PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lavern Mathis (ranked 24649 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Solomon (ranked 8064 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny Solomon looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Mathis
vs
Solomon

152 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
176 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lavern Mathis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Danny Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon throws a right hand that Mathis ducks under and follows up with a left that Mathis also avoids with ease.
Solomon looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Solomon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mathis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mathis seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Solomon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mathis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Solomon manages to circle out of the way.
Solomon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Solomon is looking to clinch but Mathis is avoiding it.

Mathis closes the distance and pushes Solomon back into the cage.
Mathis misses with a punch to the body.
Mathis controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathis stalling against the cage.
Mathis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mathis slowing the pace effectively.
Mathis has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Mathis.
Mathis will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Solomon up against the cage.

Mathis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Solomon misses with a takedown attempt - Mathis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mathis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Solomon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Mathis was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Lavern Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Solomon.
Mathis throws a shot from downtown. Solomon moves away and avoids it.

Mathis rushes Solomon and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Solomon lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mathis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Mathis manages to break the clinch.
Solomon shoots for a takedown but Mathis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mathis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mathis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mathis clinches.
Mathis taking a breather.
Solomon is looking to break free of the clinch but Mathis has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is trying to force a seperation but Mathis has the dominant position.
Solomon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mathis.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Solomon tries to close the distance and clinch but Mathis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mathis pushes Solomon up against the cage in a clinch.

Mathis breaks the clinch.

Mathis clinches up with Solomon and pushes him back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Mathis.
Solomon trying to stall but Mathis improves his position.
Solomon managing to block the knees to the body from Mathis.

Mathis manages to break the clinch.
Solomon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mathis tries to avoid it but Solomon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mathis to the ground. Mathis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mathis darts in and clinches Solomon up against the cage.
Solomon letting Mathis take a breather here.
Mathis lands a good knee to the midsection. Solomon won't want to take too many of those.

Mathis breaks the clinch.
Solomon wants to clinch up but Mathis keeps it at a distance.
Mathis is looking for a counter combo.
Solomon tries to clinch up.
Mathis tries to counter by clinching up but Solomon breaks away and moves out of range.
We've been informed that Solomon has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Mathis instigates a clinch.
Mathis controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mathis seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lavern Mathis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Solomon fails with a takedown attempt.

Mathis feints and as Solomon raises his hands in defense, Mathis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Solomon is wriggling around but Mathis manages to pass to half guard.

Mathis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Solomon taking some punishment here, with Mathis in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Solomon's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Solomon has hold of Mathis's hands but Mathis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Solomon is breathing heavily.
Solomon taking some punishment here, with Mathis in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon taking some punishment here, with Mathis in his half guard.
Mathis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mathis connects with a nice short shot to Solomon's temple.
Mathis is trying to control. Solomon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mathis slips a nice elbow through Solomon's hands, connecting with Solomon's forehead.
Mathis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Solomon can do to turn this around?

Mathis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Solomon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mathis.
Mathis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Solomon defending well though.
Mathis lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis is nestled in close to Solomon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Solomon taking some punishment here, with Mathis in his half guard.
Mathis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mathis trying to control from half guard but Solomon is working away.
Mathis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Mathis postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Solomon to stand up.

Solomon gets tackled into the cage by Mathis. Mathis maintains the clinch.
Mathis can't break the clinch.
Mathis is stalling here.
Come on Mathis - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis tries to land knees in the clinch but Solomon avoids the damage to the body.
Mathis taking a breather.
Mathis pressing his opponent against the cage.
Solomon jumps guard but Mathis stands there with Solomon around his waist. Solomon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mathis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lavern Mathis has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Solomon tries to clinch but Mathis is having none of it.
As Solomon tries to get set, Mathis tries to push him back and clinch up but Solomon manages to avoid the attempt.
Solomon shoots for a takedown but Mathis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lavern Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Solomon.

Mathis instigates a clinch.
Mathis stalling in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mathis obliges.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mathis - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mathis'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.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Mathis for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lavern Mathis.

Mathis has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lavern Mathis dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Solomon tries to clinch up but Mathis circles away and keeps his distance.

Mathis closes the distance and clinches.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but Mathis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mathis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mathis scores a nice knee to the body.
Mathis taking a breather.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mathis defends it nicely.
Lavern Mathis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Solomon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mathis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Solomon looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mathis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Solomon closes the distance and clinches up with Mathis, looking for a takedown. Solomon pushes Mathis against the cage but Mathis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mathis wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Lavern Mathis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Solomon.
Mathis wants to clinch up but Solomon keeps it at a distance.
Mathis fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mathis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathis tries to clinch but Solomon is having none of it.

Solomon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mathis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathis landing with the ground and pound.
Mathis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mathis throwing strikes from guard but Solomon blocks nicely.
Mathis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mathis is looking to work some ground and pound but Solomon has wrist control.
Mathis with a nice head shot there.
Mathis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mathis distracts Solomon with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Solomon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Solomon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mathis.
Mathis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mathis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mathis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Solomon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mathis.
Solomon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mathis tries to clinch there but Solomon circles away.

Mathis closes the distance and clinches.
Mathis slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathis stalling.

Mathis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Solomon falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mathis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mathis.

Mathis manages to break the clinch.

Mathis has managed to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathis is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mathis blocks an elbow strike from Solomon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lavern Mathis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mathis 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:25
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:25
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lavern Mathis!