PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Weston (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.

Long
vs
Weston

182 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
211 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Weston!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weston avoids the head kick by Long.
Long lands with a kick to the temple. Weston shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Michael Weston has been cut.
Weston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Long circles away.
No luck for Long with that takedown attempt.
Long looks to land a left hand but Weston moved out of range nicely.
Weston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Weston tries to clinch up but Long circles away and keeps his distance.

Long shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Weston's guard.

Weston working for a triangle but Long defends it easily.
Long has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Long lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Weston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Weston looking for a sweep. Not yet Weston, not yet.
Weston wants to stand but Long is controlling the position.
Weston can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Long controls the pace.
Long wants to control from the top but Weston keeps moving.
Weston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Long throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Long dives in and grabs Weston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Weston pushes down on Long's head and hops out.

Long has closed the distance and engaged Weston in a clinch.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Weston shoots in and bounces Long off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Weston won't allow Long to get back to his feet.

Long kicks Weston off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weston doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Long counters with a single leg into guard. Weston didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Long wants to pass the guard but Weston is keeping the position.
Weston is trying to control the position but Long postures up.
Long tries to free his leg and advance position but Weston is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Long works over Weston with some ground and pound from guard.
Weston is controlling Long's posture.
Weston looking for a sweep. Not yet Weston, not yet.
Long with a flurry of punches that miss.
Long missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Weston trying to control the position.
Long throws and elbow that misses. Weston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Long's guard. Nice move by Weston!

That's four 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.
Weston stands up over Long, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Long wants to stand but Weston is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Long swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Weston counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Weston gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Long decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Weston's guard.
Matt Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Weston looks gassed!
Long throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Weston is trying to control the position but Long postures up.
Long postures up in Weston's guard and throws a big left but Weston blocks it.
Long is looking to work some ground and pound but Weston has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Weston pushes Long off and gets back to his feet.
Weston swats away the attempt to clinch by Long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Long dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Weston's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Long dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Weston. That did some damage!

Long shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Weston wants to improve his position but Long is controlling well.
Long missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Long missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Long is looking to advance position but Weston won't allow it.
Weston is staying active underneath Long, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Weston wants to control but Long is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston moves into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Long accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Long feints and as Weston raises his hands in defense, Long changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Long thows a big elbow that misses.
Weston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Weston looking to control.
Long knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Weston on the ground.
Weston is breathing heavily.

Weston is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Weston is trying to break free.

Long breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Weston tries to land a front kick but Long steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weston gets caught flat footed, as Long shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Weston keeping full guard, as Long tries to pass.
Weston 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.
Long trying to control but Weston is working from the bottom.
Long is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Long is in close to Weston's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Long looking to pass the guard.

Weston working for a triangle but Long defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weston is keeping the position for now.
Long with a flurry of punches that miss.
Long looking to sit in guard and control but Weston gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Matt Long overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Long wants to get back to his feet but Weston is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Long kicks Weston off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Weston tries to clinch
and Long counters with a nice body kick.

Long scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Long landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Weston moves into full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Long's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Long postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Long preventing the sweep.
Long throwing strikes from guard but Weston blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long throwing strikes but missing.
Long wants to get up but he can't break Weston's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Long dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Weston's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Long throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Weston on the side of the head.
Long fails with an attempt to clinch.

Long drives through with a takedown into guard.
Long throwing strikes from guard but Weston blocks nicely.
Long preventing the sweep.
Long trying to control but Weston is working from the bottom.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Long here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Long is looking to work some ground and pound but Weston has wrist control.
Weston has Long pulled in close to control his posture.
Weston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Weston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Long throws a lazy head kick

and Weston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Weston has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Long wants to try and get back to his feet.
Weston with shots to the head and body - Long looks very uncomfortable down there.
Weston wants to control the pace but Long is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long wants to get back to his feet.
Weston lands a big elbow.
Long tries to buck Weston off but he can't manage it.
Weston sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Long wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston tries to control but Long wriggling away.
Long is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Weston landing strikes from the mount and Long is in trouble!

Weston looking for a guillotine from mount but Long is having none of it.

Weston looking to secure an arm triangle but Long defends it well.

Long bucks up and throws Weston to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Matt Long is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Long lands a head kick!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Long is defended easily by Weston.
Weston shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Long counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Weston's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Weston working for a triangle but Long defends it easily.
Matt Long is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Long controlling from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Weston keeping moving, preventing Long from controlling successfully.

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 Matt Long.
Well Long 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Long!