PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Luciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matthews
vs
Luciano

179 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugh Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charlie Luciano!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luciano tries to keep at a distance but Matthews has taken the fight into the clinch.
Luciano lands a nice elbow.

Matthews works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matthews thows a big elbow that misses.
Matthews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Matthews working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matthews is working Luciano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luciano is trying to control the position but Matthews postures up.
Matthews with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matthews trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luciano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matthews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Luciano wants to stand and escape but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matthews stands up over Luciano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Luciano is rocked!
Matthews throws a strike but Luciano rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Luciano is still in real trouble! Can Matthews finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Luciano seems to have recovered his senses.
Matthews tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Matthews kicks Luciano off and gets to his feet.

Matthews shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matthews showed some decent athleticism there.
Matthews 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.
Luciano is looking to improve his position.

Luciano actively working from the bottom here.
Matthews is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Luciano on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matthews lands a nice short elbow.
Matthews scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Luciano looks gassed!
Matthews looks to land a strike but Luciano avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Luciano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matthews is working Luciano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matthews content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Matthews chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews postures up and lands a big shot to Luciano's brow.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Luciano is working an open guard so Matthews takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A clash of legs there as Matthews blocks the low kick.

Matthews clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews has hold of one of Luciano's legs. Luciano is fighting the takedown attempt but Matthews gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Matthews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Matthews throws and elbow that misses. Luciano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matthews's guard. Nice move by Luciano!
Luciano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Matthews tries to strike from the bottom.
Matthews 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.
Matthews is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Matthews stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Matthews misses the jab.
Matthews throws a right hand that Luciano ducks under and follows up with a left that Luciano also avoids with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matthews walks forward, straight into a front kick from Luciano.

Matthews closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matthews lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews works over Luciano with some ground and pound from guard.
Matthews cracks Luciano with a solid left hand.

Matthews stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Matthews darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matthews is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Luciano manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Luciano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthews's guard.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Luciano tries to pass.
Luciano wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Luciano fails to land the takedown.
Matthews swats away the attempt to clinch by Luciano.

Luciano tries to keep at a distance but Matthews has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matthews wants to stall.
Luciano tries to stall but Matthews uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matthews stops a takedown attempt from Luciano.

Matthews lands a takedown into guard.

Luciano working for a triangle but Matthews defends it easily.
Luciano looking for a sweep. Not yet Luciano, not yet.
Matthews throws and elbow that misses. Luciano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matthews's guard. Nice move by Luciano!
Luciano stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
Luciano is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matthews is on top in guard.
Matthews working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Matthews makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Luciano wants to sweep but no luck.
Matthews throws and elbow that misses. Luciano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matthews's guard. Nice move by Luciano!
Luciano wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Luciano slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews tries to get to full guard but Luciano has control of the leg.
Luciano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matthews knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Matthews on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Matthews tries to get out of the position.
Matthews misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Matthews is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Matthews kicks off Luciano and gets to his feet.

Matthews darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Matthews drops an elbow to the side of Luciano's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Matthews there.
Luciano is trying to stand.
Luciano is trying to control but can't.
Matthews throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Matthews looks to land a strike but Luciano avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matthews accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Luciano scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Matthews closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Matthews working the ground and pound but Luciano is defending the strikes.
Matthews working the ground and pound but Luciano is defending the strikes.
Luciano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano wants to control but Matthews postures up.
Matthews cracks Luciano with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Matthews misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Matthews in side control lands a decent elbow.
Matthews landing strikes.
Matthews works to advance to full mount. Luciano defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Matthews working the ground and pound effectively.
Luciano is in a horrible position here. Matthews smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Matthews lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Luciano hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Matthews drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matthews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Luciano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Luciano has momentary wrist control but Matthews slips an elbow through the middle.
Matthews cracks Luciano with a solid left hand.
Luciano trying to control the position.
Matthews working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Matthews stands up and waves to Luciano to follow him.
A punch combination from Luciano misses.

Luciano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Matthews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luciano can do to turn this around?
Matthews thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano is looking to stand up but Matthews isn't so interested in that idea.

Matthews decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Luciano shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense.
Luciano wants to clinch.
Hugh Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews shoots in but no luck this time.

Matthews closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Luciano to the mat! Luciano manages to get full guard.
Luciano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthews's guard.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hugh Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luciano manages to get himself to full guard.
Matthews connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Luciano wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Matthews decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck for Luciano with that takedown attempt.

Matthews shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matthews showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews passes to full mount!
Luciano sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Luciano wants to control but Matthews is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano won't allow Matthews to pass to mount.
Luciano is pressing down on Matthews's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luciano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matthews passes Luciano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Luciano wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
Luciano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Matthews missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matthews wanted to stand there but Luciano had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Luciano looking to control.
Matthews tries to free his leg and advance position but Luciano is retaining full guard.
Matthews trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luciano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matthews manages to get himself to full guard.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luciano manages to get himself to full guard.
Luciano looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Luciano is keeping the position.
Luciano 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Matthews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matthews, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

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