PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masego Mathibako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Duterte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Duterte has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mathibako
vs
Duterte

190 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition
Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Masego Mathibako!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Duterte!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mathibako clinches.
Duterte misses with an elbow over the top.
Duterte throws an elbow but it misses.
Mathibako tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Duterte's elbow.

Mathibako decides to pull guard.

Mathibako is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Duterte is aware though and is defending well.

Mathibako looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mathibako looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mathibako is controlling Duterte's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duterte postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte wants to get up but he can't break Mathibako's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mathibako trying to keep a closed guard but Duterte is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Oooooh!!! Mathibako has knocked Duterte down with a huge combo! Mathibako steps away and waves a wobbly Duterte back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Rodrigo Duterte has been cut.
Mathibako takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mathibako looks for a takedown but Duterte sprawls well.
Duterte is looking for the big counter here.
Mathibako goes for a double leg but Duterte avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Duterte continues to drive forward.
Duterte tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mathibako was well out of range. Poor timing from Duterte.
No joy there for Mathibako, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Duterte scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mathibako gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Duterte counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masego Mathibako. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathibako is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duterte lands a jab to Mathibako's midsection.
Mathibako fails with the takedown.
Duterte works Mathibako's body with a nice hook.
Duterte connects with a jab.
Duterte connects with a solid leg kick.
Duterte connects with an inside leg kick.
Duterte scores with a leg kick.
Duterte feints and then cracks Mathibako's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mathibako down.
Duterte connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duterte lands a jab to Mathibako's midsection.
Duterte fails to land with a series of punches.
Mathibako misses with a takedown attempt - Duterte sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That kick from Duterte tenderised Mathibako's leg. Mathibako is trying to keep his angry face on.
Duterte connects with a leg kick. Mathibako looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mathibako looks for a takedown but Duterte sprawls well.

Mathibako closes the distance and clinches.
Duterte throws a punch but it's blocked by Mathibako.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mathibako as Duterte tries to tie him up.
Duterte has Mathibako pressed against the cage, preventing Mathibako from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mathibako is trying to force a seperation but Duterte has the dominant position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Duterte stalling in the clinch but Mathibako improves position.

Mathibako manages to pull guard.
Duterte really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mathibako. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mathibako looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mathibako is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mathibako not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Duterte dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Duterte's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Mathibako or perhaps it was just good defense by Duterte, which made it look bad.
Duterte looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mathibako will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mathibako is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodrigo Duterte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mathibako with a lazy takedown attempt
and Duterte counters with a straight right hand.
Duterte swings for the body but Mathibako moves out of range.
Mathibako shoots for a takedown but Duterte saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masego Mathibako. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathibako shoots in looking for a takedown but Duterte manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mathibako's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A left lands for Duterte.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duterte buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rodrigo Duterte seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Duterte lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nice jab there from Duterte.
Duterte feints and then cracks Mathibako's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mathibako down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Duterte.
Duterte fails with an attempt to clinch.
Duterte scores with a nice right hand.
Duterte misses with a hook. Mathibako ducked under it nicely.
Duterte lands with a kick to the ribs.
Duterte cracks a nice hook into Mathibako's ribs.
Duterte digs a good hook to Mathibako's body.
Mathibako closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Duterte has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathibako tries to close the distance and clinch but Duterte swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathibako uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Duterte.
Mathibako dives in for a single leg takedown but Duterte sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Duterte throws a nice inside leg kick.
Duterte tries to clinch but Mathibako is having none of it.
Duterte tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mathibako was well out of range. Poor timing from Duterte.
Mathibako throws a low kick but it's checked well by Duterte.
Duterte is looking to score with low kicks.

Mathibako dives in and scores a takedown into Duterte's guard.
Mathibako is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathibako works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mathibako wants to take a breather but Duterte is having none of it.
Duterte avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mathibako.

Mathibako decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mathibako tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duterte swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mathibako is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Mathibako gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duterte misses with a punch to the body.
Mathibako avoids the elbow strike from Duterte, against the cage.
Mathibako working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Mathibako gets control of Duterte's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mathibako will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mathibako pulls Duterte in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathibako looking to control.
Mathibako is pulling down on Duterte's head to control his posture.

Mathibako working for a triangle but Duterte defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Duterte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Duterte's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Duterte misses with a low kick.
Masego Mathibako is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mathibako circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mathibako pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathibako goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mathibako or perhaps it was just good defense by Duterte, which made it look bad.
Duterte fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mathibako manages to avoid it.
Mathibako changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Duterte lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Duterte changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathibako closes the distance and clinches up with Duterte, looking for a takedown. Mathibako pushes Duterte against the cage but Duterte circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Duterte misses with an uppercut.
Mathibako ducks under a wild hook from Duterte.
A solid leg kick lands there for Duterte.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duterte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duterte keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masego Mathibako. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duterte misses with a head kick.
Duterte avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mathibako tries a head kick but it misses.
A big right from Duterte misses.

Mathibako moves into the clinch successfully.
Duterte blocks the elbow strike.
Mathibako avoids the elbow strike from Duterte, against the cage.
Mathibako working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mathibako blocks a body shot from Duterte.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathibako slowing the pace effectively.
Mathibako stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mathibako pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mathibako blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Mathibako's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mathibako dodges an elbow strike from Duterte.
Mathibako stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mathibako wants to take the fight to the mat but Duterte manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Mathibako jumps guard and drags Duterte to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathibako controls Duterte momentarily but Duterte frees himself.
Duterte wants to stand but Mathibako has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Mathibako pushes Duterte off and scrambles back to his feet.
Mathibako tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Duterte manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Duterte there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Mathibako has taken the fight to the clinch.
Duterte avoiding damage as Mathibako throws knees to the body.
Duterte misses with a hook from the clinch.

Mathibako breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mathibako fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rodrigo Duterte is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mathibako misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Duterte! But no joy.
Duterte with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Masego Mathibako has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duterte lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Duterte.
I've got Duterte 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

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