PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jason Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matthews
vs
Edwards

185 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Edwards gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Matthews pulls guard successfully.
Edwards working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matthews has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Edwards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matthews pulls Edwards in close to his closed guard and prevents Edwards from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Edwards from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews trying to control the position.
Edwards throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Edwards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matthews tries to counter by clinching up but Edwards breaks away and moves out of range.
Edwards throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A little feinted left hand from Matthews on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Edwards shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Edwards has a takedown stuffed.
Jason Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Edwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Edwards is defended easily by Matthews.
Edwards misses with a takedown

and Matthews counters with a takedown into side control.

Edwards throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Edwards wants to clinch.
Matthews went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Edwards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Matthews to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Edwards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Edwards looking for a guillotine here but Matthews defends easily.

Edwards has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Matthews is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Edwards tries to circle away but Matthews has him pinned against the cage.
Matthews scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Edwards is trying to break the clinch but Matthews is controlling him.
Edwards throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews is trying to trip Edwards. He has hold of a leg but Edwards is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Matthews persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Matthews postures up in Edwards's guard and throws a big left but Edwards blocks it.

Edwards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matthews can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Matthews lands a couple of digs.
Matthews has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Edwards trying to control the position.
Edwards throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Edwards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews with a nice head shot there.
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 Jason Matthews will probably get the nod.
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.

Matthews takes the fight into the clinch.
Matthews wants a takedown but no success here.
Edwards is trying to push Matthews away but Matthews has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Matthews changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Edwards fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matthews moves in looking to clinch but Edwards pushes him off.
Edwards tries to clinch there but Matthews circles away.
Matthews appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Matthews has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards tries a head kick but it misses.
Edwards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Matthews has closed the distance and engaged Edwards in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edwards ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Edwards no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Matthews is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Edwards is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Edwards has escaped and now he's on top!

Edwards is pushing down on Matthews's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matthews is fighting to maintain full guard but Edwards has managed to sneak the leg through.
Edwards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jake Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Edwards prevents Matthews from improving his position.

Matthews kicks Edwards off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews slaps away a takedown attempt from Edwards, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Matthews moves into the clinch.

Matthews has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Edwards regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matthews is working Edwards over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Edwards wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
Edwards is trying to control the position but Matthews postures up.
Matthews trying to control but Edwards is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is looking to pass into half guard but Edwards pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Edwards is in guard.

Matthews keeping moving, preventing Edwards from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews wants to stand up but Edwards is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews is looking to sweep but instead, Edwards has passed into half guard.
Edwards throwing shots but Matthews is blocking nicely.
Matthews trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matthews is trying to stand back up but Edwards is controlling him
Matthews is holding on to half guard well.

Matthews pushes Edwards off and gets back to his feet.
Edwards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matthews's waist but Matthews gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Edwards off to one side.
Matthews closes this distance looking for a takedown but Edwards circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Edwards throws a lazy body kick
and Matthews counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jason Matthews will probably get the nod.
That's time! Matthews's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Edwards throws a sloppy head kick
and Matthews makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Edwards really felt that one!
Matthews closes this distance looking for a takedown but Edwards circles away.
Edwards changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Edwards throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matthews shoots in for a double leg but Edwards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Edwards attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Matthews misses its target.

Edwards clinches up with Matthews and pushes him back against the cage.
Edwards tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matthews smiles and moves away.
Jason Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matthews drives through with a takedown into Edwards's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Edwards wants to sweep here but Matthews controlling him for the moment.
Edwards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Matthews scoring with some ground and pound.

Matthews has gone for a leg lock! Edwards slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matthews's guard.

Edwards is pushing down on Matthews's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matthews is fighting to maintain full guard but Edwards has managed to sneak the leg through.

Edwards wants to work for an arm triangle but Matthews is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matthews is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards 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.
Matthews is looking to improve his position.
Matthews looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matthews controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Matthews regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Matthews has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Edwards off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Edwards forces Matthews back against the cage and clinches.
Matthews is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Matthews. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Edwards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Edwards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matthews manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matthews throws a big counter combination but Edwards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Edwards tries to clinch
and Matthews counters with a slapping leg kick.
A punch combination from Edwards misses.
Jason Matthews is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Edwards to the ground. Matthews is now in Edwards's guard.
Matthews distracts Edwards with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Edwards keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews lands a couple of elbows.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Edwards manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Edwards is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Matthews pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Edwards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Edwards wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matthews prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matthews changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Edwards fights it off and pushes away nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jake Edwards.
Well Matthews has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight for Jason Matthews!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Jake Edwards!
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Jason Matthews!

Jason Matthews wins by split decision!