PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Basset (ranked 3019 p4p, 3045 weight class) and Danny Booker (ranked 352 p4p, 361 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Basset
vs
Booker

177 cm
25
193
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
188
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matthew Basset!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Danny Booker!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Booker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Basset!
Who's going to make the next move?
Booker creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Basset sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Basset is looking to regain half guard here but Booker keeps moving and retains side control.
Basset is working hard here to advance position.
Booker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basset is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Booker off and has taken his back!

Basset is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Booker knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Booker for a finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Basset is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basset tries to keep control of the position but Booker is staying busy.
Basset controlling from the back.
Booker trying to control the hands but Basset breaks the grip.
Basset lands a shot to the head.
Booker just trying to survive but Basset is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Basset has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Booker has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Basset doesn't have the hooks in and Booker manages to turn into his guard.
Basset throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Booker trying to control the position from guard on top but Basset is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Booker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker wanted to stand there but Basset had control of the position.
Booker postures up in Basset's guard and throws a big left but Basset blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Basset wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Booker is now in half guard.
Basset scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Booker manages to mount him!
Booker throws some wild stikes that Basset manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basset tries to buck Booker off but he can't manage it.

Booker has control of Basset's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Basset regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Basset bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Booker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Booker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matthew Basset will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Booker shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Basset pushes Booker off and gets back to his feet.
Basset scores with a shot to the body.
Basset circles away from the clinch attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Basset.
Booker doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Basset counter with a right hand.
Basset fails with a takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Booker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Basset misses.

Basset clinches up against the cage.

Booker breaks the clinch.

Basset looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Booker!
Basset is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Booker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Basset creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Booker sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Booker being controlled for a moment.
Booker tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basset trying to control the position but Booker is working away.
Booker defending against the ground and pound.
Booker sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Booker has hold of Basset's hands but Basset slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Basset passes to side control.

Basset stands up and beckons Booker to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker shoots for a takedown but Basset saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matthew Basset has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Booker.

Booker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Matthew Basset overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Booker is breathing heavily.

Basset is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Booker defends well.
Basset is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Basset could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Booker has his hands clasped together around Basset's back. He's all about the action.
Basset tries to pass to full mount but Booker defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basset trying to control from Booker's half guard. Booker has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Booker looking to control but Basset passes into half guard.
Booker keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Booker is refusing to be controlled, as Basset sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Basset dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Basset wants to clinch up but Booker keeps it at a distance.
Booker fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Basset.
Basset slaps away a takedown attempt from Booker, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Basset looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Booker!
Booker tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Booker fending off the submission attempt from Basset.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker is in bad spot here.
Basset lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Basset lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Booker wants to control his opponent's hands but Basset gets his hands free.
Booker tries to roll but Basset sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Basset.

Basset is persistently looking for the submission but Booker is defending it well.
Basset is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Booker can do to turn this around?
I really don't envy Booker right now.
Booker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Booker preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Basset.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker tries to break free.

Basset working for a choke but Booker is defending well.
Basset lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Booker wants to control his opponent's hands but Basset gets his hands free.
Booker is in bad spot here.
Basset is looking to control Booker but Booker is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Basset misses with punches from the back.
Booker is trying to get back to his feet but Basset has full control of the position and if anything, Booker has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Basset landing with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Basset goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Booker escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Danny Booker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthew Basset is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Basset is trying to control but Booker passes into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Basset showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Basset 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Basset!