PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Fofana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emmanuel Fofana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fofana
vs
Mathews

172 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
143 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

AnonymouS
Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Emmanuel Fofana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Mathews!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fofana gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fofana throws a right hand that Mathews ducks under and follows up with a left that Mathews also avoids with ease.
Mathews throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fofana counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mathews throws a jab when Fofana was well out of range.
Fofana ducks right into an uppercut from Mathews.
A head kick misses from Fofana.

Mathews gets tackled into the cage by Fofana. Fofana maintains the clinch.
Fofana tries to land knees in the clinch but Mathews avoids the damage to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Fofana.
Fofana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Fofana with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Fofana fails to land.
Fofana tries to land a knee to the head but Mathews blocks with his arms.

Fofana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mathews throws out a powerful jab.
A jab from Fofana misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Mathews.
Fofana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fofana darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fofana staying out of range there.
Mathews misses with a straight right.
Fofana wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mathews throws out a loose jab but Fofana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mathews tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fofana was well out of range. Poor timing from Mathews.
Mathews jabs Fofana right on the nose. Fofana blinks but takes it well.
Fofana throws a head kick but Mathews moves out of range.
A jab from Mathews does it's job there.
Fofana pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fofana throws a leg kick but Mathews checks it.
Fofana tries to clinch but Mathews moves out of range.
Fofana slips a straight right by Mathews.
Fofana tries to clinch up but Mathews circles away and keeps his distance.
A leg kick checked by Mathews.
Fofana lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathews misses with a series of wild punches.
Fofana checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mathews connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fofana's hands.
Fofana tries to clinch but Mathews is having none of it.
Fofana getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Both fighters circling a little - Fofana finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mathews throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fofana throws a wild body kick that Mathews sees coming a mile off.
Mathews misses with a hook.
Fofana throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mathews scores with a jab to the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Fofana lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mathews has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mathews and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Fofana doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathews circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fofana.
Mathews moves out of range of the body kick from Fofana.
Fofana keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews throws a right and a left that Fofana avoids nicely.
Fofana throws a big counter combination but Mathews scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fofana with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mathews works Fofana's body with a nice hook.
Fofana moves out of range of the strikes.
Fofana throws a big counter combination but Mathews scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mathews works over Fofana's head and body with a nice combination.
Fofana fakes the leg kick and cracks Mathews in the body.
Fofana looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Brian Mathews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fofana displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mathews throws out the jab.
Fofana doesn't manage to clinch there - Mathews circles away.
Fofana changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fofana bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slow jab from Mathews misses its intended target.
Fofana slips a jab from Mathews.
Mathews misses with a hook.
Mathews misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mathews moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mathews looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mathews takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fofana misses with a two punch combination.
Mathews lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Fofana misses with a kick to the body
and Mathews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fofana misses with a body shot.
Mathews is looking for the big counter here.

Fofana closes the distance and clinches.
Mathews blocks an uppercut.
Fofana prevents a body shot from Mathews.
A right hook to the body lands for Fofana.
Fofana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mathews managing to block the knees to the body from Fofana.
Fofana misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Emmanuel Fofana will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Fofana lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mathews has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mathews and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mathews thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mathews blocks a low kick nicely.
Fofana defending well as Mathews loads up on a big left hand.
Fofana is looking to clinch but Mathews is avoiding it.
Mathews lands a jab.
Mathews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mathews throws a right and a left that Fofana avoids nicely.
Nice body punch from Mathews.
Fofana throws the kick towards the body but Mathews avoids it.
Mathews lands a head shot.
Brian Mathews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fofana lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathews throws a jab but it's blocked by Fofana.
Fofana seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fofana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mathews.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fofana checks a leg kick.
Mathews misses with a hook. Fofana ducked under it nicely.
Mathews blocks a head kick by Fofana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fofana lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fofana scoring well with a low kick there.
Fofana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mathews swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mathews throws a body shot but no joy.
Mathews moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mathews tries to clinch up.
Mathews dodges the punch combination from Fofana.
Mathews swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Fofana gets a clinch.
Fofana slowing the pace effectively.
Mathews tries a body shot but Fofana blocks it.
Fofana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mathews is defending well for now.
Fofana lands a nice knee to the body.
Fofana prevents a body shot from Mathews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fofana putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mathews in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mathews is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fofana tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fofana throws an elbow that misses.
Fofana lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Mathews or not.
Emmanuel Fofana has scored more points in the clinch so far.
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!
Fofana pressing his opponent against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fofana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mathews wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews avoids the elbow strike from Fofana, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Fofana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fofana lands a hook that snaps the head of Mathews backwards.
Mathews misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mathews blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fofana lands a right hand.
Mathews managing to block the knees to the body from Fofana.
Fofana working Mathews over with knees to the body.
Fofana tries to land knees in the clinch but Mathews avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews misses with a punch to the body.
Mathews managing to block the knees to the body from Fofana.
Fofana creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mathews's defenses.
Fofana avoiding damage.
Fofana lands an elbow inside.
Mathews dodges an elbow strike from Fofana.
Fofana misses with an elbow strike.
Mathews blocks a body shot from Fofana.
Fofana tries to land a knee to the head but Mathews blocks with his arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fofana tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Fofana dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Fofana scores with a head kick.
A shot to the liver by Mathews. Beautiful body shot.
Fofana looks for the body kick but Mathews saw that one coming.
Fofana turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Mathews.
Mathews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fofana wants to clinch but Mathews slips to the side
and Mathews counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fofana thinking.
Mathews scores with a nice right hand.
Jab, jab by Mathews - just one landing.
A combination from Fofana does no damage.
Mathews lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fofana.
Fofana wants to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mathews throws the left hand but Fofana avoids the punch easily.
Emmanuel Fofana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathews scores with the left hand. Fofana knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews misses with a looping right.
Fofana takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fofana wants to clinch
and Fofana takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Mathews gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fofana can't find room to land a body shot as Mathews controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mathews tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fofana's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fofana lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fofana misses with a punch on the inside.
Mathews tries a body shot but Fofana blocks it.
Mathews managing to block the knees to the body from Fofana.
Fofana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mathews.
Fofana slows down the pace here.
Fofana missing with knees to the body.
Mathews tries to throw a body punch but Fofana avoids it by throwing Mathews back against the cage.
Fofana tries to throw a body punch but Mathews avoids it by throwing Fofana back against the cage.
Mathews doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fofana manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mathews has had enough of the clinch but Fofana keeps him there for the moment.
Fofana tries to land knees in the clinch but Mathews avoids the damage to the body.
Fofana trying to land knees to the body.
Mathews lands with a right to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fofana obliges.
Mathews tries to work over Fofana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fofana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Brian Mathews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fofana misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mathews.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is trying to break the clinch but Fofana has him pressed against the cage.
Fofana lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mathews has had enough of the clinch but Fofana keeps him there for the moment.

Fofana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fofana throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mathews.
Mathews throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mathews checks a leg kick nicely.
Fofana throws a combination that misses
enabling Mathews to counter with a crisp jab.
Fofana throws a head kick that Mathews semi-blocks.
Mathews misses with a straight right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mathews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mathews throws a solid leg kick but Fofana takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mathews.
Fofana falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mathews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Mathews.
I think Fofana has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Emmanuel Fofana!