PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Combat Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Matiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack's entrance music is Die for Metal. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Matiss's choice of entrance music: Ennio Morricone - The Ecstasy of Gold. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Jack
vs
Matiss

186 cm
28
215 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

186 cm
38
210 lbs
16 - 10 - 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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Combat Jack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mario Matiss!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Matiss. That's going to slow Jack down.
Matiss lands with a shot to the body.
Matiss throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jack takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Matiss takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matiss throws an overhand right that lands on Jack's shoulder, as Jack tries to avoid the shot.
Matiss scores with a jab.
Jack on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Jack avoids a kick to the body.
Matiss lands a nice hook to Jack's body. Jack takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matiss uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jack.
Matiss looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matiss lands with an overhand left.
Matiss avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jack checks a leg kick.
Matiss chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matiss.
Jack misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A countering left hand to the body from Matiss misses.
Jack tries to clinch but Matiss is having none of it.
Jack tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jack is looking to clinch but Matiss is avoiding it.
Matiss tries to counter by closing the distance.
Matiss throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Jack takes one on the button.

It looks like Combat Jack has been cut.
Matiss scores with a leg kick.
Jack pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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 leg kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Matiss.
Jack checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matiss, right into the meat.
Jack missing with a left hand there. Matiss was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matiss tries a head kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matiss throws a sloppy head kick and Jack moves out of range easily.
Matiss fakes the leg kick and cracks Jack in the body.
Jack misses with a double jab.
Matiss tries a quick counter leg kick but Jack is wise to it.
Jack throws a head kick that misses.
Jack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jack checks a leg kick.
Jack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jack throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matiss sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jack misses with a wild body shot.
Matiss throws a body shot but no joy.
Jack tries to counter with a takedown but Matiss is quick to defend against it.
Matiss bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jack's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Jack checks it.
It appears Jack was looking to counter with a kick there.
Matiss misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Jack checks a low kick from Matiss.
Jack looks to land a left hand but Matiss moved out of range nicely.
Matiss lands a two punch combo.
Jack avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jack blocks a leg kick.
Jack avoids the head kick by Matiss.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
Jack changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Matiss lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jack backs up against the cage.
Jack swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jack throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Matiss counters with a body kick that stops Jack in his tracks momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack misses with a right hand
and Matiss counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A thudding body kick lands there by Matiss!
Jack pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matiss takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matiss thuds a left hand into Jack's body.
Mario Matiss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matiss scores with a jab to the body.
Matiss lands a jab-cross combination.
Matiss swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matiss fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matiss fails to land with a series of punches.
Matiss buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Jack sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matiss ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jack moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Matiss dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Combat Jack's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jack checks a low kick from Matiss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jack checks a leg kick.
Jack scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matiss will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A good leg kick by Jack.
A head kick misses from Jack.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Jack might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Matiss walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A head kick misses from Jack.
Matiss tries a quick counter leg kick but Jack is wise to it.
Matiss throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matiss throws a hook but Jack avoids it easily.
Matiss blocks the body kick.
Matiss only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Matiss connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jack's hands.
Mario Matiss seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matiss bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Matiss does it's job there.

Combat Jack's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Matiss misses
and Jack counters with a thumping low kick.
Jack thows a leg kick but Matiss checks it
and Matiss counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Matiss misses with a low kick.
A leg kick checked by Jack.
Jack appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Jack fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Matiss looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jack will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nice defenses there by Jack.
Jack chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matiss can pounce on him.
Matiss misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jack misses with a head kick.
Matiss tries a quick counter leg kick but Jack is wise to it.
Matiss misses with a head kick.
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.
Jack misses with a right hand
and Matiss counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matiss scores with a jab. Jack acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack scoring well with a low kick there.
Matiss takes a swing at Jack's ribcage but misses.
Jack half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jack blocks a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matiss fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jack on the side of the head.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Jack. Matiss shrugs it off though.
A jab from Jack misses.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matiss connects with a crisp jab.
Matiss tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jack is able to avoid easily.
Matiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matiss scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jack connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice shot by Matiss.
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.
Matiss connects with a high kick.
Jack drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Combat Jack's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Matiss lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Matiss.
Jack attempts a counter takedown but Matiss avoids it well and moves away.
Jack keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matiss.
Matiss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jack moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matiss tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jack throws a leg kick which misses Matiss's front leg but catches the back leg as Matiss tries to avoid it.

Jack gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jack unloads a knee to the mid-section. Matiss lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Matiss is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack lands a body shot.
Jack missing with knees to the body.
Matiss tries to land knees in the clinch but Jack avoids the damage to the body.
Matiss with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jack doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matiss misses with a knee strike.
Jack has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jack wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Jack - that landed with a thud.
Matiss trying to land knees to the body.
Jack misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matiss.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matiss.
Jack landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jack tries to pull guard but Matiss holds him up against the cage and eventually Jack drops back down to his feet.
Jack with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Mario Matiss has been cut.
Jack lands a left hand.
I was talking to Jack's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jack obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mario Matiss will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Matiss has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jack.
Matiss throws an overhand right that lands on Jack's shoulder, as Jack tries to avoid the shot.
Matiss looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matiss thows a leg kick but Jack checks it

and Jack counters with a single leg into guard. Matiss didn't expect that.
Matiss avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jack trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jack is pushing down on Matiss's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matiss is fighting to maintain full guard but Jack has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jack is looking for a kimura but Matiss is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jack to get the leverage.
Jack sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack is looking to advance position but Matiss won't allow it.
Matiss is trying to control but can't.
Matiss wants to improve his position but Jack is controlling well.
Jack is trying to control the action in half guard but Matiss is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matiss trying to hold on to Jack's head to control him but Jack postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jack tries to clinch there but Matiss circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matiss throws a leg kick
and Jack counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Jack throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matiss tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jack is able to avoid easily.
Matiss checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matiss throws a head kick that misses.
Matiss throws a leg kick but Jack moved away.
Matiss's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Jack takes one to the side of the head.
Combat Jack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matiss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matiss throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jack's head.
Matiss uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jack.
Crunch! Matiss slams his shin into Jack's torso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matiss, as that shot connected.
Nice body kick there by Matiss.
Matiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jack checks a leg kick.
Matiss lands a nice hook to Jack's body. Jack takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matiss lands with a good body shot.
Jack chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jack walks forward, straight into a front kick from Matiss.
Matiss tries a head kick but it misses.
Matiss avoids the head kick by Jack.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jack walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matiss cracks Jack with a good jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matiss scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A nice combination there by Matiss.
Jack keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mario Matiss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jack.
Matiss buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matiss dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jack. That did some damage!
Matiss looks to land a body kick but Jack moved away.
Jack is looking to chop away at Matiss's legs.
Matiss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jack lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matiss buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jack throws a low kick, looking for Matiss's leg but Matiss calmly moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mario Matiss.
I've got Matiss winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Matiss!
In his post fight interview, Mario Matiss started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.