PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stefano Spinelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Spinelli might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Limp Bizkit - My Way. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spinelli
vs
Matthews

179 cm
22
173 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

MMA's Best Nutrition
Team S.W.A.T.

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stefano Spinelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, David Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Spinelli throws a punch but it's blocked by Matthews.
Matthews looking to stall.
Matthews will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Spinelli up against the cage.
Spinelli lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matthews drops down looking for an ankle pick but Spinelli pulls his leg out and moves away.

Spinelli decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Matthews moves into full guard.
Matthews trying to control the position.

Spinelli gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Matthews looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Spinelli is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to control the action in half guard but Spinelli is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Spinelli is trying to stand up here but Matthews is controlling him well.
Spinelli 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 wants to pass the guard but Spinelli is defending well.
Matthews looks gassed!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matthews misses with a body kick.

Matthews drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Spinelli bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
A right-left combo lands from Spinelli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a takedown
and Spinelli counters with a straight right hand.
Matthews fails with the takedown

and Spinelli counters by moving into the clinch.
Stefano Spinelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Matthews.

Spinelli breaks from the clinch.
Matthews doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Spinelli counters with a left to the body.
Spinelli cracks Matthews with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Matthews doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Spinelli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matthews has his takedown stuffed
and Spinelli counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Matthews.
Good standup being displayed there by Spinelli as he connects with a hook.
Spinelli falls off balance throwing a combination

and Matthews decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Spinelli's guard.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spinelli is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spinelli has his feet on Matthews's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Spinelli throws a lazy head kick
and Matthews counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Spinelli is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spinelli shoots and misses
and Matthews finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Spinelli to counter with a crisp jab.
Spinelli swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Spinelli is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matthews is controlling him.
Matthews stands and throws Spinelli's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Matthews crashes against the mat.
Spinelli is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Matthews misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Spinelli throws Matthews to one side and escapes!
Spinelli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matthews doesn't manage to clinch there - Spinelli circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Spinelli closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Matthews is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Matthews dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spinelli throws a right and a left that Matthews avoids nicely.
Matthews wants to clinch up but Spinelli keeps it at a distance.

Spinelli clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.

Matthews has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Spinelli clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Spinelli holding both Matthews 's hands and preventing any damage.
Spinelli has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Matthews.
Matthews punches the canvas rather than the man.
Matthews scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Spinelli staying busy and making it hard for Matthews to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews biding his time, looking for the opening.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Matthews tries to keep control of the position but Spinelli is staying busy.
Matthews somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Spinelli holding both Matthews 's hands and preventing any damage.
Spinelli staying busy and making it hard for Matthews to control.
Spinelli trying to get back to his feet but Matthews is in full control for now.

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.
Matthews throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
David Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Spinelli holding both Matthews 's hands and preventing any damage.
Matthews tries to keep control of the position but Spinelli is staying busy.
Spinelli wants to get back to his feet.

Matthews has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Spinelli has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Spinelli has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spinelli is keeping busy.
Matthews connects with a big shot to the side of Spinelli's head.
Spinelli is trying to stand back up.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Matthews controlling the positon.
Spinelli staying busy and making it hard for Matthews to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spinelli is trying to stand back up.
Matthews biding his time, controlling Spinelli.
Matthews softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Matthews connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Spinelli to escape the position.

Spinelli is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spinelli staying busy and making it hard for Matthews to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Spinelli swats away the attempt to clinch by Matthews.
Matthews throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Spinelli connects with a looping right hand.
Matthews is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Spinelli.
No luck for Matthews with that takedown attempt.
Matthews has his takedown stuffed
and Spinelli counters with a right hand to the body.
Spinelli lands with a nice combination. Matthews backs away looking to recover.
Spinelli tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matthews swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spinelli is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Matthews tries for a takedown but Spinelli circles away easily

and Spinelli counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stefano Spinelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Matthews.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spinelli wants to get back to striking at distance but Matthews won't allow it.
Matthews tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spinelli smiles and moves away.

Spinelli clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spinelli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Matthews scores a takedown into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Matthews.
Matthews landing strikes from the mount and Spinelli is in trouble!
You get the feeling that Spinelli really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Spinelli bucks up and throws Matthews to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews misses with a takedown
and Spinelli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Matthews takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Matthews gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spinelli moves into the clinch.
Spinelli just leaning against Matthews, taking a breather.

Matthews has hold of one of Spinelli's legs. Spinelli is fighting the takedown attempt but Matthews gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Matthews passes Spinelli's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Matthews is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Spinelli has managed to free his arm - good work.
Spinelli is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to pass to full mount but Spinelli defends it.
Spinelli is trying to stand up here but Matthews is controlling him well.

Spinelli kicks off Matthews and gets to his feet.
Spinelli closes the distance but Matthews moves to the side

and Matthews counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Spinelli!
Spinelli is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Spinelli bucks up and throws Matthews to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
A right-left combo lands from Spinelli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews fails with the takedown

and Spinelli counters by clinching up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Matthews just misses with a elbow thrown towards Spinelli's brow.
Spinelli wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Matthews pulls guard effortlessly.
Matthews lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Spinelli!
Spinelli wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
A nice elbow there by Matthews.
Stefano Spinelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spinelli throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Spinelli is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
David 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

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