PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Herschel Mathis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vixx Bubanja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herschel Mathis has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mathis
vs
Bubanja

187 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Herschel Mathis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vixx Bubanja!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bubanja throws a series of punches but Mathis moves out of range.
Vixx Bubanja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bubanja closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Herschel Mathis has been cut.
Bubanja keeps the fight on the outside.
Bubanja looks to land a combination but Mathis avoids it well.
Mathis fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bubanja moves into the clinch.
Bubanja lands an uppercut.

Bubanja has picked Mathis up - he's going for a ride! Bubanja dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mathis is looking to control Bubanja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mathis avoid being mounted?
Bubanja passes to full mount!
Mathis wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bubanja.
Mathis is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bubanja trying to control but Mathis is having none of it.
Bubanja should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mathis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bubanja throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bubanja avoids the attempt from Mathis to control.
Bubanja wants to control the pace but Mathis is squirming around nicely.
Bubanja prevents Mathis from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja unloads with some shots from mount but Mathis bucks and avoids them well.
Bubanja prevents Mathis from getting the reversal.
Mathis is working hard here to advance position.
Mathis holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Bubanja tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathis manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mathis is looking to improve his position.
Bubanja is looking to advance position but Mathis won't allow it.
Bubanja tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mathis controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja thows a huge punch but Mathis dodges it nicely.

Bubanja stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Bubanja shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mathis's guard.
Mathis looking to control.
Bubanja in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bubanja trying to control but Mathis is working from the bottom.
Mathis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bubanja controls the pace.
Bubanja wants to stand but Mathis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mathis is trying to control the position but Bubanja postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Bubanja rushes Mathis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bubanja breaks the clinch.
Mathis throws a combination that misses
and Bubanja counters with a nice body kick.
Mathis is breathing heavily.
Bubanja tries a head kick but it misses.

Bubanja clinches up with Mathis and pushes him back against the cage.

Bubanja manages to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vixx Bubanja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Herschel Mathis's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bubanja closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mathis did well to prevent Bubanja getting side control.
Bubanja is looking to take a break and control but Mathis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mathis is trying to get back to full guard.
Bubanja wants to free his trapped foot but Mathis is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bubanja perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mathis is trying to control but Bubanja manages to pass to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bubanja is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mathis is surviving well by controlling Bubanja's body position as best he can.
Bubanja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mathis tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mathis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bubanja thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bubanja can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mathis is looking to escape.
Bubanja throws some wild stikes that Mathis manages to avoid easily.
Bubanja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mathis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Bubanja is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mathis to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mathis shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mathis is looking to escape.
Mathis tries to lock up and control but Bubanja gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mathis is trying desperately to improve position.
Mathis trying desperately to get to his feet.

Bubanja is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Mathis to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Mathis shrugs it off.
Mathis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bubanja tries to control but Mathis wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bubanja looking to ground and pound but Mathis is blocking nicely.
Mathis can't escape the position.
Mathis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mathis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bubanja wants to take a breather but Mathis is having none of it.
Mathis controlling the position well.
Mathis trying to control here.
Mathis wants to control but Bubanja passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis is looking to reverse the position.
Bubanja has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mathis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bubanja throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bubanja looking to ground and pound but Mathis is blocking nicely.
Bubanja prevents Mathis from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vixx Bubanja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Herschel Mathis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bubanja gets the takedown into side control.
Mathis is trying to control Bubanja's posture but Bubanja avoids it.

Bubanja has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mathis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mathis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Bubanja forces Mathis back against the cage and clinches.

Bubanja breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bubanja.

Mathis is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathis wants to get back to his feet but Bubanja is dominant here and he's now got Mathis's back!
Oh Mathis is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mathis gets cracked with a huge elbow and he's out cold! Possibly KO of the night from the back? Unusual but possible!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Vixx Bubanja!