PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed Ait Ibrahim (ranked 4396 p4p, 5698 weight class) and Ethan Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ait Ibrahim comes to the cage accompanied by L'Étoile d'Afrique. Ethan Matthews looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Ait Ibrahim
vs
Matthews

176 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
135
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mohamed Ait Ibrahim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethan Matthews!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthews looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Ait Ibrahim darts in and clinches Matthews up against the cage.
Ait Ibrahim tries for a takedown but Matthews manages to get underhooks.
Matthews is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Ait Ibrahim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Ait Ibrahim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matthews manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ait Ibrahim on his heels. He'll look to pass Ait Ibrahim's guard now, I'm sure.
Ait Ibrahim controlling Matthews's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.

Ait Ibrahim wriggles free and stands up.

Ait Ibrahim closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ait Ibrahim pulls guard.
Matthews tries to free his leg and advance position but Ait Ibrahim is retaining full guard.
Ait Ibrahim is trying to control the position but Matthews postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ait Ibrahim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matthews gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but instead Ait Ibrahim has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ait Ibrahim wants to get up but he can't break Matthews's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ait Ibrahim gets to his feet - Matthews follows without any prompting.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown but Ait Ibrahim shows good takedown defense.

Ait Ibrahim drives through and clinches with Matthews against the cage.
Ait Ibrahim displaying some good clinch control by pressing Matthews up against the cage.
Ait Ibrahim lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ait Ibrahim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ait Ibrahim - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ait Ibrahim tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matthews just stands there and leans against the cage.
A body shot lands from Ait Ibrahim.
Ait Ibrahim tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ait Ibrahim jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matthews walks away with a smile on his face. Ait Ibrahim gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matthews swings for the body but Ait Ibrahim moves out of range.

Matthews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ait Ibrahim, pushing him back against the cage.
Ait Ibrahim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matthews pulls his leg out and moves away.

Ait Ibrahim clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews missing with knees to the body.

Ait Ibrahim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ait Ibrahim has managed to clinch.
Matthews wants to break free but Ait Ibrahim has control.
Ait Ibrahim is stalling here.
Ait Ibrahim goes for a takedown in the clinch but Matthews prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ait Ibrahim effectively controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ait Ibrahim is struggling to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mohamed Ait Ibrahim dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ait Ibrahim leaves Matthews with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ait Ibrahim tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.
Matthews wants to counter with a clinch but Ait Ibrahim pushes him away.
Matthews looks for the body kick but Ait Ibrahim saw that one coming.

Ait Ibrahim gets tackled into the cage by Matthews. Matthews maintains the clinch.
Ait Ibrahim landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Matthews is looking to break free of the clinch but Ait Ibrahim has double underhooks.
Ait Ibrahim fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ait Ibrahim breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ait Ibrahim shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ait Ibrahim moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Ait Ibrahim fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ait Ibrahim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Ait Ibrahim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ait Ibrahim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mohamed Ait Ibrahim has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ait Ibrahim wants a takedown but no success here.
Ait Ibrahim just leaning against Matthews, taking a breather.

Ait Ibrahim breaks the clinch.
Ait Ibrahim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matthews only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ait Ibrahim changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to avoid it but Ait Ibrahim manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthews to the ground. Matthews escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ait Ibrahim looks for a takedown but Matthews sprawls well.

Matthews moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ait Ibrahim jumps guard but Matthews stands there with Ait Ibrahim around his waist. Ait Ibrahim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ait Ibrahim stalling in the clinch but Matthews improves position.
Matthews looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Matthews wants to get back to striking at distance but Ait Ibrahim won't allow it.

Ait Ibrahim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ait Ibrahim throws a body kick that misses.

Matthews clinches up with Ait Ibrahim and pushes him back against the cage.
Matthews drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ait Ibrahim gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ait Ibrahim leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ait Ibrahim drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ait Ibrahim drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matthews gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Matthews wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ait Ibrahim drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matthews pulls his leg out and moves away.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ait Ibrahim seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ait Ibrahim tries to clinch but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matthews slaps away a takedown attempt from Ait Ibrahim, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matthews looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ait Ibrahim is fending him off so far but Matthews persists. Nope, Ait Ibrahim circles away and we're back to standing.
Ait Ibrahim shoots in but no luck this time.
Ait Ibrahim is looking to clinch.
Ait Ibrahim misses with a takedown attempt
and Ait Ibrahim takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Ait Ibrahim has Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
Matthews has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ait Ibrahim is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ait Ibrahim jumps guard but Matthews stands there with Ait Ibrahim around his waist. Ait Ibrahim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matthews is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ait Ibrahim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ait Ibrahim shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense.
Matthews is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ait Ibrahim goes for a double leg but Matthews avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Matthews continues to drive forward.
Ait Ibrahim taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Matthews prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Ait Ibrahim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews jumps guard but Ait Ibrahim turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ait Ibrahim really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ait Ibrahim jumps guard but Matthews stands there with Ait Ibrahim around his waist. Ait Ibrahim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ait Ibrahim jumps guard but Matthews turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ait Ibrahim jumps into guard, dragging Matthews to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ait Ibrahim being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ait Ibrahim looking for a sweep. Not yet Ait Ibrahim, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ait Ibrahim is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ait Ibrahim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Matthews gets to his feet - Ait Ibrahim follows without any prompting.
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Ait Ibrahim.
Ait Ibrahim tries for a takedown but Matthews circles away easily
and Matthews counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two 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.
Matthews leaves Ait Ibrahim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ait Ibrahim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ait Ibrahim moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.
Ait Ibrahim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ait Ibrahim tries to clinch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews tries to counter with a clinch but Ait Ibrahim shakes him off and moves away.
Ait Ibrahim shoots in and drives through. Matthews sprawls well.
Ait Ibrahim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matthews.
Matthews shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ait Ibrahim sprawls well. Ait Ibrahim wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matthews gets slowly back to his feet.
Ait Ibrahim is looking to counter the offense by Matthews and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ait Ibrahim forces Matthews back against the cage and clinches.
Ait Ibrahim controlling the action here for a moment.

Ait Ibrahim pulls guard.
Ait Ibrahim 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.
Matthews stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ait Ibrahim swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthews would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ait Ibrahim pushes Matthews off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ait Ibrahim looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matthews is fending him off so far but Ait Ibrahim persists. Nope, Matthews circles away and we're back to standing.
Matthews tries to counter with a clinch but Ait Ibrahim shakes him off and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matthews throws a leg kick but Ait Ibrahim sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Ait Ibrahim appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ait Ibrahim shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mohamed Ait Ibrahim.
I think Ait Ibrahim 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mohamed Ait Ibrahim!
In defeat, Ethan Matthews stepped up to the mic, saying 'I worked hard in training, i'm ok with losing, ready to get back in the gym'.