PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Bloom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Bloom
vs
Matthews

172 cm
25
140 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

175 cm
24
140 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Orlando Bloom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Matthews!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bloom fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matthews checks it well.
Matthews misses with a series of wild punches.
Bloom takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
Matthews misses with an uppercut.
Matthews lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Matthews avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matthews lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bloom circles away quickly and effectively.

Bloom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matthews stops a takedown attempt from Bloom.
Bloom misses with a punch on the inside.
Matthews wants to break free but Bloom has control.
Bloom lands with a left to the head.
Matthews blocks an uppercut.
Matthews blocking some punches.
Matthews lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bloom is trying to stall.

Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Matthews swings for the body but Bloom moves out of range.
Bloom uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Matthews has time to react.
Bloom throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Matthews does no damage.
Bloom is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
No joy there for Bloom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bloom.
Bloom tries to clinch up
and Bloom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bloom misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bloom takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matthews takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donk. Matthews catches Bloom right on the button with a cross.
Matthews scores with a hook.
Matthews rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bloom counters by moving into the clinch.
Bloom 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. Bloom gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matthews avoids the body shot from Bloom.
Matthews feints a jab promting Bloom to slip. Matthews then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bloom slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Bloom staying out of range there.
Bloom slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bloom takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bloom moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matthews waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bloom.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Bloom avoids it well.
Bloom throws a series of punches but Matthews avoids them all with ease.
Matthews misses with a hook. Bloom ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bloom. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bloom moves out of range as Matthews strikes.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bloom takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bloom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bloom walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Bloom moved out of range.
Matthews moves out of range of the body kick from Bloom.
Matthews might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Bloom has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bloom there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bloom is looking to wear down Matthews with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matthews feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Blooms jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Matthews fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A lazy left from Matthews finds it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bloom dodges the punch combination from Matthews.
Nice straight punches there by Matthews. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matthews.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bloom misses with the combination.
Michael Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matthews keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bloom walks into a left hand.
Matthews takes a swing at Bloom's ribcage but misses.
Matthews keeps the fight on the outside.
Matthews throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bloom sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bloom.
Matthews throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Decent striking displayed by Matthews there.
Bloom tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Bloom.
Matthews throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Orlando Bloom has been cut.
Matthews showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bloom.
Matthews digs a good body shot into Bloom's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bloom misses with a body shot.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Nice body punch from Bloom.
Matthews lands a jab.
Bloom walks into a straight right hand from Matthews.
Bloom throws a head kick that misses
and Matthews counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bloom misses with a wild combination.
Matthews misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloom is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Matthews.
Bloom misses with a body shot.
Bloom misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews lands a lovely overhand right.
Bloom connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews throws a series of punches but Bloom moves out of range.
Bloom connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Matthews misses with a body shot.
Bloom slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.
Matthews throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bloom counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Matthews is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Matthews lands a really nice looking cross but Bloom seems unphased.
Bloom looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bloom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bloom fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bloom misses with a body kick.
Bloom moves in looking to clinch but Matthews pushes him off.
Matthews misses with the combination.
Bloom slips a straight right by Matthews.
Matthews scores with a hook.
Bloom avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bloom walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bloom.
Matthews moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bloom swinging wildly here.
Bloom defending well as Matthews loads up on a big left hand.
A big left from Matthews misses.
Bloom is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Jab by Matthews.
Sloppy strikes from Bloom. Those never looked like landing.
Matthews throws a right and a left that Bloom avoids nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews scores with a one two! Bloom had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Matthews. Those never looked like landing.
Matthews ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Orlando Bloom's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bloom gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matthews tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bloom was well out of range. Poor timing from Matthews.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bloom.
Matthews throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bloom attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matthews throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bloom stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Matthews throws a lazy right hand but Bloom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A head kick misses from Bloom.
Bloom tries to move into range but Matthews moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bloom misses with a body punch
enabling Matthews to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bloom tries to clinch up
and Matthews counters with a nice leg kick.
Bloom doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthews circles away.
Matthews lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bloom's sensitive parts.
Bloom tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Matthews counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bloom wants to clinch.
A jab from Matthews misses.
Bloom tries to clinch there but Matthews circles away.
Michael Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bloom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bloom walks into a left hand.
Bloom takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bloom takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bloom throws a nice looking combination but Matthews bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bloom throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Matthews to counter with a crisp jab.

Bloom is rocked!
Nice cross by Matthews.
Oh Bloom is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matthews uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bloom has time to react.
Matthews misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bloom seems to have got his legs back now.
Bloom dodges the punch combination from Matthews.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bloom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a jab.
Matthews scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matthews lands a jab to Bloom's midsection.
Jab, jab by Matthews - just one landing.
A head kick by Matthews misses
and Bloom counters with a nice body shot.
Matthews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bloom throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bloom. That's going to slow Matthews down.
Orlando Bloom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bloom has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bloom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Michael Matthews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bloom lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Matthews.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bloom fails to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bloom lands an elbow inside.
Matthews is trying to break the clinch but Bloom is controlling him.
Bloom misses with a punch on the inside.
Orlando Bloom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bloom is pushing Matthews up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bloom has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bloom working aggressively here.
Matthews blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matthews winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Matthews!