PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Tucker (ranked 5774 p4p, 6065 weight class) and Johnny Matthews (ranked 588 p4p, 600 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Alex Tucker has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Alex Tucker seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Tucker
vs
Matthews

190 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
180
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 Los Angeles, Alex Tucker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews moves into the clinch successfully.
Tucker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matthews has him pressed against the cage.

Matthews tightens his grip and picks Tucker up, before dumping him to the ground. Tucker manages to land in guard.
Matthews pushing down on Tucker's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tucker tries to roll over but Matthews keeps him under control.
Matthews looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tucker is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker wants to stand back up but Matthews manages to pass into side control.
Tucker is looking for a sweep.
Matthews lands a few punches from side control.
Matthews working the ground and pound.
Matthews is staying tight to Tucker's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Tucker looks to move to half guard but instead Matthews has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews working Tucker over with strikes here.
Tucker is in a horrible position here. Matthews smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tucker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Matthews controlling his opponent.
It looks like Matthews might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Matthews is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews controlling from mount.

Matthews stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Tucker looks for a takedown but Matthews sprawls well.
Matthews displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tucker.
Tucker closes the distance and clinches up with Matthews, looking for a takedown. Tucker pushes Matthews against the cage but Matthews circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matthews looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker shoots in and drives through. Matthews sprawls well.
Tucker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tucker tries to clinch

and Matthews counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tucker wants to stand back up but Matthews manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Matthews looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tucker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Matthews moves into range and clinches up with Tucker.
Tucker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Matthews drags the fight down to the ground.
Matthews lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tucker can't keep his opponent in guard - Matthews advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Matthews has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Matthews controlling the pace for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Matthews dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tucker shoots in for a takedown but Matthews shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Matthews. Those never looked like landing.
Tucker seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matthews.
Tucker dives in and grabs Matthews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matthews pushes down on Tucker's head and hops out.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matthews paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matthews throws out a counter right but Tucker avoids it with no problem.
Tucker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Matthews defends well and Tucker ends up having to push Matthews into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Tucker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tucker fails to pull guard.
Tucker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Matthews jumps guard and drags Tucker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matthews is on top in guard.

Tucker looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matthews drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Matthews jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Johnny Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matthews controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Matthews postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tucker doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Tucker being controlled here, momentarily.
Matthews is working Tucker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Matthews wants to get up but he can't break Tucker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Matthews 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.
Matthews has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tucker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.
Matthews controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Matthews is continuing to stall.
Matthews content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Matthews slows the pace down.

Matthews stands up and beckons Tucker to his feet.
A head kick by Matthews misses
and Tucker counters with a stiff right hand.
Matthews misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tucker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matthews shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tucker is trying to defend but Matthews finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Matthews landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matthews content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Matthews passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tucker!
Matthews has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tucker is just holding on here. Matthews manages to take his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tucker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Matthews pushes down on Tucker's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Matthews is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Matthews seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthews performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tucker has a hand on Matthews's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Matthews takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Matthews fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Matthews cracks Tucker with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tucker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matthews on the ground.
Matthews controlling the pace for now.

Matthews is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Matthews!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Johnny Matthews!