PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Needle (ranked 3245 p4p, 6171 weight class) and Matias H Rees (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Needle
vs
Rees

200 cm
25
135
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
19
135
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Needle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matias H Rees!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rees tries to keep at a distance but Needle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Needle looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Rees lands a left hand that snaps the head of Needle backwards.
Rees lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Needle is trying to pull guard but Rees has him pressed against the cage.

Rees has Needle pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rees pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Needle tumbling to the mat - Rees dives into Needle's guard.
Rees wants to pass the guard but Needle is keeping the position.
Needle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rees throws a big elbow that misses.
Needle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Needle is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rees not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Needle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rees.
Rees wants to pass the guard but Needle is keeping the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rees is still trying to improve position.
Rees stands and throws Needle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Needle is trying to escape the position but Rees is controlling the position.
Rees wants to control but Needle is keeping him busy.
Rees looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Needle is avoiding damage well.

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.

Rees is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Needle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rees decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Rees instigates a clinch.

Rees manages to break the clinch.
Needle swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rees moves into the clinch.

Rees breaks from the clinch.
Nick Needle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rees fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Needle to the ground. Rees is now in Needle's guard.
Rees wants to control from the top but Needle keeps moving.
Rees controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Needle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rees.
Needle keeping moving, preventing Rees from controlling successfully.
Rees is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rees throwing strikes but missing.
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.
Rees advances position into side control!

Rees working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rees working the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rees working the ground and pound.
Needle gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Needle shoots in but no luck this time.

Rees throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Needle was covering up waiting for the punch and Rees finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rees engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rees trying to control but Needle is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rees decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Needle, up you get!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rees lands with a left to the head.
Rees softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rees utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rees controlling the action here for a moment.

Rees has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Needle clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rees looking for the RNC.

Rees patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rees keeps control of the position as Needle tries to break free.
Rees biding his time, controlling Needle.

Rees is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Needle is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Needle can't escape the position.

Rees working for a choke but Needle is defending well.
Rees throwing sloppy strikes.
Rees avoiding Needle 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Needle grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Needle is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Needle trying to control the hands but Rees won't let him.
Rees is riding his opponent, not letting Needle buck him off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rees is persistently looking for the submission but Needle is defending it well.
Rees keeps control of the position easily here as Needle tries to buck him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matias H Rees 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. This is the final round!

Rees shoots in and gets a takedown into Needle's guard.
Rees throws a big elbow that misses.
Rees slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Needle controls Rees momentarily but Rees frees himself.
Matias H Rees has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rees working some strikes from top position.
Rees stands and throws Needle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Needle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rees tries to advance to mount but Needle denies him.
Rees misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rees is looking to take a break and control but Needle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rees lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

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.
Rees has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rees trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rees controlling the position easily from mount.
BOOM! Rees connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Rees has control of Needle's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Needle regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Needle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rees looking to control and managing it successfully.

Rees gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A looping hook to the body misses from Needle. Rees does a little dance to reset his feet.

Needle gets caught flat footed, as Rees shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rees trying to control the position from guard on top but Needle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rees wants to stand but Needle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rees engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rees must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nick Needle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matias H Rees is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Let's hope that Rees has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matias H Rees comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rees has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matias H Rees!
After winning the bout, Matias H Rees thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.