PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EJ Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tap comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pop Lock and Drop It kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matthews
vs
Tap

179 cm
23
184 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugh Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, EJ Tap!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matthews looks to land a left hand but Tap moved out of range nicely.
Matthews moves forwards but Tap connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tap slips a jab from Matthews.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matthews gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matthews jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tap slips a jab from Matthews.

Matthews fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tap sprawls well initially but Matthews persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tap trying to control from the bottom.
Tap wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
Tap trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.
Matthews prevents Tap from improving his position.

Tap actively working from the bottom here.
Tap is trying to control but can't.
Tap might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Matthews kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slow jab from Matthews misses its intended target.

Tap moves into range and clinches up with Matthews.
Tap prevents Matthews from breaking the clinch.
Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Tap has him pressed against the cage.
Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Tap is controlling him.

Tap gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tap trying to control from half guard but Matthews is working away.
Matthews looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matthews trying to control here.
Tap thows a huge punch but Matthews dodges it nicely.

Matthews is defending against the submission attempts here by Tap.
Tap is pressing down on Matthews's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matthews is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tap looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Matthews is looking to escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tap doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Matthews counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like EJ Tap has been cut.
Matthews throws a looping overhand right but Tap ducks down to avoid it.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Tap swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matthews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tap tries for a takedown but Matthews circles away easily

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews stands and steps away. Tap gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Matthews lands an overhand right.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tap avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matthews is defended easily by Tap.
Matthews is breathing heavily.

Matthews closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tap to the mat! Tap manages to get full guard.

Tap throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tap is proving hard to escape from.
Tap wants to sweep but no luck.
Tap has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.
Tap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Tap is trying to control the position but Matthews postures up.

Tap has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matthews can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Matthews wanted to stand there but Tap had control of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tap scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matthews throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tap sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left and a right from Tap both land. Nice combination.
Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Matthews misses with a hook.
Matthews throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tap instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that round.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matthews takes a jab right on the kisser.

Tap moves into the clinch.
Tap wants a takedown but no success here.
Matthews has had enough of the clinch but Tap keeps him there for the moment.
Tap fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tap throws a punch but it's blocked by Matthews.

Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matthews just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews throws the left hand but Tap avoids the punch easily.
Matthews takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Tap takes the fight into the clinch.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Tap uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matthews moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Tap moved out of range.
Tap looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matthews is fending him off so far but Tap persists. Nope, Matthews circles away and we're back to standing.
Matthews ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tap misses with a wild body shot.
Tap avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tap wants to clinch.
Matthews misses with an uppercut. Tap saw that one coming.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthews takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matthews throws an overhand right that lands on Tap's shoulder, as Tap tries to avoid the shot.
Tap lunges at Matthews with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Matthews's hand.

Tap shoots in and bounces Matthews off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Matthews is looking to stand up but Tap isn't so interested in that idea.
Matthews wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Matthews has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tap wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.

Tap thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tap looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tap takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matthews fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tap has his takedown stuffed

and Matthews counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hugh Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Tap.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matthews wants to stand but Tap has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tap manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matthews stopping the sweep attempt from Tap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Tap keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matthews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matthews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matthews landing with the ground and pound.
Tap lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Matthews!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Tap working Matthews over with strikes here.
Tap trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to stand.

Tap working for a guillotine from mount but Matthews is in no mood to give up.
Tap scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Matthews squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Matthews trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Matthews is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matthews takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tap lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tap cracks Matthews with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Matthews is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but EJ Tap will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on EJ Tap's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tap closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tap lands in his opponent's guard.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.
Matthews wants to stand up but Tap is controlling him.
Tap throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tap is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matthews wants to stand but Tap is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tap wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Hugh Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tap clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Tap softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Matthews gets underhooks to prevent Tap's takedown attempt.
Tap 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. Tap gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tap jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tap lands with an uppercut that bounces Matthews off the cage and back into rage.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.
Tap tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matthews paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tap moves into the clinch.
Matthews is trying to force a seperation but Tap has the dominant position.
Matthews wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tap has him pressed against the cage.
Tap scores with a shoulder strike.
Tap has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hugh Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Tap.
Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Tap is controlling him.
Tap lands a hook to the side of the head.
Matthews prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tap is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tap throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matthews misses with a straight right.
Tap dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Tap.
Tap tries to clinch up.
Matthews avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tap lands a nice shot that snaps Matthews's head back.

Tap moves into the clinch successfully.

Matthews gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Matthews wants to stand but Tap has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tap is not content to let Matthews control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tap manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Tap is looking for a triangle but Matthews pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing strikes but missing.
Tap tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tap controls Matthews momentarily but Matthews frees himself.
Tap keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Tap working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tap keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

Tap is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matthews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tap moves out of range of the strikes.
Tap ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matthews throws out a loose jab but Tap uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tap moves into the clinch successfully.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tap lands with a hook. Matthews tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Tap has a takedown stuffed.
Tap uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.
Matthews shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tap defends it nicely.
Tap catches Matthews with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Matthews throws a hook to the side of Tap's head but Tap sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
EJ Tap comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tap has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Tap!