PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sabre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Porttikongi (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.

Sabre
vs
Porttikongi

189 cm
23
191 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
220 lbs
9 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Sabre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alistair Porttikongi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Porttikongi moves into the clinch.

Porttikongi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porttikongi tries to score with a low kick but Sabre moves his leg out of the way.
Sabre scores with a leg kick.
Sabre scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matt Sabre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from Porttikongi misses
and Sabre counters with a nice leg kick.
Sabre is looking to clinch but Porttikongi is avoiding it.
Porttikongi tries to clinch up
enabling Sabre to counter with a crisp jab.
Porttikongi misses with an uppercut. Sabre saw that one coming.
Sabre scoring well with a low kick there.
Sabre closes the distance but Porttikongi moves to the side
and Sabre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Matt Sabre has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porttikongi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sabre throws a head kick that misses.
Good leg kick by Sabre there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Porttikongi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Porttikongi tries to clinch but Sabre moves out of range.
Porttikongi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sabre looks to throw the jab but Porttikongi is out of range.
Sabre connects with a body shot.

Sabre moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Porttikongi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sabre has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porttikongi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sabre creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Porttikongi breaks the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sabre. That's going to slow Porttikongi down.
Porttikongi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sabre.
Sabre throws a leg kick which misses Porttikongi's front leg but catches the back leg as Porttikongi tries to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sabre throws a hook but Porttikongi avoids it easily.
Sabre circles away from the clinch attempt.
Porttikongi clinches but Sabre breaks the clinch
and Sabre counters with a slapping leg kick.
Porttikongi closes the distance but Sabre moves to the side
and Sabre counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre lunges at Porttikongi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Porttikongi's hand.
Sabre digs a good hook to Porttikongi's body.
Sabre tries to clinch

and Porttikongi counters by clinching up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sabre just leaning against Porttikongi, taking a breather.

Porttikongi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sabre scores with a jab to the head.
A big left from Porttikongi misses.
Sabre takes a swing at Porttikongi's ribcage but misses.
Nice body punch from Sabre.
Alistair Porttikongi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Porttikongi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Porttikongi throws the left hand but Sabre avoids the punch easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabre.
Porttikongi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Porttikongi looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Porttikongi throws a right hand that Sabre ducks under and follows up with a left that Sabre also avoids with ease.
Sabre lands with a thumping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Sabre.
Porttikongi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sabre throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Porttikongi.
Sabre moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sabre lands a nice leg kick that just misses Porttikongi's sensitive parts.
Porttikongi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sabre scores with a shot to the body.

Sabre gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sabre.
Porttikongi trying to stall but Sabre improves his position.
A head punch on the inside from Porttikongi fails to land.
Porttikongi can't break the clinch.
Porttikongi is trying to break the clinch but Sabre is controlling him.
Sabre misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Porttikongi.
Sabre misses with an elbow strike.
Porttikongi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sabre slowing the pace effectively.
Sabre lands a good knee to the midsection. Porttikongi won't want to take too many of those.
Sabre is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sabre lands an elbow that stopped Porttikongi in his tracks for a moment.
Porttikongi is breathing heavily.
A short uppercut from Sabre.

Sabre manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sabre holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre wants to stand and escape but Porttikongi is having none of it.
Porttikongi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sabre is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Porttikongi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabre is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sabre wants to sweep but no luck.
Porttikongi looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sabre throws a series of punches but Porttikongi avoids them all with ease.
Porttikongi misses with a looping right.
Porttikongi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Porttikongi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sabre.
Sabre throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matt Sabre is winning the standup battle so far.
Porttikongi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sabre slips under a jab.

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.
Porttikongi is looking to clinch but Sabre is avoiding it.
Sabre scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Porttikongi misses with an uppercut. Sabre saw that one coming.
Porttikongi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Porttikongi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sabre lands a nice looking body kick.
Porttikongi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sabre.
Sabre throws a leg kick which misses Porttikongi's front leg but catches the back leg as Porttikongi tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sabre dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Sabre's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Donk. Sabre catches Porttikongi right on the button with a cross.
Sabre moves in looking to clinch but Porttikongi pushes him off.
Porttikongi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sabre counters with a thumping low kick.
Good shot there by Sabre.
Sabre lands with a thumping leg kick.
Porttikongi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Porttikongi ducks right into an uppercut from Sabre.
Sabre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabre.
Porttikongi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sabre moves in looking to clinch but Porttikongi pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabre throws a hook but Porttikongi avoids it easily.
Porttikongi darts in trying to clinch
and Sabre counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sabre lands with a right hand.
Porttikongi is looking to clinch but Sabre is avoiding it.
Sabre thumps Porttikongi with a low kick.
Sabre tries a head kick but it misses.
Sabre keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porttikongi keeps the fight on the outside.
Sabre fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Porttikongi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sabre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sabre throws a head kick but Porttikongi moves out of range.
Porttikongi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sabre.
Sabre lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sabre is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Porttikongi can do to turn this around?
Sabre keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sabre with a hook.
Sabre bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabre lands with an uppercut that bounces Porttikongi off the cage and back into rage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sabre - that will leave a mark!
Sabre throws a nice outside leg kick.
Porttikongi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sabre.
Porttikongi takes one to the chin there.
Sabre lands with a good body shot.
Sabre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matt Sabre is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Porttikongi tries to keep at a distance but Sabre has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porttikongi letting Sabre take a breather here.
Sabre works on Porttikongi's body with a couple of short punches.
Sabre pushes off an throws an elbow but Porttikongi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Sabre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sabre fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sabre connects with a solid leg kick.
Sabre scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Sabre.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Porttikongi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Porttikongi avoids the body shot from Sabre.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Sabre showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sabre 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:25
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:25

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