PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bj Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn has chosen BJ Penn as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matthews
vs
Penn

175 cm
29
140 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

175 cm
30
148 lbs
24 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bj Penn!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn misses with a hook. Matthews ducked under it nicely.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Penn takes a jab right on the kisser.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Matthews.
Penn's corner calls for a 1-2. Penn obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matthews!
Penn walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Penn takes a jab right on the kisser.
Matthews misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut lands for Penn. That snapped Matthews's head back.
Matthews lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to the body from Penn misses
and Matthews counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn throws a shot from downtown. Matthews moves away and avoids it.
Penn takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Penn misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews misses with a straight right.
Matthews misses with the combination.
Matthews cracks a nice hook into Penn's ribs.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matthews darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bj Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews throws a jab when Penn was well out of range.
Matthews throws a hook but Penn blocks it.
Penn takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Matthews.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Matthews takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Penn misses with a hook to the body
and Matthews counters with a one-two to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Penn looks for the body kick but Matthews saw that one coming.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Matthews keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Penn misses with a low kick.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
A combination from Matthews does no damage.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matthews counters with a stiff right hand.
Penn uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Matthews has time to react.
Penn swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews throws a looping overhand right but Penn ducks down to avoid it.
Matthews is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Penn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Penn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matthews.
Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Penn.
Matthews misses with a double jab.
Penn lands a jab.
Matthews throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Matthews takes one to the chin there.
Matthews takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matthews fails to land with a series of punches.
Penn throws a looping overhand right but Matthews ducks down to avoid it.
Penn throws a push kick but Matthews slaps the foot to one side.
Penn stuns Matthews with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Penn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews needs to keep his hands up - Penn had a free shot at his head there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews throws a right and a left that both miss.
Penn scores with a jab to the head.
Penn scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Matthews will probably get the nod.
That's time! Matthews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matthews misses with a wild combination.
Penn misses with a shot to the body
and Matthews counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matthews on the side of the head.
Matthews works the jab nicely.
Penn throws a hook but Matthews blocks it.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Penn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Penn lands a right hook to the body.
Penn lands a nice hook to Matthews's body. Matthews takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Penn lands a jab to Matthews's midsection.
Matthews misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matthews counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Penn just misses with a punch to the body.
Penn fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matthews on the side of the head.
Matthews misses with a straight right.
Penn clobbers Matthews with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.
Penn misses with a hook.
Matthews scores with a punch to the head.
A big right from Matthews misses.
Matthews uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Penn has time to react.
Penn scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Penn steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matthews.
Matthews is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Penn misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penn. Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matthews scores with a crisp jab that stopped Penn in his tracks.
Matthews takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn throws out a leg kick but Matthews moves out of range and Penn only half commits.
Penn misses with a hook.
Penn misses with a hook
and Matthews counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Matthews thows a body shot but no joy.
Penn lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Penn slips under a jab.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Penn scores with a hook to the body. Matthews takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice defenses there by Matthews.
Matthews just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Penn scores with the left hand. Matthews knows he should have avoided that one.
Michael Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.
Penn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Penn lands with a good body shot.
Penn darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Penn coming out on top.
Matthews throws a looping overhand right but Penn ducks down to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
Nice cross by Penn.
Penn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Penn throws a leg kick that misses.
A big left from Penn misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matthews.
Penn throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Penn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Penn manages to avoid it.
Penn looks to land a right hand but Matthews moved out of range.
Matthews throws a hook to the side of Penn's head but Penn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matthews sizes up Penn with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Penn misses with a hook.
Matthews scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Penn punishes Matthews's body with a nice straight punch.
Matthews tries to bum rush Penn with a series of wild strikes but Penn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matthews throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Penn fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matthews has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Penn throws a poor cross that misses
and Matthews counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a hook.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Penn looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Penn finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Penn throws out a powerful jab.
Penn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Penn lands a slapping body shot.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Penn cracks Matthews with a good jab.
Penn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but Penn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Matthews throws the left hand but Penn avoids the punch easily.
Matthews waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Penn.
Michael Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn drops his hands momentarily and Matthews takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Matthews connects with a jab.
Matthews bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A left lands for Matthews.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Matthews.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a jab.
Matthews throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Penn scores with a nice strike.
Penn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Penn misses with a straight right.
Penn moves out of range of the strikes.
Penn throws a looping overhand right but Matthews ducks down to avoid it.
Penn throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Penn.
Penn misses the shot to the body.
Penn has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn ducks right into an uppercut from Matthews.
Penn throws a chopping leg kick but Matthews manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matthews throws a hook but Penn blocks it.
Matthews uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matthews throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matthews lands a nice hook to Penn's body. Penn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Penn.
Some bone on bone action there as Matthews checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matthews has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Matthews!
Michael Matthews decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.