PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rhett Matthews (ranked 5181 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Williams (ranked 5084 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
Williams

180 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
242 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rhett Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duke Williams!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Jorge Garcia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams fails with an attempt to clinch.

Matthews drives through and clinches with Williams against the cage.
Williams tries to break free but Matthews pushes him back against the cage.
Williams throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.
Matthews effectively controlling the action here.

Matthews pulls guard.
Williams is working Matthews over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matthews drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Matthews jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Matthews from standing up.

Matthews stands up from Williams's guard - Matthews perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews moves into range and clinches up with Williams.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Matthews as Williams tries to tie him up.
Williams throws an elbow but it misses.
Matthews has Williams pushed against the cage.
Williams working aggressively here.
Williams is looking to control Matthews's arms but Matthews gets an underhook and turns him. Now Williams has his back to the cage.

Matthews successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Williams wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.

Matthews thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Williams has momentary wrist control but Matthews slips an elbow through the middle.
Matthews won't allow Williams to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matthews wants to stand but Williams has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Matthews gets to his feet - Williams follows without any prompting.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matthews really is a fat lump.

Williams drops Matthews with a beautiful combination! Matthews stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Williams is looking for the KO!

It looks like Rhett Matthews has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Williams clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Williams to keep the fight standing.
Matthews stalling against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Williams takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Williams tries to break free but Matthews pushes him back against the cage.

Matthews tightens his grip and picks Williams up, before dumping him to the ground. Williams manages to land in guard.
Matthews is standing up over Williams. Williams looks to escape but Matthews dives into side control.

Matthews cracks Williams with a big right hand but Williams just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Matthews tries for a kimura but Williams is defending well.
Matthews has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Matthews has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Matthews decides to stand back up. Matthews steps back and let's Williams get back to his feet.

Williams drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Williams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matthews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews sneaks back into half guard.
Williams is looking to stall here but Matthews recovers full guard.
Williams throws a big elbow that misses.
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 Rhett Matthews will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rhett Matthews's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matthews closes the distance and clinches.
Williams is looking to break free of the clinch but Matthews has double underhooks.
Williams wants to break free but Matthews has control.
Matthews has Williams pressed against the cage, preventing Williams from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Williams looking to stall.
Williams looking to slow down the pace here.

Matthews manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Matthews slips a nice elbow through Williams's hands, connecting with Williams's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams is looking to escape.

Matthews is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Williams doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matthews.

Matthews seems to be working for a kimura but Williams defends the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Matthews is working for a submission of some sort.
Williams keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

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 drops an elbow to the side of Williams's head.
Matthews lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Matthews is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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.
Matthews is nestled in close to Williams, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Williams is trying to stand.
Williams trying to control here.
Williams pushes Matthews off looking to stand but Matthews dives back in and keeps control.
Matthews drops an elbow to the side of Williams's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matthews lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews working the head and body with strikes.
Williams missing with punches from the bottom.
Matthews takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matthews scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matthews controlling the action here.

Matthews seems to be looking for submissions.
Matthews lands with a punch from half guard.
Matthews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Williams can do to turn this around?

Matthews seems to be working for a kimura but Williams defends the submission attempt.
Matthews is nestled in close to Williams, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Matthews is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Matthews there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rhett Matthews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Matthews is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Williams is just riding it out for now. Matthews eventually gives up the hold.

Matthews wants to work for an arm triangle but Williams is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matthews is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Matthews is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhett Matthews dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rhett Matthews's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A lazy left from Williams finds it's target.
Williams fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matthews looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Williams scores with a jab to the body.

Williams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matthews to the mat! Matthews manages to get full guard.
Williams wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Matthews has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Williams wanted to stand there but Matthews had control of the position.
Williams chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Williams is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Matthews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

Matthews postures up.
Matthews chips away with some ground and pound.
Matthews with a flurry of punches that miss.

Matthews drops back looking for a leg! Williams is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Williams manages to kick Matthews off! Matthews jumps back into Williams's guard.
Matthews cracks Williams with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Williams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Williams wants to stand up but Matthews is controlling him.
Matthews in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthews trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Williams jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Matthews tries to sprawl but Williams drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Matthews kicks off Williams and gets to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matthews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Duke Williams seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matthews to the mat! Matthews manages to get full guard.

Matthews pushes Williams off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Williams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Matthews pushes Williams off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matthews dodges the punch combination from Williams.

Williams feints and as Matthews raises his hands in defense, Williams changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matthews seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Williams wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
Matthews pulls Williams in close to his closed guard and prevents Williams from doing any damage or advancing position.
Duke Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rhett Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matthews has momentary wrist control but Williams slips an elbow through the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rhett Matthews.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matthews, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rhett Matthews!