PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mat Matmat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Len Orton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matmat comes to the cage accompanied by pass tha axe. 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.

Matmat
vs
Orton

176 cm
30
167 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

173 cm
26
165 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Matmat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Len Orton!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orton misses with a straight left.
Orton does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Orton manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Matmat on his heels. He'll look to pass Matmat's guard now, I'm sure.
Matmat keeping moving, preventing Orton from controlling successfully.
Orton looking to pass the guard.
Orton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Orton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matmat trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Orton lands a couple of elbows.
Orton trying to control but Matmat is working from the bottom.
Matmat keeping full guard, as Orton tries to pass.
Orton trying to control but Matmat is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matmat has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Orton is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matmat.
Matmat wants to control but Orton postures up.
Matmat is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Orton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matmat avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Orton.
Matmat tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Orton tries to score with some ground and pound. Matmat controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matmat is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matmat wants to control but Orton postures up.
Orton controls the position from side control.
You can see the frustration on Matmat's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Matmat tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Orton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Matmat gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Orton slips a nice elbow through Matmat's hands, connecting with Matmat's forehead.
Matmat is trying to get back to full guard.

Matmat looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matmat makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Matmat.
Orton trying to control but Matmat is working from the bottom.

Matmat looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Orton cracks Matmat with a solid left hand.
Orton trying to control the position from guard on top but Matmat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Orton connects with a couple of short punches.

Matmat is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Orton defends well.
Matmat bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Orton's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton keeping moving, preventing Matmat from controlling successfully.
Matmat is looking to work some ground and pound but Orton has wrist control.
Matmat stopping the sweep attempt from Orton.
Matmat throwing strikes but missing.
Matmat is in close to Orton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Len Orton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matmat throws a hook but Orton avoids it easily.
Matmat throws a poor cross that misses
and Orton counters with a nice uppercut.
Orton looks to throw the jab but Matmat is out of range.
Orton scores with a jab to the body.
Matmat throws a right hand that misses
and Orton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Orton shoots in and bounces Matmat off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Matmat lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Orton!
Orton wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Matmat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matmat punching from mount but Orton doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Matmat prevents Orton from getting the reversal.
Matmat misses with a head shot.
Matmat unloads with some shots from mount but Orton bucks and avoids them well.
Matmat looking to ground and pound but Orton is blocking nicely.
Matmat throwing strikes here but Orton is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Matmat has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Orton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Orton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matmat trying to control but Orton is having none of it.
Matmat tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two 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.
Matmat raining down hammerfists from mount.
BOOM! Matmat connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The referee warns Orton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Matmat lands a big elbow.
Matmat misses with a head shot.
Matmat raining down shots from the mount!
Orton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matmat thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Orton is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matmat looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Len Orton has been cut.
Orton tries to hold on but Matmat postures up.
Orton tries to reverse the position but Matmat maintains control.
Mat Matmat overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matmat looking to control but Orton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matmat content just to control the position here.
Orton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Orton looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton is looking to improve his position but Matmat isn't that keen on the idea.
Matmat avoids the attempt from Orton to control.
Matmat landing strikes, looking to finish!
Matmat misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Orton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Orton is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matmat working Orton over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mat Matmat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Len Orton's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Matmat.
Orton connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Matmat lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Orton has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Orton and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Matmat swings away with a body shot that misses
and Orton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Matmat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Orton.

Orton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matmat napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Matmat sneaks back into half guard.
Matmat is trying to maintain the position but Orton is very close to passing his half guard.
Orton is keen to just control but Matmat is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Orton trying to control from half guard but Matmat is working away.
Orton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matmat is trying to control but can't.
Matmat works his way to full guard. Good work.
Orton trying to control the position from guard on top but Matmat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matmat wants to sweep here but Orton controlling him for the moment.

Matmat looking for a guillotine here but Orton defends easily.

That's two 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.

Matmat working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Orton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Orton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matmat has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Orton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Orton trying to control the position from guard on top but Matmat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Orton won't allow Matmat to sweep him here.
Orton wants to control from the top but Matmat keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matmat is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Orton wants to control from the top but Matmat keeps moving.

Matmat is looking for a triangle but Orton pushes his legs off easily.
Orton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Matmat has an active guard here but Orton has managed to pass into half guard.
Orton trying to control the action but Matmat is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Orton working over Matmat with some ground and pound. Matmat looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Orton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Matmat is looking to control Orton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matmat avoid being mounted?
Orton trying to control the action but Matmat is working from the bottom.
Orton is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Orton connects with a nice short shot to Matmat's temple.
Orton wants to free his trapped foot but Matmat is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Len Orton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Orton 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Len Orton!