PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mitrione Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nakamora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitrione Matthews has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Matthews
vs
Nakamora

167 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mitrione 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, Hiro Nakamora!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nakamora tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nakamora tries for a takedown but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Nakamora with that takedown attempt.
Nakamora shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matthews pinned against the cage. Matthews gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mitrione Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Nakamora.
Matthews throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Hiro Nakamora has been cut.
Nakamora showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matthews.
Nakamora has a takedown stuffed.
Nakamora tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matthews swivels and escapes.

Matthews darts in and clinches Nakamora up against the cage.
Nakamora keeps control of Matthews as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Nakamora pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamora keeps the fight on the outside.

Nakamora rushes Matthews and presses him up against the cage.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamora avoids the head kick by Matthews.

Nakamora bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Matthews is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nakamora asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Nakamora trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is pushing Nakamora's head away, looking to escape. Nakamora manages to hold on to the position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Nakamora or perhaps it was just good defense by Matthews which made him look bad.
Matthews tries to clinch up

so Nakamora counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Nakamora thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nakamora drops back looking for a leg! Matthews is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matthews manages to kick Nakamora off! Nakamora jumps back into Matthews's guard.
Nakamora trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nakamora throws a big right hand that misses.

Matthews manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nakamora moves out of range of the body kick.
Nakamora misses with a head kick.

Nakamora rushes Matthews and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Matthews lands a jab-cross combination.

Matthews gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Nakamora breaks from the clinch.

Nakamora darts in and clinches Matthews up against the cage.
Matthews fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matthews gets underhooks to prevent Nakamora's takedown attempt.
Matthews displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nakamora up against the cage.
Matthews lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nakamora backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a punch but it's blocked by Nakamora.
Matthews prevents the takedown attempt.
Nakamora is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Matthews pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Matthews can't break the clinch.
Matthews wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nakamora has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Matthews darts in and clinches Nakamora up against the cage.
Nakamora has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matthews is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nakamora tries for a takedown. No joy.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matthews.
Nakamora's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakamora keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nakamora gets the takedown into side control.
Matthews tries to escape but Nakamora is in control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nakamora is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matthews's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hiro Nakamora will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hiro Nakamora's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matthews tries to clinch up.
Nakamora misses with a takedown attempt - Matthews sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matthews stuffs the takedown.
Matthews darts in trying to clinch

and Nakamora counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Matthews!

Nakamora is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Matthews has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Matthews!

Nakamora looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Matthews wants to get up but he can't break Nakamora's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Matthews knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nakamora on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamora has his foot on Matthews's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matthews works his way back into a safe position though.
Matthews has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nakamora is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nakamora had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Matthews is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Nakamora Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Matthews's back instead.
Matthews looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nakamora.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamora lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Matthews is trying to get back to his feet but Nakamora has full control of the position and if anything, Matthews has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Nakamora scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Matthews prevents Nakamora from getting a body triangle.
Nakamora lands strikes to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews holding both Nakamora 's hands and preventing any damage.
Nakamora slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Nakamora is looking to control Matthews but Matthews is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Hiro Nakamora has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matthews is trying to get back to his feet but Nakamora has full control of the position and if anything, Matthews has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Nakamora controlling the position well here. Matthews rolled but Nakamora kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Matthews defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nakamora's arms.
Matthews is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamora is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Nakamora has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Matthews has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Matthews looking very determined here, making life difficult for Nakamora.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamora softening up his opponent with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Nakamora showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hiro Nakamora's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamora scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamora seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nakamora seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matthews does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Nakamora seems to be working for a kimura but Matthews defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamora wants to take a breather but Matthews is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matthews is looking to escape.
Nakamora keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Matthews tries to kick Nakamora off but Nakamora keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamora uses his free foot to push down on Matthews's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Matthews.
Matthews's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nakamora working the ground and pound effectively.
Nakamora controlling from the full mount.
Nakamora can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Hiro Nakamora just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matthews connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matthews scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Nakamora closes the distance and clinches.
Nakamora tries to pull guard but Matthews holds him up against the cage and eventually Nakamora drops back down to his feet.
Matthews prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mitrione Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hiro Nakamora.

Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamora tries for a takedown but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nakamora on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Matthews works over Nakamora's head and body with a nice combination.
Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Nakamora swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nakamora gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throws a head punch that misses.
Matthews is pressed up against the cage. Nakamora has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Matthews down to the mat. Matthews avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Matthews. No joy for Nakamora on that attempt.
Mitrione Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthews lands a nice looking kick to the body. Nakamora takes a step back to recover.
Nakamora changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to avoid it but Nakamora manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthews to the ground. Matthews escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Nakamora drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nakamora prevents Matthews from escaping the position.
Nakamora trying to control the action but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews tries to escape but Nakamora is in control.
Mitrione Matthews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakamora controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nakamora has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hiro Nakamora is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nakamora wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matthews keeps working.
Nakamora working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matthews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamora.

Nakamora looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Matthews is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Nakamora comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nakamora 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Nakamora!