PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Makoto Heng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morton Marshall Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Heng comes to the cage accompanied by RAWR. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Heng
vs
Marshall Matthews

175 cm
29
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
39
152 lbs
26 - 24 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Makoto Heng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Morton Marshall Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marshall Matthews closes the distance and clinches.
Heng letting Marshall Matthews take a breather here.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heng misses with a body shot.

Heng instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Heng - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A short uppercut from Marshall Matthews.
Heng with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Heng.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
We've been hearing reports that Heng has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Heng tries to circle away but Marshall Matthews has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heng wants to break the clinch but can't.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marshall Matthews misses with a double jab.
Heng wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Heng scores with a jab.

Heng moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Marshall Matthews scores with a nice short uppercut.

Heng breaks the clinch.

Marshall Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Heng has taken the fight into the clinch.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Heng moves into the clinch.
Heng gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Marshall Matthews - that landed with a thud.
Heng's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Heng creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Heng missing with knees to the body.
Heng misses with an elbow strike.
Heng letting Marshall Matthews take a breather here.
Marshall Matthews missing with knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews has Heng pressed against the cage, preventing Heng from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heng blocks it with crossed arms.
Heng is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Heng with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heng throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Marshall Matthews on the side of the head.
Marshall Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Heng.
Marshall Matthews looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Heng moves into the clinch.

Marshall Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Marshall Matthews does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Marshall Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Heng has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marshall Matthews has Heng pressed against the cage, preventing Heng from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Marshall Matthews scores a nice knee to the body.
Heng is trying to force a seperation but Marshall Matthews has the dominant position.
Heng tries to circle away but Marshall Matthews has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makoto Heng is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marshall Matthews fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Heng's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Heng duly obliges.
Heng swats away the attempt to clinch by Marshall Matthews.
Heng's corner calls for a 1-2. Heng obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Marshall Matthews has a takedown stuffed.
Marshall Matthews uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Heng.
Marshall Matthews will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Makoto Heng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morton Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Heng swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heng clinches up against the cage.
Marshall Matthews doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Heng is stalling here.
Marshall Matthews lands an elbow just above Heng 's eye.
Marshall Matthews dodges an elbow strike from Heng.
Heng is looking to break free of the clinch but Marshall Matthews has double underhooks.

Heng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Marshall Matthews tries to keep at a distance but Heng has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marshall Matthews utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Marshall Matthews just misses with a elbow thrown towards Heng's brow.
Heng is looking to break free of the clinch but Marshall Matthews has double underhooks.
Marshall Matthews tries to work over Heng's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Heng misses with a knee strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makoto Heng dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Heng clinches up with Marshall Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Heng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews cracks Heng with a nice body shot.

Marshall Matthews escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marshall Matthews wants to clinch up but Heng keeps it at a distance.

Heng has Marshall Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
Heng lands a body punch in the clinch.
Marshall Matthews managing to block the knees to the body from Heng.
Heng looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall Matthews lands a body shot.
Heng avoiding damage as Marshall Matthews throws knees to the body.
Heng misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marshall Matthews avoids a wild elbow strike from Heng.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Makoto Heng is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Heng moves into range and clinches up with Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews lands an elbow inside.
A short body shot lands from Marshall Matthews as the two fighters clinch.

Marshall Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Marshall Matthews fails with a takedown attempt.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch there but Heng circles away.

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

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch.
Marshall Matthews misses with the combination.

Heng takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Marshall Matthews.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Heng gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Marshall Matthews blocks the elbow strike.
Marshall Matthews landing knees to the body.
Marshall Matthews tries to break the clinch but Heng is controlling the position.
Marshall Matthews throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Makoto Heng has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Heng tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Heng tries to break free but Marshall Matthews pushes him back against the cage.
Heng stalling in the clinch but Marshall Matthews improves position.
Marshall Matthews'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.
Heng tries a body shot but Marshall Matthews blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heng has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Marshall Matthews lands a damaging elbow.
Heng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Marshall Matthews lands a damaging elbow.

Heng's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marshall Matthews throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hengs head.
Heng misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heng wants to break the clinch but can't.
Marshall Matthews wants to stall.
Heng tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Heng lands an elbow inside.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Heng instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall Matthews is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heng is defending well for now.
Heng is pushing Marshall Matthews up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Heng obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.
Heng tries to circle away but Marshall Matthews has him pinned against the cage.

Marshall Matthews manages to break the clinch.
Marshall Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Marshall Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Marshall Matthews connects with an inside leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Heng 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 Marshall Matthews has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Marshall Matthews and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Morton Marshall Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marshall Matthews shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Heng as he avoids it easily.

Heng clinches up with Marshall Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Marshall Matthews with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Heng throws an elbow but misses.
Heng wants to break the clinch but can't.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Marshall Matthews as Heng tries to tie him up.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Heng at a distance.

Heng pushes Marshall Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heng is trying to break free.
Heng is looking to control Marshall Matthews's arms but Marshall Matthews gets an underhook and turns him. Now Heng has his back to the cage.
Heng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Marshall Matthews misses with a takedown attempt - Heng sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heng looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshall Matthews is just out of range.
Marshall Matthews tries to close the distance and clinch but Heng swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marshall Matthews.
Makoto Heng has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morton Marshall Matthews.
Heng throws out a leg kick but Marshall Matthews moves out of range and Heng only half commits.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makoto Heng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Marshall Matthews lands.
Marshall Matthews fails with an attempt to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Heng misses the target.

Heng closes the distance and clinches.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Left hook, right uppercut from Marshall Matthews.
Marshall Matthews throws a front kick that sends Heng stumbling back into the cage.
Heng rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Marshall Matthews counters with a left and a right that stings Heng.

That's two 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!
Marshall Matthews ducks under a wild hook from Heng.

Heng clinches with his opponent.
Heng has had enough of the clinch but Marshall Matthews keeps him there for the moment.
Marshall Matthews stalls.
Marshall Matthews effectively controlling the action here.
Heng wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Marshall Matthews breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up.
Marshall Matthews is trying hard to land a takedown here. Heng sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Heng closes the distance and pushes Marshall Matthews back into the cage.
Heng looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Heng is trying to maintain a safe position but Marshall Matthews gets an underhook and turns Heng into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Marshall Matthews as Heng tries to tie him up.
Marshall Matthews tries to land a knee to the head but Heng blocks with his arms.
Marshall Matthews prevents Heng from breaking the clinch.

Marshall Matthews pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Marshall Matthews clinches with his opponent.
Marshall Matthews tries to land a knee to the head but Heng blocks with his arms.
Heng wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Marshall Matthews taking a breather.
Heng throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Marshall Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.

Heng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Heng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall Matthews shoots in for a takedown but Heng shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Marshall Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heng lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Heng gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Heng is trying to break the clinch but Marshall Matthews is controlling him.

Marshall Matthews breaks from the clinch.

Marshall Matthews pushes Heng up against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall Matthews lands a knee to the body.
Heng is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Marshall Matthews is keeping busy.
Marshall Matthews lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heng is trying to break the clinch but Marshall Matthews has him pressed against the cage.
Heng can't break the clinch.
Heng missing with knees to the body.
Heng tries to land knees in the clinch but Marshall Matthews avoids the damage to the body.

Marshall Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morton Marshall Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marshall Matthews has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Morton Marshall Matthews!
Morton Marshall Matthews seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.