PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kleisthenes Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matos
vs
Sawyer

174 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Matos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kleisthenes Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sawyer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matos manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sawyer lands a head kick. Matos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sawyer lands with a slapping head kick.
Matos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sawyer throws an overhand right that lands on Matos's shoulder, as Matos tries to avoid the shot.
Sawyer is looking to clinch.
Matos looks to land a combination but Sawyer avoids it well.
Matos scores with a one two! Sawyer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Matos swinging wildly here.
Sawyer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Sawyer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matos, pushing him back against the cage.
Matos blocking some punches.

Sawyer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A cross from Matos lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sawyer throws a head kick that misses.

Matos has Sawyer up against the cage in a clinch.
Matos has Sawyer pressed against the cage, preventing Sawyer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sawyer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matos smiles and moves away.
Sawyer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matos.
Matos lands a nice hook to Sawyer's body. Sawyer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sawyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sawyer takes one to the chin there.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
Sawyer looks winded!
Matos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A big left from Sawyer misses.
Sawyer throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Matos looks to land a combination but Sawyer avoids it well.
Sawyer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Matos looks to land a combination but Sawyer avoids it well.
Sawyer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matos stuns Sawyer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matos thuds a left hand into Sawyer's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Matos works over Sawyer's head and body with a nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matos misses with a wild combination.
Matos looks to land a combination but Sawyer avoids it well.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Matos crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sawyer - the referee stops the clock and Matos gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sawyer. Matos manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Matos throws a right hand that Sawyer ducks under and follows up with a left that Sawyer also avoids with ease.
Matos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sawyer throws a looping overhand right but Matos ducks down to avoid it.
Matos misses with the combination.
Sloppy strikes from Matos. Those never looked like landing.
Sawyer connects with a high kick.
Sawyer throws a head kick but Matos moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Matos.
Sawyer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sawyer on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos misses with the combination.
Sawyer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matos jabs Sawyer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Matos throws a nice looking combination but Sawyer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sawyer lands with a nice body kick.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.
Matos fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sawyer on the side of the head.
Good exchange - Matos coming out on top.
Matos uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sawyer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Sawyer misses.
Matos throws a one two combo.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.
Sawyer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matos tries to bum rush Sawyer with a series of wild strikes but Sawyer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sawyer tries to clinch up.
Vitor Matos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sawyer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matos.
Matos walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sawyer.
Matos is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sawyer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jab from Matos.
A combination from Matos does no damage.
A head kick from Sawyer lands but Matos takes it in his stride.
Matos blocks a head kick by Sawyer.
Matos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sawyer dives in and grabs Matos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matos pushes down on Sawyer's head and hops out.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sawyer dodges the punch combination from Matos.
Nice body kick there by Sawyer.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Matos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matos throws a nice looking combination but Sawyer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sawyer.
Matos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matos is looking to clinch but Sawyer is avoiding it.
Matos swinging wildly here.
Matos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sawyer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matos just misses with a punch to the body.
Sawyer stalks Matos and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Matos's face. Matos staggers backwards, shaken.
Sawyer with a hook.
Matos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Matos duly obliges.
Both fighters circling a little - Sawyer finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Matos stalks Sawyer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sawyer's face. Sawyer staggers backwards, shaken.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sawyer feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Matos's calf.
Matos throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Matos takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.
Sawyer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matos.
Matos moves away from the strike by Sawyer.
Some wild striking there from Matos.
Sawyer wants to clinch.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vitor Matos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matos misses with a few strikes there.
Matos keeps the fight on the outside.
Matos sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer throws a head kick that misses.
Matos misses with the combination.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawyer pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matos is out of range and Sawyer settles back down.

Matos closes the distance and clinches.
Matos is trying to force a seperation but Sawyer has the dominant position.

Sawyer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sawyer slips a jab and a cross from Matos.
Sawyer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matos thuds a left hand into Sawyer's body.
Some wild striking there from Sawyer.
Matos moves away from the strike by Sawyer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matos misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
Matos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Matos looks to land a right hand but Sawyer moved out of range.
Matos moves in looking to clinch but Sawyer pushes him off.
Sawyer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sawyer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matos swinging wildly here.
Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vitor Matos is winning the standup battle so far.
Matos misses with a double jab.
Sawyer connects with a body shot.
Matos scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sawyer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Matos scrambles back to his feet.

Sawyer tries to keep at a distance but Matos has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sawyer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sawyer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matos throws a series of punches but Sawyer avoids them all with ease.
Sawyer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sawyer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matos feints a jab promting Sawyer to slip. Matos then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sawyer slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Matos thows a left - swing and a miss!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawyer throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Matos.
Sawyer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matos's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Matos duly obliges.
Matos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
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 Vitor Matos will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Sawyer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sawyer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matos throws a right hand that Sawyer ducks under and follows up with a left that Sawyer also avoids with ease.
Sawyer lands a head kick. Matos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Matos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sawyer.
Sloppy strikes from Matos. Those never looked like landing.
Sawyer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
Matos lands a lovely overhand right.
Matos throws a right hand that Sawyer ducks under and follows up with a left that Sawyer also avoids with ease.
Matos avoids the head kick by Sawyer.
Sawyer avoids the head kick by Matos.
Matos sizes up Sawyer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matos swinging wildly here.
Sawyer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Matos.
Nice sprawl there from Matos as Sawyer shoots in.
Sawyer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Matos's head.
Matos bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sawyer's head backwards.
Matos moves out of range of the body kick.
Matos scores with the left hand. Sawyer knows he should have avoided that one.
Matos closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Sawyer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sawyer slips a jab from Matos.
Sawyer tries to clinch up.
Sawyer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sawyer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matos throws a one two combo.

Matos moves into the clinch.

Sawyer breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos throws a series of punches but Sawyer avoids them all with ease.
Matos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Matos throws a right hand that Sawyer ducks under and follows up with a left that Sawyer also avoids with ease.
Sawyer throws a head kick that misses.
Matos slips under a jab.
Sawyer pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matos is out of range and Sawyer settles back down.
Matos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sawyer throws a head kick but Matos moves out of range.
Sawyer works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matos scores with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sawyer tries to clinch but Matos is having none of it.
Matos misses with a series of wild punches.
Matos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sawyer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matos loads up on a big right hand but Sawyer slips the punch.
Sawyer doesn't manage to clinch there - Matos circles away.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.
Sawyer lands a head kick. Matos smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sawyer is looking to land body kicks.
Some wild striking there from Matos.
Sawyer loads up on a big right hand but Matos slips the punch.
Matos avoids the head kick by Sawyer.
Sawyer tries a head kick but it misses.
Matos scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kleisthenes Sawyer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matos scores with a hook to the body. Sawyer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matos lands with a shot to the body.
Sawyer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos stalks Sawyer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sawyer's face. Sawyer staggers backwards, shaken.
Sawyer throws a head kick but Matos moves out of range.
Matos throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Sawyer.
Matos lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Danga de danga de dang - Matos scores with a four punch combination!
Matos misses with a wild combination.
Sawyer misses with a head kick.
Matos lands with a shot to the body.
Sawyer throws a head kick but Matos moves out of range.
Sawyer keeps the fight on the outside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawyer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sawyer throws a head kick that misses.
Sawyer throws a sloppy head kick and Matos moves out of range easily.
Vitor Matos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vitor Matos.
Well Matos 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Matos!