, looking for a takedown. Herman pushes Matarazzo against the cage but Matarazzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Herman tries for a takedown but Matarazzo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Herman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Herman shoots in and drives through. Matarazzo sprawls well.
A punch combination from Matarazzo misses.
Matarazzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Herman.
Herman shoots in and drives through. Matarazzo sprawls well.
Herman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matarazzo stuffs the takedown attempt from Herman. Herman gets slowly back to his feet.
Herman lands a nice looking body kick.
Herman looks for a takedown but Matarazzo sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matarazzo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Herman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Matarazzo as Herman shoots in.
Nice sprawl there from Matarazzo as Herman shoots in.

Herman clinches.
Herman lands a damaging elbow.
Herman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matarazzo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Herman tries to pull guard but Matarazzo won't allow it.
Herman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Matarazzo tries to pull guard but Herman won't allow it.
Herman tries to pull guard but Matarazzo won't allow it.
Herman is trying to stall.
Herman jumps guard but Matarazzo stands there with Herman around his waist. Herman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Herman looking to stall.
Matarazzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Herman smiles and moves away.
Matarazzo looks for a takedown but Herman sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herman scores with the left hand. Matarazzo knows he should have avoided that one.
Matarazzo fails with the takedown
and Herman counters with a nice body kick.

Herman instigates a clinch.
Matarazzo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Herman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matarazzo throws a head kick that misses
and Herman counters with an outside leg kick.
Matarazzo is looking to clinch but Herman is avoiding it.
Matarazzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matarazzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Herman's waist but Herman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matarazzo off to one side.
Matarazzo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Herman moves into the clinch.
Matarazzo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Herman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Matarazzo jumps guard but Herman stands there with Matarazzo around his waist. Matarazzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matarazzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herman just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matarazzo stalls.
Herman crunches a lovely knee into Matarazzo's ribcage.
Matarazzo looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Matarazzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Herman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matarazzo but Matarazzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matarazzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Herman as he jumps to the side.
Herman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Herman fails with a takedown attempt.
Matarazzo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herman swats away the attempt to clinch by Matarazzo.
Matarazzo tries to clinch up but Herman circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Herman 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.

Horrible takedown by Herman or perhaps it was just good defense by Matarazzo which made him look bad.
Matarazzo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Herman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Herman lets loose with a powerful body kick. Matarazzo will feel that in the morning.
Matarazzo misses with a wild combination.
Matarazzo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Herman pinned against the cage. Herman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice takedown defense from Herman. No joy for Matarazzo on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Succus Matarazzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Herman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Herman clinches.

Herman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herman closes the distance and clinches.
Herman tries to pull guard but Matarazzo won't allow it.
Matarazzo has had enough of the clinch but Herman keeps him there for the moment.

Herman pulls Matarazzo into guard.
Herman lands a decent punch to the body there.
Herman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Herman lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Matarazzo!
Herman trying to control but Matarazzo is having none of it.
Herman controlling from mount.
Matarazzo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Herman on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herman is landing with some decent strikes but Matarazzo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Herman with good strikes from the mount here!
Herman raining down shots from the mount!
Herman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Herman controlling from the full mount.
Matarazzo tries to hold on but Herman pushes him away.
Herman landing strikes from the mount and Matarazzo is in trouble!
Matarazzo is squirming around, avoiding Herman's attempts to control the action.
Matarazzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Herman looking to finish Matarazzo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Matarazzo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herman controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herman working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Matarazzo working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Herman.
Herman controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Herman.
Herman looking to control but Matarazzo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matarazzo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matarazzo can't escape the position.
Herman with good strikes from the mount here!
Herman wants to control the pace but Matarazzo is squirming around nicely.
Herman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Herman with the ground and pound from mount.
Herman wants to control the pace but Matarazzo is squirming around nicely.

Despite being in the dominant position, Roy Herman just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Matarazzo forces Herman back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Herman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matarazzo throws a lazy head kick
and Herman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Herman stuffs the takedown attempt from Matarazzo. Matarazzo gets slowly back to his feet.
Herman looks for a takedown but Matarazzo sprawls well.
Matarazzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Herman as he jumps to the side.
Matarazzo with a poor takedown
and Herman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Matarazzo's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Succus Matarazzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herman scores with a leg kick.
Matarazzo stuffs the takedown.
Herman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matarazzo's waist but Matarazzo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herman off to one side.
Matarazzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herman fails with the takedown.
Matarazzo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Herman tries to clinch there but Matarazzo circles away.
Matarazzo throws a right and a left that Herman avoids nicely.
Succus Matarazzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Matarazzo. No joy for Herman on that attempt.
Herman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matarazzo as he avoids it easily.
Matarazzo throws a head kick that misses
and Herman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Matarazzo's knee momentarily.
Herman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Herman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Matarazzo clinches with his opponent.
Matarazzo tries to pull guard but Herman holds him up against the cage and eventually Matarazzo drops back down to his feet.
Matarazzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Matarazzo pulls Herman into guard.
Matarazzo keeping moving, preventing Herman from controlling successfully.

Herman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matarazzo, up you get!
Herman tries for a takedown but Matarazzo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Matarazzo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Herman pinned against the cage. Herman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matarazzo stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matarazzo's waist but Matarazzo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herman off to one side.
Herman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herman connects with a solid leg kick.
Herman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Herman misses with a takedown attempt - Matarazzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herman stuffs the takedown attempt from Matarazzo. Matarazzo gets slowly back to his feet.
Matarazzo will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Herman with a nice cross.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matarazzo.
Matarazzo scores with a punch to the head.
Herman fails with the takedown.
Matarazzo shoots in and drives through. Herman sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Matarazzo misses

and Herman counters with a takedown into side control.
Herman wants to control but Matarazzo is keeping him busy.

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

Herman stands up.
A lazy left from Matarazzo finds it's target.
Matarazzo throws a body kick the misses

and Herman moves into the clinch.
Herman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matarazzo is keeping busy.
Herman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matarazzo pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman misses with a takedown attempt - Matarazzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matarazzo throws a sloppy head kick
and Herman counters with a right hand to the body.
Matarazzo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Herman swivels and escapes.
Matarazzo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Herman shoots in but no luck this time.
Matarazzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Herman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matarazzo but Matarazzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Herman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Herman.Herman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Succus Matarazzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Herman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Herman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Herman 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Herman!