PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Blue Spoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uchi Mata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uchi Mata is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Spoka
vs
Mata

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Blue Spoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Uchi Mata!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mata moves into the clinch.
Spoka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Spoka prevents Mata from breaking the clinch.

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

Spoka shoots in and bounces Mata off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mata controls Spoka momentarily but Spoka frees himself.
Spoka is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Spoka prevents Mata from getting back to his feet.

Mata looking for a guillotine here but Spoka defends easily.
Mata lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Spoka!
Spoka can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mata is working for a guillotine from mount but Spoka frees his head quite easily.
Spoka is looking to improve his position but Mata isn't that keen on the idea.
Mata working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Spoka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Spoka tries to lock up and control but Mata gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Spoka can't escape the position.
Mata lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Spoka hang on?
Spoka is trying desperately to improve position.

Mata is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Spoka is surviving well by controlling Mata's body position as best he can.
Mata thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mata goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Spoka turns into him and now he's in Mata's guard.
Mata looks gassed!
Spoka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mata keeping moving, preventing Spoka from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mata looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Spoka puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Mata is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

Spoka is looking for a kimura here.
Mata trying to get back to full guard but Spoka takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spoka prevents Mata from getting the reversal.
Spoka controlling the position easily from mount.

Spoka with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mata wants to control but Spoka is having none of it.
Spoka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Spoka blocks Mata's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Mata is trying to escape the mount.
Spoka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mata is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mata is looking to get to half guard.
Spoka looking to control but Mata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mata is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Spoka goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mata turns into him and now he's in Spoka's guard.
Spoka looking to control.
Mata thows a big elbow that misses.
Mata trying to control but Spoka is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blue Spoka will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mata misses with the combination.
Spoka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mata wants to land a leg kick but Spoka is out of range.
Uchi Mata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mata sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Mata avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spoka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mata misses with a body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Mata checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mata ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Spoka fails with the takedown.

Mata closes the distance and clinches.
Mata is breathing heavily.
Mata has had enough of the clinch but Spoka keeps him there for the moment.
Mata wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mata is trying to break free.
Mata can't break the clinch.
Mata wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spoka has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mata breaks the clinch.

Spoka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Spoka lands in his opponent's guard.
Spoka trying to control but Mata is working from the bottom.
Mata striking off his back but it's not causing Spoka any problems.

Spoka is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Spoka postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mata keeping moving, preventing Spoka from controlling successfully.
Spoka advances to half guard.
Mata slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mata keeping moving, preventing Spoka from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mata has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spoka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spoka trying to control but Mata is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Spoka forces his way into half guard.
Spoka trying to control the action but Mata is working from the bottom.
Spoka passes to side control.
Spoka trying to control the action but Mata is working from the bottom.

Mata throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mata walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Spoka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Spoka throws a series of punches but Mata moves out of range.
Mata rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Spoka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Spoka lands with an overhand left.
Spoka misses with a takedown attempt - Mata sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Spoka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Spoka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spoka slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mata tries to improve position but can't.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata wants to get back to his feet but Spoka drags him back down.

Spoka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mata looks to move to half guard but instead Spoka has passed into mount! Damn!
Mata wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spoka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mata hang on?
Spoka wants to control the pace but Mata is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blue Spoka dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Spoka throws a series of strikes that have Mata backpedaling.
Spoka swinging wilding here.
Spoka with a hook.
Spoka swinging wilding here.
Mata walks into a jab.
A left and a right from Spoka both land. Nice combination.
Spoka scores with the left hand. Mata knows he should have avoided that one.
Spoka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Spoka moves out of range of the body kick.
Mata takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Spoka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mata throws out the jab.
Mata on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mata throws a right and a left that Spoka avoids nicely.
Spoka tries for a takedown but Mata sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spoka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mata throws a sloppy head kick and Spoka moves out of range easily.
Spoka throws a series of strikes that have Mata backpedaling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mata misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Blue Spoka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Spoka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Spoka passes to full mount!
Mata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Spoka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Spoka controlling from mount.

Spoka looking to secure an arm triangle but Mata defends it well.

Spoka is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Mata has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Mata!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spoka's head.
Blue Spoka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mata lands a couple of digs.
Spoka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mata trying to control but Spoka is working from the bottom.
Mata would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mata tries to free his leg and advance position but Spoka is retaining full guard.
Spoka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mata throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spoka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Spoka lands a two punch combo.
Mata takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mata takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mata walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spoka tests Mata's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Spoka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Spoka looking for a takedown.
Spoka drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blue Spoka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mata unloads a knee to the mid-section. Spoka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Spoka looking for a takedown.

Mata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mata takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Spoka throws a right hand that Mata ducks under and follows up with a left that Mata also avoids with ease.
Spoka shoots in for a takedown but Mata shows good takedown defense.
Spoka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spoka takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mata throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Spoka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Spoka avoids the head kick by Mata.
A punch combination from Spoka misses.
Mata throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mata needs to keep his hands up - Spoka had a free shot at his head there.
Mata misses with a double jab
and Spoka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Spoka throws a hook but Mata avoids it easily.
Mata scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mata closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spoka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Spoka tries a head kick but it misses.
Uchi Mata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mata throws a leg kick that is checked

and Spoka counters with a single leg into guard. Mata didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Spoka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spoka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mata throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blue Spoka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spoka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blue Spoka!