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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Boom Laka (ranked 4087 p4p, 420 weight class) and Michael Matthews (ranked 4048 p4p, 414 weight class). Boom Laka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 170 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0 |
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191 cm
19
168 lbs
1 - 3 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Boom Laka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laka takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Laka throws a low kick, looking for Matthews's leg but Matthews calmly moves out of range.
Laka throws a low kick but it's checked well by Matthews.
Matthews shapes to counter with a head kick.
Laka misses with a leg kick
and Matthews counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Laka tries to work over Matthews's front leg with a kick but Matthews checks it.
Matthews feints a counter leg kick.
Laka throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matthews counters with a nice low kick that buckles Laka's knee momentarily.
Laka has Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.
Laka tries a body shot but Matthews blocks it.
Laka tries a body shot but Matthews blocks it.
Matthews stalls.
Laka pushes Matthews back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews lands a nice uppercut.
Laka trying to stall but Matthews improves his position.
Laka presses Matthews against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Matthews can't find room to land a body shot as Laka controls the action.
Matthews managing to block the knees to the body from Laka.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Laka throws a punch but it's blocked by Matthews.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Laka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Laka is looking for a takedown.
Matthews blocking some punches.
Laka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Matthews blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Laka working aggressively here.
Laka stalling in the clinch.
Laka throws a punch but it's blocked by Matthews.
Matthews lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Laka or not.
Matthews throws a head punch that misses.
Matthews misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matthews on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short body shot lands from Laka as the two fighters clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laka is trying to stall.
Matthews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matthews looks to throw the jab but Laka is out of range.
Laka tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Matthews manages to circle out of the way.
Laka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.
Matthews scores with a hook to the body. Laka takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Laka throws out a leg kick but Matthews moves out of range and Laka only half commits.
Laka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matthews's head.
Laka 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 a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matthews is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Laka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Laka's back!
Matthews is not going to allow Laka to sit and survive in this position.
Matthews is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laka turns into Matthews and is now in his guard.
Matthews avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matthews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laka is one step ahead there.
Laka trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matthews keeping moving, preventing Laka from controlling successfully.
Laka pushes down on Matthews's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Matthews is staying active underneath Laka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Laka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matthews defending well though.
Laka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Michael Matthews will probably get the nod.
That's time! Laka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Laka throws a low kick but Matthews moves out of range easily.
Laka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matthews swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthews tries to avoid it but Laka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthews to the ground. Matthews escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matthews, as that shot connected.
It looks like Boom Laka has been cut.
Matthews checks a low kick from Laka.
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Laka.
Laka is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Laka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matthews but Matthews pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boom Laka. 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.
Matthews misses with a head kick.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick
and Laka counters by clinching up.
Matthews misses with some punches.
Laka blocking some punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Laka content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matthews.
Laka is trying to drag Matthews to the mat but Matthews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Laka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Laka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Matthews up against the cage.
Laka slows down the pace here.
Laka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Laka as Matthews tries to tie him up.
Boom Laka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matthews lands a hook that snaps the head of Laka backwards.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands with a light punch inside.
Laka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matthews backwards.
Laka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laka wants to stall.
Laka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laka tries to stall but Matthews uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matthews throws a head punch that misses.
Laka wants to stall.
A short body shot lands from Matthews as the two fighters clinch.
Laka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Laka misses with some punches.
Matthews lands an uppercut.
Laka is struggling to control the position.
Matthews swings away with an uppercut that misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matthews avoids it.
Matthews has a couple of punches blocked by Laka.
Matthews presses Laka against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Matthews breaks from the clinch.
Matthews throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Laka on the side of the head.
Matthews tests Laka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matthews has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Laka is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Laka 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.
Matthews bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laka's head.
Laka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Boom Laka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laka lands with a shot to the body.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Laka misses with a low kick.
Matthews looks to land a combination but Laka avoids it well.
Matthews misses with a looping right.
Matthews is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews connects with a nice looking jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laka throws a body kick that misses
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laka is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Laka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Laka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Laka goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Matthews has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Laka but great work by Matthews.
Boom Laka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laka gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Matthews content to control rather than advance.
Laka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matthews pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Boom Laka's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Laka slips under a jab from Matthews.
Matthews has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Laka 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.
Matthews is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Laka throws a leg kick
and Matthews connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matthews tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matthews is looking to chop away at Laka's legs.
Laka closes the distance looking to clinch
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Laka jabs Matthews to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews scores with a sloppy right hand. Laka should have avoided that one.
Laka clinches with his opponent.
Laka gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Laka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Laka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Laka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Laka throwing strikes but missing.
Laka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Laka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
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 turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Laka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matthews.
Matthews throws out a leg kick but Laka moves out of range and Matthews only half commits.
Laka tries to land a leg kick but Matthews saw it coming and moves away.
Matthews raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Laka slips a straight right by Matthews.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.
Matthews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laka lands with a nice body punch.
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Laka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Laka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matthews paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michael Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthews misses with an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laka avoids the head kick by Matthews.
Michael Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthews throws a hook to the side of Laka's head but Laka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Laka's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matthews connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Laka scrambles back to his feet.
Matthews misses with a looping left.
Matthews throws a leg kick but Laka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Laka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Laka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Laka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boom Laka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Matthews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laka gets a clinch.
Laka is looking to control Matthews's arms but Matthews gets an underhook and turns him. Now Laka has his back to the cage.
Laka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laka.
A right handed body shot lands from Matthews.
Laka lands with a light punch inside.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matthews blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laka throws an elbow that misses.
Laka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matthews's elbow.
Laka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Matthews on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laka tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boom Laka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laka slows down the pace here.
Laka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Laka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Matthews.
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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Matthews!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
45% |
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