PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Edoardo Bertolone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Mataiya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mataiya has chosen Metalingus - Alter Bridge as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bertolone
vs
Mataiya

170 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Edoardo Bertolone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Mataiya!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bertolone avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bertolone throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Mataiya counters with a good low kick that Bertolone was not able to check.
Bertolone tries for a takedown but Mataiya circles away easily

and Mataiya holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mataiya lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mataiya with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mataiya lands a nice knee to the body.
Mataiya is leaning against Bertolone and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bertolone tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mataiya landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Bertolone changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mataiya fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edoardo Bertolone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mataiya moves into the clinch.
Mataiya scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Mataiya.
Bertolone drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mataiya connects with a knee to the head.
Mataiya stops a takedown attempt from Bertolone.

Mataiya drags the fight down to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bertolone trying to control the position from guard on top but Mataiya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mataiya is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mataiya wants to stand and escape but Bertolone is having none of it.
Bertolone keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mataiya's head.
Bertolone connects with a couple of short punches.

Mataiya has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bertolone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bertolone trying to control but Mataiya is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertolone scoring with some ground and pound.
Mataiya wants to sweep here but Bertolone controlling him for the moment.
Mataiya controls Bertolone momentarily but Bertolone frees himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mataiya manages to escape and get back to his feet.
No joy there for Mataiya, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mataiya thumps Bertolone with a low kick.
Bertolone shoots in looking for a takedown but Mataiya manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bertolone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bertolone tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mataiya is able to avoid easily.
Bertolone with a poor takedown
and Mataiya makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mataiya throws a low kick but Bertolone avoids it.
Mataiya fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bertolone manages to avoid it.
Bertolone throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bertolone misses with a body kick.
Bertolone with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mataiya counters with a slapping leg kick.
Jab from Bertolone.
Bertolone uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mataiya.
Bertolone shoots and misses

so Mataiya counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mataiya looking to sit in guard and control but Bertolone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bertolone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mataiya is looking to stand up but Bertolone isn't so interested in that idea.
Mataiya keeping moving, preventing Bertolone from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mataiya is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bertolone cracks Mataiya with a solid left hand.
Mataiya seems keen to control Bertolone's posture.
Mataiya keeping moving, preventing Bertolone from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertolone won't allow Mataiya to get back to his feet.
Bertolone stands up over Mataiya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bertolone is in close to Mataiya's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Mataiya dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bertolone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bertolone has his takedown stuffed
and Mataiya counters with a nice body shot.
Edoardo Bertolone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mataiya swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bertolone with a poor takedown

and Mataiya counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edoardo Bertolone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mataiya lands a nice knee to the body.

Mataiya breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bertolone is defended easily by Mataiya.
Mataiya misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mataiya is looking to chop away at Bertolone's legs.
Bertolone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mataiya moves away.
Bertolone misses with a takedown attempt

and Mataiya moves into the clinch.
Mataiya unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bertolone lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Mataiya landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mataiya connects with a knee to the head.
Bertolone tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bertolone takes a knee right on the jaw!
Mataiya landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Mataiya has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bertolone uses from the top position.
Mataiya looking for a sweep. Not yet Mataiya, not yet.
Bertolone chips away with some ground and pound.
Bertolone content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertolone wants to control from the top but Mataiya keeps moving.
Bertolone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bertolone wants to control from the top but Mataiya keeps moving.
Bertolone 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mataiya wants to sweep but no luck.
Bertolone distracts Mataiya with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bertolone trying to control but Mataiya is working from the bottom.
Mataiya pulls Bertolone in close to prevent any damage.
Bertolone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bertolone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bertolone scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bertolone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mataiya has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bertolone has managed to get both his arms back between Mataiya's legs - danger averted.
Mataiya is breathing heavily.
Bertolone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mataiya's head.
Edoardo Bertolone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bertolone scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bertolone is working Mataiya over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bertolone trying to control but Mataiya is working from the bottom.
Mataiya throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bertolone landing with the ground and pound.

Bertolone is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mataiya keeping moving, preventing Bertolone from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mataiya is looking to stand up but Bertolone isn't so interested in that idea.
Mataiya looking for a sweep. Not yet Mataiya, not yet.
Mataiya keeping moving, preventing Bertolone from controlling successfully.
Mataiya wants to sweep here but Bertolone controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Edoardo Bertolone just wasn't active enough.
Bertolone with a poor takedown
and Mataiya counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Edoardo Bertolone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bertolone has his takedown stuffed
and Mataiya counters with an inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertolone ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Edoardo Bertolone will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Bertolone or perhaps it was just good defense by Mataiya which made him look bad.
Bertolone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mataiya makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bertolone really felt that one!
Bertolone has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mataiya.
Bertolone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mataiya pinned against the cage. Mataiya gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edoardo Bertolone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mataiya connects with an inside leg kick.
Mataiya scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice takedown defense from Mataiya. No joy for Bertolone on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertolone looks for a takedown but Mataiya sprawls well.
Bertolone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mataiya is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bertolone rather than just go for the knockout.
Bertolone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bertolone shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mataiya counters with a nice leg kick.
Mataiya lands a nice looking body shot.
Mataiya fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bertolone manages to avoid it.
Bertolone with a poor takedown

and Mataiya counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mataiya is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mataiya content just to control the position here.

Mataiya has control of Bertolone's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bertolone regains control of the situation pretty easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bertolone tries to reverse the position but Mataiya maintains control.
Mataiya wants to take Bertolone's back here but Bertolone is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Bertolone working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mataiya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bertolone. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bertolone tries to hold on but Mataiya postures up.
Mataiya can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bertolone is looking to escape.

Mataiya swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bertolone is now in Mataiya's guard. A big mistake from Mataiya there, giving up the dominant position!

Bertolone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mataiya is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertolone scoring with some ground and pound.
Mataiya looking for a sweep. Not yet Mataiya, not yet.

Bertolone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bertolone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bertolone is stalling in the full guard.
Bertolone lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mataiya is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bertolone with a nice head shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bertolone stopping the sweep attempt from Mataiya.
Mataiya throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Mataiya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mataiya 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Mataiya!