PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt King (ranked 4418 p4p, 5727 weight class) and Lee Shayworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt King could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lee Shayworth's chin.

King
vs
Shayworth

180 cm
18
130
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
135
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Shayworth!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shayworth tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King misses with a takedown attempt - Shayworth sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shayworth shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.
King wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Shayworth tries to clinch there but King circles away.

Shayworth closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

King looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
King is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shayworth looks winded!
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shayworth manages to get himself to full guard.

Our spies down at at Cozad Amsterdam inform us that Shayworth has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but Shayworth has wrist control.
King has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
King slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
King's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
King sitting in guard here, content to control.

Shayworth working for a triangle but King defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shayworth keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.

King stands up and waves to Shayworth to follow him.
King closes the distance and clinches up with Shayworth, looking for a takedown. King pushes Shayworth against the cage but Shayworth circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
King shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shayworth as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shayworth tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shayworth avoids the body shot from King.
Shayworth looks for a takedown but King sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Shayworth.
Shayworth is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
King throws a push kick but Shayworth slaps the foot to one side.
Sloppy strikes from King. Those never looked like landing.
King shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shayworth counters with a series of strikes. King will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King goes for a double leg but Shayworth avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shayworth continues to drive forward.

Shayworth breaks the clinch.

King clinches up against the cage.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.
King tries for a takedown but Shayworth manages to get underhooks.

Shayworth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King is looking to clinch.
Shayworth changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shayworth misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lee Shayworth will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shayworth tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
King wants to land a leg kick but Shayworth is out of range.
King lands a two punch combo.

Shayworth clinches.
Shayworth tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.
King displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shayworth up against the cage.
Shayworth tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Shayworth won't allow it.
Shayworth is breathing heavily.
King jumps guard but Shayworth stands there with King around his waist. King gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

King pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shayworth trying to stand up but can't free himself from King's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now King is on top in guard.

King showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
King postures up and lands a big shot to Shayworth's brow.
King sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shayworth's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shayworth is trying to control but can't.
Shayworth won't allow King to pass to mount.

King is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shayworth has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
King with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
King slips a nice elbow through Shayworth's hands, connecting with Shayworth's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King wants to take a breather but Shayworth is having none of it.

King stands up from half guard.

King rushes Shayworth and presses him up against the cage.
King tries to break free but Shayworth pushes him back against the cage.
King tries to score a body lock takedown but Shayworth shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
King misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four 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.
King is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King fails to pull the fight into his guard.
King is trying to pull guard but Shayworth has him pressed against the cage.
Shayworth tries to pull guard but King holds him up against the cage and eventually Shayworth drops back down to his feet.
King misses with a punch to the body.
King is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shayworth can do to turn this around?
Shayworth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
King has Shayworth pressed against the cage, preventing Shayworth from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
King is trying to force a seperation but Shayworth has the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shayworth is trying to pull guard but King has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt King dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Shayworth. No joy for King on that attempt.
King sets himself, and Shayworth steps forward looking for the clinch! King avoids it this time.

King shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shayworth napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Shayworth explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Shayworth scores with a head kick.
Shayworth throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

King jumps into guard, dragging Shayworth to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King pulls Shayworth in to control the position.
King tries to land a sweep but no joy.
King really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
King wants to get back to his feet but Shayworth is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is trying to control the position from the bottom.
King seems keen to control Shayworth's posture.
Shayworth won't allow King to sweep him here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

King pushes Shayworth off and scrambles back to his feet.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shayworth but Shayworth pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shayworth now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King drives through with a takedown into guard.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Shayworth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
King has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

King stands up and waves to Shayworth to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shayworth gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.
King jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shayworth walks away with a smile on his face. King gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt King. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shayworth throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

King shoots in and gets a takedown into Shayworth's guard.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Shayworth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

King avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as King accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shayworth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

King decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Shayworth, up you get!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from King is defended easily by Shayworth.
Matt King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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 Matt King.
I think King 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt King!