PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donald Gaskins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Matiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaskins comes into the arena with Killing In The Name Of blaring out of the sound system. Matiss has chosen Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gaskins
vs
Matiss

188 cm
29
201 lbs
25 - 9 - 0

186 cm
37
210 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 25 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donald Gaskins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mario Matiss!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matiss bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gaskins's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Gaskins.
Matiss moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gaskins.
Matiss tries a head kick but it misses.
We've been informed that Matiss has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Matiss throws a sloppy head kick and Gaskins moves out of range easily.
Gaskins connects with a high kick.
Gaskins scores with a jab.
Gaskins connects with a nice looking jab.
Donald Gaskins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gaskins.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matiss fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gaskins tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaskins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaskins moves out of range of the body kick.
Gaskins throws a leg kick but Matiss sees it coming and moves out of range.
Matiss walks into a straight right hand from Gaskins.
Gaskins avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaskins takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gaskins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gaskins avoids the head kick by Matiss.
Matiss tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaskins takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gaskins throws a leg kick which misses Matiss's front leg but catches the back leg as Matiss tries to avoid it.
Gaskins on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Matiss walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gaskins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matiss.
Matiss misses with a straight right.
Matiss swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matiss tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gaskins connects with a solid leg kick.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss throws a leg kick
letting Gaskins counter with a right hand.
Matiss throws a low kick, looking for Gaskins's leg but Gaskins calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matiss takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gaskins throws a leg kick
and Matiss counters with an inside leg kick.
Gaskins tries to clinch but Matiss is having none of it.

Gaskins pushes Matiss up against the cage in a clinch.
Gaskins pushes Matiss back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Matiss tries a knee to the head but Gaskins blocks it.
Matiss tries a knee to the head but Gaskins blocks it.
Gaskins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gaskins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gaskins misses with the head strike.
Matiss misses with a body punch.
Matiss tries to land a knee to the head but Gaskins blocks with his arms.

Gaskins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A clash of legs there as Matiss blocks the low kick.
Matiss chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gaskins can pounce on him.
Matiss wants to land a leg kick but Gaskins is out of range.
Matiss swings widly with a right hand
and Gaskins counters with a nice leg kick.
Matiss looks for the body kick but Gaskins saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matiss fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gaskins manages to avoid it.

Gaskins rushes Matiss and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Matiss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gaskins tries to throw a body punch but Matiss avoids it by throwing Gaskins back against the cage.
Gaskins swings wildly with an uppercut but Matiss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gaskins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matiss backwards.
Matiss tries a knee to the head but Gaskins blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Matiss.
A nice left hand lands by Gaskins.
Gaskins gets through Matiss's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gaskins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gaskins throws a punch but it's blocked by Matiss.
Matiss throws a knee to the head but misses.
Matiss stalling.
I was talking to Gaskins's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Matiss throws a head punch that misses.
Matiss avoiding damage.

Gaskins manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaskins tries a head kick but it misses.
Matiss takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matiss motions for Gaskins to come forward. Matiss throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gaskins thows a body kick. Matiss tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Gaskins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matiss misses with a body shot.
Gaskins ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gaskins throws a leg kick that is checked
and Matiss counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gaskins pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matiss is out of range and Gaskins settles back down.
Matiss chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gaskins will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Matiss throws a sloppy head kick and Gaskins moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Gaskins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matiss misses with a kick to the body.
Matiss throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
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 Donald Gaskins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matiss throws a chopping leg kick but Gaskins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mario Matiss seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matiss throws a leg kick which misses Gaskins's front leg but catches the back leg as Gaskins tries to avoid it.
Gaskins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gaskins throws a series of punches but Matiss avoids them all with ease.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Matiss in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Matiss lands a jab.
Matiss misses the shot to the body.
Gaskins misses with a body shot.
Gaskins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gaskins with a nice cross.
Matiss connects with a body shot that sends Gaskins's belly button to the back.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Gaskins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matiss moves out of range of the body kick.
Matiss throws the kick towards the body but Gaskins avoids it.
Good leg kick by Matiss there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matiss.
Matiss scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matiss misses with a looping right.
Matiss misses the jab.
A head kick misses from Gaskins.
Gaskins scores with a hook to the body. Matiss takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matiss blocks a head kick by Gaskins.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matiss. That's going to slow Gaskins down.
Good work by Gaskins as he checks the leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Gaskins.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss throws the kick towards the body but Gaskins avoids it.
Matiss looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matiss feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gaskins's calf.
Gaskins tries to clinch but Matiss is having none of it.
Gaskins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matiss swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matiss throws a poor cross that misses
and Gaskins counters with a nice body kick.
Gaskins throws a leg kick but Matiss checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaskins walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Matiss with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gaskins throws a leg kick but Matiss moved away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matiss misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gaskins blocks a head kick by Matiss.
Gaskins lands a really nice looking cross but Matiss seems unphased.
Gaskins checks the leg kick.
Matiss takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matiss throws a head kick but Gaskins moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Matiss gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gaskins.
Gaskins tries to score with a low kick but Matiss moves his leg out of the way.
Matiss swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gaskins fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses.
Matiss on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaskins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matiss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaskins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matiss. That did some damage!
Both fighters circling a little - Matiss finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Matiss checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gaskins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gaskins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matiss tries to land a leg kick but Gaskins saw it coming and moves away.
Gaskins scores with a kick to the midsection.
Gaskins moves in looking to clinch but Matiss pushes him off.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Matiss lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gaskins has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gaskins and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Matiss checks a leg kick nicely.
A head kick from Gaskins lands but Matiss takes it in his stride.
Gaskins lands a jab to the head.
Matiss lands with a kick to the ribs.
Matiss tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaskins misses with an uppercut. Matiss saw that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gaskins checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gaskins throws a hook to the side of Matiss's head but Matiss sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matiss, right into the meat.
Matiss's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gaskins throws a wild body kick that Matiss sees coming a mile off.
Gaskins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gaskins misses with a body kick.
Gaskins throws a leg kick but Matiss sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gaskins tried to score with a low kick but Matiss checks it.
Gaskins tries a head kick but it misses.
Matiss thuds his right hand into Gaskins's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gaskins throws a head kick that misses.
Matiss throws a lazy uppercut
and Gaskins counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matiss swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gaskins scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Donald Gaskins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Gaskins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gaskins throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matiss uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gaskins.
Matiss scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gaskins in his tracks.
Gaskins lands with a kick to the temple. Matiss shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gaskins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matiss throws out the jab.
Gaskins looks to land a combination. Matiss sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gaskins throws a leg kick but Matiss sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matiss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matiss throws a hook to the side of Gaskins's head but Gaskins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matiss throws a hook but Gaskins blocks it.
Gaskins throws a low kick but Matiss moves out of range easily.
Matiss pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matiss does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matiss swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gaskins.
Gaskins lands the left hand.
Gaskins blocks a head kick by Matiss.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Matiss takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gaskins shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Matiss crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gaskins - the referee stops the clock and Matiss gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gaskins. Matiss manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Matiss looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good standup being displayed there by Gaskins as he connects with a hook.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Gaskins checks it.
Matiss throws a hook but Gaskins blocks it.
Gaskins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matiss keeps the fight on the outside.
Matiss feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gaskins's calf.
Mario Matiss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matiss walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gaskins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gaskins tries to clinch but Matiss is having none of it.
Matiss misses with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick from Gaskins.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Gaskins blocks a jab.
Gaskins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matiss. Matiss obviously looking to wear him down.
Gaskins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gaskins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matiss moves away.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick there by Gaskins.
Matiss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matiss tests Gaskins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matiss throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Matiss fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gaskins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gaskins throws a head kick but Matiss moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss dodges the punch combination from Gaskins.
Matiss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matiss throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gaskins is looking to slow Matiss down with leg kicks.
Matiss sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Matiss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gaskins was well out of range. Poor timing from Matiss.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gaskins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matiss's hands.
A head kick misses from Gaskins.
Matiss takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gaskins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matiss's sensitive parts.
Matiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gaskins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matiss throws a jab when Gaskins was well out of range.
Matiss looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matiss throws out a leg kick but Gaskins moves out of range and Matiss only half commits.
Gaskins throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gaskins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matiss pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matiss misses with a wild body shot.
Gaskins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gaskins throws a front kick that sends Matiss stumbling back into the cage.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matiss. That's going to slow Gaskins down.
Matiss misses the body punch
and Gaskins counters with a body kick that stops Matiss in his tracks momentarily.
A good leg kick by Gaskins.
Matiss fakes the leg kick and cracks Gaskins in the body.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Gaskins lands a nice looking body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Gaskins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gaskins 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donald Gaskins!
A very excited looking Donald Gaskins made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.