PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clay Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sylvester Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matthews
vs
Malone

194 cm
30
203 lbs
12 - 8 - 1

184 cm
29
192 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clay Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sylvester Malone!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matthews circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Malone.
Malone connects with a body shot that sends Matthews's belly button to the back.
Malone displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matthews throws out the jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Malone misses.

Malone drives through and clinches with Matthews against the cage.
Matthews's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Malone breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone tries to clinch up
and Matthews counters with a thumping low kick.
Malone ducks under a wild hook from Matthews.
A punch combination from Malone misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone is looking to clinch.
Malone throws a jab when Matthews was well out of range.

Malone drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Matthews managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Malone.

Malone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Malone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matthews holding on.
Malone is staying tight to Matthews's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Matthews is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pushes Malone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Malone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Matthews defending against the ground and pound.
Matthews is not content to let Malone control the position.
Matthews is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Malone has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews is looking to reverse the position.
Matthews is not content to let Malone control the position.
Matthews is looking to reverse the position.
Malone lands a nice forearm strike.
Malone trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Matthews stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Matthews is looking for a sweep.
Matthews wants to control but Malone postures up.
Matthews sneaks back into half guard.
Matthews blocking the ground and pound attempt from Malone.
Malone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matthews does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matthews manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Malone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Matthews trying to keep a closed guard but Malone is proving a slippery customer.
Malone preventing the sweep.
Malone postures up in Matthews's guard and throws a big left but Matthews blocks it.
Malone landing some decent shots from guard.
Malone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Malone throwing strikes but missing.
Malone's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sylvester Malone dominated that round.
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.

Malone clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Matthews tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matthews misses with a body punch.

Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick and Malone moves out of range easily.
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Malone was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Malone on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Malone rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matthews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Malone is looking to clinch.
Matthews moves out of range as Malone throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone fails with the takedown
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matthews's waist but Matthews gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malone off to one side.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malone.
Clay Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Malone.
Malone defending well as Matthews loads up on a big left hand.
Malone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Malone tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice cross by Matthews.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matthews pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matthews takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matthews misses with a body shot.
Malone works Matthews's body with a nice hook.
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matthews swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone dives in and grabs Matthews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matthews pushes down on Malone's head and hops out.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Malone has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Matthews's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Matthews prevents a takedown attempt there.
Malone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Matthews.
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!
A body shot lands from Matthews.
Matthews working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Malone tries for a takedown but Matthews manages to get underhooks.
Malone is breathing heavily.
Matthews displaying some good clinch control by pressing Malone up against the cage.
Malone is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Matthews is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matthews.

Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Malone just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sylvester Malone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malone digs a good hook to Matthews's body.
Malone ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Malone takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Malone is rocked!
Malone misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Matthews throws a hook to the side of Malone's head but Malone sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clay Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malone throws a lazy right hand but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Malone tries to clinch up.
Malone lands a nice hook to Matthews's body. Matthews takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Malone moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Malone is still on wobbly legs! Can Matthews finish him?
Malone blocks a head kick by Matthews.
Matthews throws a jab when Malone was well out of range.
Malone tries to score a power double leg takedown but Matthews sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Malone somewhat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malone has a takedown stuffed.
Malone seems to have recovered his senses.
Malone fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matthews avoids it really well and circles away.
Malone is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Matthews rather than just go for the knockout.
Malone fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malone manages to avoid it.
Malone swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Malone avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Malone.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Matthews dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Malone fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malone has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matthews.
A big left from Matthews misses.
Matthews avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matthews displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malone.
Malone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthews throws the left hand but Malone avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone checks a leg kick.
Malone shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Matthews misses the target.
Clay Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Malone tries to clinch up.
Matthews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Malone tries to clinch up
and Matthews counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Malone.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick and Malone moves out of range easily.
Matthews misses the shot to the body.
Matthews sets himself, and Malone steps forward looking for the clinch! Matthews avoids it this time.
Matthews lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Malone gets the takedown into side control.
Matthews tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Malone working away.
Malone trying to control the position but Matthews is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malone wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matthews, who protects the arm well.
Sloppy strikes there by Malone.
Malone is putting a hurting on Matthews here, landing some big shots from side control.
Matthews manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malone keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone wants to get back to full guard but Matthews has passed into side control.
Matthews staying calm.
Matthews working away.
Malone is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Matthews has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Malone is trying to escape the position but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews wants to control but Malone is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matthews controlling the position from side mount.
Malone is looking for a sweep.
Matthews taking a breather here.
Malone is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews wants to stand but Malone has his arm trapped.
Matthews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malone can do to turn this around?
Matthews controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clay Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matthews has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Matthews!
Clay Matthews seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Sylvester Malone stepped up to the mic, saying 'Fuck off...I demand a rematch..'.