PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh McRoberts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Matthews (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.

McRoberts
vs
Matthews

190 cm
40
265 lbs
22 - 20 - 1

195 cm
33
263 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 22 - 20 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh McRoberts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McRoberts shoots in and drives through. Matthews sprawls well.

Matthews shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McRoberts is trying to get back to full guard.

Matthews is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McRoberts doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matthews.
Matthews looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McRoberts with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Matthews missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McRoberts taking some punishment here, with Matthews in his half guard.
Matthews throwing shots but McRoberts is blocking nicely.
Matthews slips a nice elbow through McRoberts's hands, connecting with McRoberts's forehead.

McRoberts actively working from the bottom here.
McRoberts is looking for a sweep. Matthews is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matthews trying to pass the guard but McRoberts defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Matthews wants to lay and pray for a moment but McRoberts keeps working.

McRoberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
McRoberts trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.
McRoberts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McRoberts is working hard here to advance position.
Matthews seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McRoberts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matthews might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McRoberts haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matthews lands with a punch from half guard.
Matthews wants to control but McRoberts is keeping him busy.

McRoberts actively working from the bottom here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Matthews in particular looking to stall.
Matthews works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McRoberts struggling a bit here.
McRoberts is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Matthews tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
McRoberts is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRoberts regains half guard.
Matthews passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on McRoberts's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Matthews is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McRoberts will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Matthews lands an elbow.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matthews wants to control but McRoberts is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McRoberts is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Matthews is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McRoberts knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Matthews wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McRoberts, who protects the arm well.
Matthews looks up at the clock and then as McRoberts takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matthews smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
McRoberts wants to control but Matthews postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matthews advances nicely into full mount.
McRoberts is squirming around, avoiding Matthews's attempts to control the action.
McRoberts is bucking up trying to escape but Matthews cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Matthews dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matthews looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A combination from McRoberts does no damage.
Matthews cracks the inside of McRoberts's front leg.
McRoberts dives in for a single leg takedown but Matthews sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Josh McRoberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McRoberts throws a nice looking combination but Matthews bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matthews darts in looking for a takedown but McRoberts gets double underhooks and turns Matthews into the cage.

Matthews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McRoberts, pushing him back against the cage.

Matthews lands a takedown into guard.
Matthews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McRoberts keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matthews trying to control but McRoberts is working from the bottom.

McRoberts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews sitting in guard here, content to control.
Max Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.

McRoberts is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matthews works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McRoberts is looking to control Matthews's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McRoberts avoid being mounted?
Matthews seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McRoberts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

McRoberts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

McRoberts looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McRoberts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is working for a kimura but McRoberts is defending it quite comfortably.
Matthews has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matthews passes to full mount!
Matthews landing strikes from the mount and McRoberts is in trouble!
McRoberts tries to lock up and control but Matthews gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matthews looking to control but McRoberts is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matthews unloading with bombs!

Matthews working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Matthews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McRoberts slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McRoberts wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McRoberts trying to control here.
McRoberts is refusing to be controlled, as Matthews sits in half guard.

Matthews looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nice strikes from Matthews there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Matthews is working for a kimura but McRoberts is defending it quite comfortably.

Matthews is working for a kimura but McRoberts is defending it quite comfortably.
McRoberts pushes Matthews off looking to stand but Matthews dives back in and keeps control.
Matthews throwing shots but McRoberts is blocking nicely.

Matthews is looking for a kimura but McRoberts is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matthews to get the leverage.
McRoberts is trying to maintain the position but Matthews is very close to passing his half guard.
Matthews thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McRoberts's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McRoberts has hold of Matthews's hands but Matthews slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Matthews in particular looking to stall.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but McRoberts is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McRoberts misses with a head kick.

McRoberts closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Matthews's guard.
McRoberts throws an elbow that misses. Matthews uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McRoberts's guard. Nice move by Matthews!

Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matthews scoring with some ground and pound.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matthews looking to pass the guard.
McRoberts looking for a sweep. Not yet McRoberts, not yet.
Matthews passes McRoberts's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McRoberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
Matthews missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matthews is working for a kimura but McRoberts is defending it quite comfortably.
McRoberts wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRoberts trying to control but Matthews postures up.

McRoberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
McRoberts tries to get to full guard but Matthews has control of the leg.

McRoberts actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matthews lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matthews stalling.
Matthews is keen to just control but McRoberts is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matthews looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Matthews scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McRoberts avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Matthews.
Matthews working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
McRoberts is staying active underneath Matthews, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

McRoberts looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Matthews there.
Matthews content to control rather than advance.
Matthews trying to control from half guard but McRoberts is working away.
McRoberts tries to roll over but Matthews keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to control the action in half guard but McRoberts is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matthews seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

McRoberts is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
Matthews slips a nice elbow through McRoberts's hands, connecting with McRoberts's forehead.

Matthews is working for a kimura but McRoberts is defending it quite comfortably.
Matthews uses his free foot to push down on McRoberts's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for McRoberts.
Max Matthews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McRoberts is squirming around, avoiding Matthews's attempts to control the action.
Matthews controlling from the full mount.
Matthews is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McRoberts can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McRoberts manages to avoid the submission attempt.
McRoberts is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Matthews is controlling him well.
McRoberts takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
McRoberts is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Josh McRoberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McRoberts wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McRoberts is looking to reverse the position.

Matthews looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Matthews scoring with punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matthews 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Matthews!
A very excited looking Max Matthews made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.