PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Moon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Moon's choice of entrance music: Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix. Matthew King looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

King
vs
Moon

190 cm
23
257 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

212 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matthew King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eric Moon!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Moon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Moon is looking to slow King down with leg kicks.
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Moon circles away quickly and effectively.
Moon shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense.
King shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moon as he avoids it easily.

Moon has King up against the cage in a clinch.

King turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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.
Moon tries to improve position but can't.
Moon tries to escape but King is in control.
Moon defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moon tries to improve position but can't.
Moon sneaks back into half guard.
Moon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of King's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take King's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
King is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Moon's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
I would not like to be King right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moon misses with an elbow to the head.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

King is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Moon gets his way!
King might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Moon somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King just trying to survive but Moon is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Moon trying to control.
King turns into Moon and is now in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moon working a defensive guard here.
Moon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for King!
Poor strikes thrown by Moon there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moon working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
King is squirming around, avoiding Moon's attempts to control the action.
King holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Moon tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Moon dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A slapping body kick lands there for Moon.
Moon blocks a head kick by King.
Moon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've been told by King's head coaches at Cozad The Island that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Moon connects with an inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by King or perhaps it was just good defense by Moon which made him look bad.
Moon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Moon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt King.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Moon takes the fight into the clinch.
King stops a takedown attempt from Moon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to pull guard but Moon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moon can't get the takedown.

Moon decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Moon looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Moon trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Moon working a defensive guard here.
Moon controlling King's posture.
Moon keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moon managing to control the position.
King throwing strikes from guard but Moon blocks nicely.

Eric Moon has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Moon has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.

Moon breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King gets tackled into the cage by Moon. Moon maintains the clinch.
Moon looking for a takedown.

Moon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Moon on that attempt.
A low kick from King is predictable there
and Moon counters with an outside leg kick.
King scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
King is looking to clinch but Moon is avoiding it.
Moon tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
Moon fails with the takedown.
King throws a solid leg kick but Moon takes the impact on his shin and smiles at King.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moon checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
King will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moon but Moon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
King tries to score a power double leg takedown but Moon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten King somewhat.

Moon pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Moon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Moon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fight stays on the outside here - Moon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Moon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but King avoids it really well and circles away.
Moon tries for a takedown but King sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Moon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matthew King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Moon.
King swings and misses with a hook to the body.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Moon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Moon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moon jumps guard but King stands there with Moon around his waist. Moon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King pulls guard effortlessly.
Moon trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Moon is looking to stand up but King won't let him.
Moon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King is keeping the position for now.
King working a defensive guard here.
Moon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moon won't allow King to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from King as Moon shoots in.
Moon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King wants to clinch up but Moon keeps it at a distance.
Moon tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Moon. No joy for King on that attempt.
Moon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice sprawl there from Moon as King shoots in.
King shoots in and drives through. Moon sprawls well.
Moon tries to score a power double leg takedown but King sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moon somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King leaves Moon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Moon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Moon misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
King keeps the fight on the outside.
King misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Moon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moon misses with an uppercut. King saw that one coming.
King sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
King tries to clinch but Moon moves out of range.
King avoids the head kick by Moon.
King swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Moon shoots and misses

and King counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moon tries to buck King off but King is having none of it.
Moon tries to escape but King is in control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moon is looking for a sweep.
Matthew King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eric Moon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
King advances to full mount.

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 Matthew King.
Well Moon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

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