PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Hardy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Matterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hardy comes to the cage accompanied by Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe . Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardy
vs
Matterson

193 cm
24
245 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Hardy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Matterson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hardy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hardy is breathing heavily.
Hardy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matterson's head backwards.

Matterson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hardy on his heels. He'll look to pass Hardy's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Matterson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Matterson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Matterson advances to full mount.
Matterson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Matterson with the ground and pound from mount.
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!
Matterson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You get the feeling that Hardy really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Matterson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matterson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Matterson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Matterson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Matterson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Matterson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Matterson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hardy wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matterson looking to control and managing it successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Matt Matterson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Matterson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hardy's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matterson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hardy wants to stand and escape but Matterson is having none of it.
Matterson content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matt Matterson.
Matterson shoots in for a takedown but Hardy shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matterson fails with a takedown attempt.
Hardy misses with a looping left.
A jab from Hardy misses.

Matterson has managed to clinch.
Matterson wants to take the fight to the mat but Hardy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
James Hardy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Matterson.

Matterson lands a takedown into guard.
Matterson content to stall in guard here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matterson wants to control from the top but Hardy keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Matterson dominated that round.
That's time! Hardy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hardy throws a right and a left that Matterson avoids nicely.
Matterson tries to close the distance and clinch but Hardy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matterson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sloppy strikes from Hardy. Those never looked like landing.

Matterson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hardy sprawls well initially but Matterson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Well, if Matterson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Matterson prevents Hardy from standing back up.
Matterson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matterson slips a nice elbow through Hardy's hands, connecting with Hardy's forehead.
Matterson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matterson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matt Matterson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matterson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matterson controlling the action here.
Hardy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hardy tries to get out of the position.
Hardy has hold of Matterson's hands but Matterson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hardy looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matterson is looking to take a break and control but Hardy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Matterson seems to be working for a kimura but Hardy defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matterson moves into full mount! Hardy won't be happy about that!
Matterson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matterson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hardy kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matterson looking to secure an arm triangle but Hardy defends it well.
Matterson controlling from mount.
Matterson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hardy is squirming around, avoiding Matterson's attempts to control the action.
Matterson controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Matterson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hardy looks a forlorn figure.
Matterson landing shots from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matterson controlling from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matterson lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Matterson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Matterson dives in and grabs Hardy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hardy pushes down on Matterson's head and hops out.
Hardy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Matterson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hardy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Matterson is in Hardy's guard.
Hardy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matterson controls the pace.
Hardy has momentary wrist control but Matterson slips an elbow through the middle.
Matterson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Matterson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matterson passes Hardy's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matterson trying to control from half guard but Hardy is working away.
Matterson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matterson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matterson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hardy is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Matterson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Matterson looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hardy takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hardy is trying to stand up.
Matterson controlling the position easily from mount.
You get the feeling that Hardy really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Matterson is landing with some decent strikes but Hardy is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Matterson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matterson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardy is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Matterson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Matterson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matterson with good strikes from the mount here!
Matterson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hardy is looking to escape.
Matterson with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardy wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hardy is bucking up trying to escape but Matterson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Matt Matterson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matterson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hardy wants to get back to his feet.
Matterson tries to control but Hardy wriggling away.
Hardy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matterson on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matterson controlling the pace for now.
James Hardy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matterson trying to control but Hardy is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Matterson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matterson 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Matterson!
In his post fight interview, Matt Matterson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.