PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cyril Boa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Boa
vs
Mathews

165 cm
21
143 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
143 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cyril Boa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews thows a left - swing and a miss!
A decent looking cross lands there for Mathews.
A lazy left from Mathews finds it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Mathews as he connects with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Boa.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Boa fails to pull guard.
Mathews scores with a nice hook to the head.
Boa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mathews just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyril Boa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mathews smiles and moves away.
A punch combination from Mathews misses.
Mathews misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boa tries to clinch up but Mathews circles away and keeps his distance.
Mathews misses with a hook.
Mathews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mathews ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Boa has been working on his balance at Midnight MMA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Mathews.
Boa shoots for a takedown but Mathews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice cross by Mathews.
Mathews swings for the body but Boa moves out of range.
Boa half committed to a counter leg kick.
Boa shoots in for a takedown but Mathews shows good takedown defense.
Mathews getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Boa walks into a straight right hand from Mathews.

Boa shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mathews napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mathews is not content to let Boa control the position.
Boa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boa trying to control the action but Mathews is working from the bottom.

Boa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mathews is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mathews trying his best to control but Boa has mounted him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boa tries to take his opponent's back but Mathews turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.

Boa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mathews would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Mathews gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice straight punches there by Mathews. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mathews.
Mathews throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Boa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A jab lands there for Mathews.
Mathews throws a lazy right hand but Boa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Mathews to counter with a crisp jab.
Boa slips under a jab.
Mathews cracks Boa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mathews throws an overhand right that lands on Boa's shoulder, as Boa tries to avoid the shot.
Mathews lands a glancing blow to the side of Boa's head.
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!
Mathews takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mathews scores with the left hand. Boa knows he should have avoided that one.
Boa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab from Mathews does it's job there.
Mathews lands a really nice looking cross but Boa seems unphased.
Mathews misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Mathews dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mathews misses with a double jab.
Mathews slaps away a takedown attempt from Boa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mathews swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Boa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Boa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mathews dives on top into guard.

Boa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Boa is working an open guard so Mathews takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mathews might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Horrible takedown attempt by Boa or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathews, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Mathews, as that shot connected.
Mathews connects with a right hand. Boa shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews lands a nice hook to Boa's body. Boa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Mathews as Boa shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cyril Boa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Boa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mathews finds it's way round the side to connect with Boa's head.
Boa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mathews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mathews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Boa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Boa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mathews paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mathews loads up on a big right hand but Boa slips the punch.
Mathews throws a right hand that misses

and Boa counters by moving into the clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mathews has closed the distance and engaged Boa in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boa tries to pull guard but Mathews won't allow it.
Boa is trying to pull guard but Mathews turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boa tries to pull guard but Mathews won't allow it.
Boa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Boa tries to pull guard but Mathews holds him up against the cage and eventually Boa drops back down to his feet.
Boa tries to pull guard but Mathews forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Boa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mathews just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boa tries to pull guard but Mathews holds him up against the cage and eventually Boa drops back down to his feet.

Mathews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boa walks into a left hand.
Boa takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews misses with a straight left.
Mathews throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Mathews misses the target.
Mathews tests Boa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice straight punches there by Mathews. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mathews.
Mathews thuds a left hand into Boa's body.
Mathews misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mathews misses with the combination.
Boa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mathews jabs Boa to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mathews as he jumps to the side.
Good shot there by Mathews.
Mathews misses with a two punch combination.
Boa shoots in looking for a takedown. Mathews tries to sprawl out of it but Boa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mathews manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mathews throws a right hand that Boa ducks under and follows up with a left that Boa also avoids with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left and a right from Mathews both land. Nice combination.
Mathews displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Boa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Mathews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fighters circling - Mathews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Boa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mathews lands a glancing blow to the side of Boa's head.
Mathews connects with a single shot there.
Boa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mathews.
Mathews misses with a hook.
Boa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mathews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mathews.

Boa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mathews's half guard.
Mathews is staying active underneath Boa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boa wants to pass to mount but Mathews is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boa wants to work for an arm triangle but Mathews is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mathews tries to kick Boa off but Boa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mathews is in trouble now - Boa has advanced to mount!
Mathews tries to hold on but Boa pushes him away.
Mathews is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews trying desperately to get to his feet.
Boa punching from mount but Mathews doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Boa goes for an armbar but Mathews turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mathews.
Boa looking to control.

Boa working for a triangle but Mathews defends it easily.
Boa controls Mathews momentarily but Mathews frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boa looking for a guillotine here but Mathews defends easily.

Boa working for a triangle but Mathews defends it easily.
Boa controls Mathews momentarily but Mathews frees himself.
Boa wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Boa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mathews wants to stand but Boa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Brian Mathews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jab, jab by Mathews - just one landing.
Nice uppercut there from Mathews.
Mathews comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mathews just misses with a punch to the body.
Boa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cyril Boa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathews scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Mathews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mathews 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Mathews!