PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Duran Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Mathiew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Duran
vs
Mathiew

225 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duran Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zack Mathiew!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathiew throws a nice inside leg kick.
Duran slips under a jab.
Duran shoots in and drives through. Mathiew sprawls well.
Duran doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathiew circles away.
Duran blocks a head kick by Mathiew.
Duran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mathiew is fending him off so far but Duran persists. Nope, Mathiew circles away and we're back to standing.
Mathiew stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duran Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duran fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathiew avoids it really well and circles away.
Duran tries to clinch up.
Zack Mathiew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duran fails to land the takedown.
No joy there for Mathiew, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mathiew shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mathiew throws a sloppy head kick
and Duran counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mathiew is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mathiew throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Mathiew misses.
Duran tries to score with a low kick but Mathiew moves his leg out of the way.
Mathiew scores with a kick to the body.
Duran is breathing heavily.
Duran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mathiew throws a right and a left that Duran avoids nicely.
Duran moves out of range of the leg kick from Mathiew.
Duran is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mathiew throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Duran or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathiew which made him look bad.
Duran shoots in for a takedown but Mathiew shows good takedown defense.
Duran dives in and grabs Mathiew's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mathiew pushes down on Duran's head and hops out.
Mathiew swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mathiew fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathiew misses with a wild combination.
Mathiew swats away the attempt to clinch by Duran.

Duran closes the distance and clinches.

Mathiew breaks from the clinch.
Duran wants to clinch.
Duran fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mathiew throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mathiew misses with a head kick.
Duran lands a head kick. Mathiew smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mathiew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Duran fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathiew avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathiew throws a body kick that misses
and Duran counters with a solid body kick.
Duran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mathiew.
The fight stays on the outside here - Duran looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathiew throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Duran takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Duran fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathiew, pushing him back against the cage.
Mathiew working hard to break the clinch.
Duran tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mathiew's elbow.
Mathiew tries to break free but Duran pushes him back against the cage.

Duran breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran shoots in but no luck this time.
Mathiew misses with a head kick.
Mathiew pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathiew takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mathiew tries a head kick but it misses.
Duran shoots in looking for a takedown but Mathiew manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Duran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mathiew misses with a wild combination.
Duran changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mathiew tries to avoid it but Duran manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mathiew to the ground. Mathiew escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mathiew throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Duran drives through and clinches with Mathiew against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duran is working for takedown but Mathiew is calmly controlling the position for now.

Mathiew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duran tries to clinch but Mathiew moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zack Mathiew will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mathiew tries a head kick but it misses.
Mathiew connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Duran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duran Duran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duran changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mathiew tries to avoid it but Duran manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mathiew to the ground. Mathiew escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mathiew throws a right hand that Duran ducks under and follows up with a left that Duran also avoids with ease.
Duran throws a head kick but Mathiew moves out of range.
Duran shoots for a takedown but Mathiew saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Duran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Duran fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathiew avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duran Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathiew fails to land with a series of punches.
Mathiew swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mathiew scores with a kick to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duran misses with a takedown attempt - Mathiew sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Duran shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathiew throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mathiew throws a nice looking combination but Duran bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Mathiew - that will leave a mark!
Duran shoots in looking for a takedown. Mathiew tries to sprawl out of it but Duran keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mathiew manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mathiew throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Duran has a takedown stuffed.
Duran has a takedown stuffed.
Mathiew lands a head kick!
A good leg kick by Duran.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew misses with a body kick.
Mathiew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mathiew wants it to stay on the feet.
Mathiew fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Duran is out of range.
Duran misses with a head kick.
Duran wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Mathiew.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A head kick misses from Mathiew.
Duran closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mathiew circles away.
Duran doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathiew circles away.
Mathiew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Duran wants to clinch up but Mathiew keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew throws a right hand that Duran ducks under and follows up with a left that Duran also avoids with ease.
A lazy body kick from Mathiew

and Duran holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Mathiew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathiew swats away the attempt to clinch by Duran.
Duran fails with a takedown attempt.
Mathiew tries a head kick but it misses.
Mathiew throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Duran throws a head kick that Mathiew semi-blocks.
Mathiew misses with a hook. Duran ducked under it nicely.
Duran closes the distance and clinches up with Mathiew, looking for a takedown. Duran pushes Mathiew against the cage but Mathiew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Duran sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Mathiew lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Duran circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Duran showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mathiew.
Duran fails with a takedown attempt.
Mathiew throws a series of punches but Duran avoids them all with ease.
Zack Mathiew seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mathiew avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mathiew pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Duran tries to clinch up but Mathiew circles away and keeps his distance.
Duran goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Duran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mathiew paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mathiew misses with a head kick.
Duran avoids the head kick by Mathiew.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Horrible takedown by Duran or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathiew which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Mathiew showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Duran moves out of range of the body kick from Mathiew.
Mathiew throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Duran shoots in but no luck this time.
Mathiew misses with a head kick.
Mathiew throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Duran shoots in but Mathiew avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mathiew misses with the combination.
Duran thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mathiew if he has to take too many more of those.
Mathiew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mathiew wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duran Duran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathiew throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
A punch combination from Mathiew misses.

Duran gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathiew wants to get back to striking at distance but Duran won't allow it.
Mathiew is trying to break free.
Duran tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mathiew blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mathiew manages to break the clinch.
Mathiew misses with a head kick.
Mathiew swats away the attempt to clinch by Duran.
Mathiew misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Duran moves in looking to clinch but Mathiew pushes him off.
Mathiew tries a head kick but it misses.
Duran is looking to clinch but Mathiew is avoiding it.
Mathiew throws a head kick that misses.
Mathiew throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Duran moves into the clinch.
Mathiew has had enough of the clinch but Duran keeps him there for the moment.
Duran stalling in the clinch.
Mathiew has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Duran has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathiew avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Duran tries to pull guard but Mathiew holds him up against the cage and eventually Duran drops back down to his feet.
Duran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mathiew avoids it.
Mathiew wants to get back to striking at distance but Duran won't allow it.

Mathiew's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zack Mathiew is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mathiew on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Duran. Duran obviously looking to wear him down.
Duran closes the distance and clinches up with Mathiew, looking for a takedown. Duran pushes Mathiew against the cage but Mathiew circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duran tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Duran tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew throws a head kick that misses.
Mathiew misses with a wild combination.
Duran throws a head kick that half lands.
Mathiew finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Duran has a takedown stuffed.
Mathiew misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Duran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Duran shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mathiew as he avoids it easily.
Mathiew throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mathiew dodges the punch combination from Duran.
Mathiew tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathiew stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mathiew wants it to stay on the feet.
Mathiew misses with the combination.
Mathiew lands a leg kick that knocks Duran off balance momentarily.
Mathiew misses with a double jab.
Mathiew attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Duran shoots in looking for a takedown but Mathiew manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Duran's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Duran shoots for a takedown but Mathiew saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mathiew throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mathiew tries to land a front kick but Duran steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Duran fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duran avoids the head kick by Mathiew.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zack Mathiew.
I've got Mathiew 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Mathiew!