PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kaiden Matthew (ranked 4536 p4p, 4604 weight class) and Ethan Venzin (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.

Matthew
vs
Venzin

225 cm
20
150
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaiden Matthew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ethan Venzin!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venzin tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthew shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Venzin sprawls well. Venzin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matthew gets slowly back to his feet.
Ethan Venzin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses.
Matthew blocks the body kick.

Matthew moves into the clinch.

Venzin manages to break the clinch.
Matthew blocks a head kick by Venzin.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses
and Matthew counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Matthew leaves Venzin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venzin connects with a solid leg kick.
Venzin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matthew avoids the head kick by Venzin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew dodges the punch combination from Venzin.
Matthew avoids the head kick by Venzin.
Matthew feinted with a counter takedown.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Venzin looks winded!

Matthew forces Venzin back against the cage and clinches.

Matthew escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matthew shoots in and drives through. Venzin sprawls well.

Matthew instigates a clinch.

Matthew successfully pulls guard.
Venzin won't allow Matthew to get back to his feet.

Matthew scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Venzin.
Venzin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venzin misses with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matthew shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaiden Matthew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Venzin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Venzin wants it to stay on the feet.
Venzin tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthew misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Matthew fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matthew goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Matthew gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matthew slows down the pace here.

Matthew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matthew.
Venzin is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Venzin fails with a takedown attempt.
Venzin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Venzin stuffs the takedown.
Venzin throws a fast counter high kick but Matthew manages to duck under it in time.
Matthew tries to clinch but Venzin is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Venzin.
Matthew was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Venzin is defended easily by Matthew.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthew has managed to clinch.

Matthew pulls guard.

Matthew scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Venzin closes the distance and clinches.
Matthew drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Venzin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Matthew avoids the elbow strike from Venzin, against the cage.
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 Kaiden Matthew will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matthew fails in his attempt to clinch.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Matthew really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matthew shoots in and drives through. Venzin sprawls well.
Venzin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matthew.
Venzin fails to land the takedown.
Matthew checks a leg kick nicely.
Matthew seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Venzin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Venzin wants it to stay on the feet.
Venzin looks for a takedown but Matthew sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Venzin. No joy for Matthew on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaiden Matthew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matthew tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Venzin defends well and Matthew ends up having to push Venzin into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matthew shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew throws a head kick that misses.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses.
Matthew lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Matthew blocks a head kick by Venzin.
Matthew is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Venzin.
Venzin throws a head kick but Matthew moves out of range.
Matthew fails to land the takedown.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses.
Matthew drops down looking for a counter takedown but Venzin sprawls and moves away.

Venzin gets a clinch.
Matthew tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Venzin smiles and moves away.
Some wild striking there from Venzin.
Venzin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthew shoots in for a double leg but Venzin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A combination from Venzin does no damage.
Matthew appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Venzin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Matthew.
Matthew shoots for a takedown but Venzin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Venzin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Venzin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matthew counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice sprawl there from Venzin as Matthew shoots in.
Kaiden Matthew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matthew blocks a head kick by Venzin.
Matthew attempts a counter takedown but Venzin avoids it well and moves away.
Matthew shoots for a double leg takedown but Venzin sprawls well. He's pushed Matthew's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venzin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matthew tries to avoid it but Venzin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matthew to the ground. Matthew escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Venzin tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Venzin.
Matthew shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Venzin but Venzin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Venzin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matthew tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matthew stuffs the takedown attempt from Venzin. Venzin gets slowly back to his feet.
Venzin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Venzin tries to clinch there but Matthew circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matthew.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venzin tries to clinch
and Matthew counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ethan Venzin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthew slips a jab and a cross from Venzin.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matthew wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A head kick by Venzin misses
and Matthew counters with a left to the body.
Venzin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Venzin unleashes a big counter combination but Matthew bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Matthew fakes the leg kick and cracks Venzin in the body.
Venzin throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Venzin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Matthew moves into range and clinches up with Venzin.
Venzin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Venzin stuffs the takedown attempt from Matthew. Matthew gets slowly back to his feet.
Venzin tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthew blocks a head kick by Venzin.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Matthew went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Matthew misses with a takedown attempt
and Venzin counters with a straight right hand.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Matthew is looking to counter the offense by Venzin and move into the clinch.
Matthew shoots in for a takedown but Venzin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaiden Matthew. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Venzin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venzin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matthew is out of range.
Matthew dives in and grabs Venzin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Venzin pushes down on Matthew's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Venzin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Matthew moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew tries to pull guard but Venzin won't allow it.
Venzin working hard to break the clinch.
Venzin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matthew just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matthew keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Venzin's efforts to push away.
Matthew drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Venzin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Matthew is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Venzin to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Venzin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matthew holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Venzin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venzin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matthew pinned against the cage. Matthew gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matthew is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Venzin.
Venzin throws a body kick that misses
and Matthew counters with a one-two to the body.
Venzin throws a combination that misses

and Matthew counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Matthew.
Venzin tries to break free but Matthew pushes him back against the cage.
Venzin tries to break free but Matthew pushes him back against the cage.
Matthew missing with knees to the body.

Matthew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venzin throws a sloppy head kick and Matthew moves out of range easily.
Matthew tries to clinch up but Venzin circles away and keeps his distance.
Matthew looks to land a combination. Venzin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Venzin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Matthew takes the fight into the clinch.

Matthew jumps guard and drags Venzin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Venzin throws an elbow that misses. Matthew uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Venzin's guard. Nice move by Matthew!

Venzin is looking to stand up but Matthew isn't so interested in that idea.

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 Kaiden Matthew.
I think Matthew has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaiden Matthew!