PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Mecca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Mecca has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matthews
vs
Mecca

195 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dave Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Mecca!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matthews shoots in and bounces Mecca off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mecca looking for a sweep. Not yet Mecca, not yet.

Matthews is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matthews stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mecca swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Matthews drops back looking for a leg! Mecca is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mecca manages to kick Matthews off! Matthews jumps back into Mecca's guard.
Matthews is pushing down on Mecca's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mecca is fighting to maintain full guard but Matthews has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mecca trying to hold on to Matthews's head to control him but Matthews postures up.
Matthews looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mecca has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matthews is working away from the top position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mecca can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews is pressing down on Mecca's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mecca is holding on for now.
Mecca tries to kick Matthews off but Matthews keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matthews on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Matthews tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mecca swivels and escapes.

Matthews gets caught flat footed, as Mecca shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mecca wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

Matthews has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mecca can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mecca is looking to stand up but Matthews won't let him.
Mecca wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Mecca trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews looking for a sweep. Not yet Matthews, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mecca really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matthews. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Matthews working for a triangle but Mecca defends it easily.
Mecca wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mecca.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mecca thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mecca wants to stand but Matthews is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is looking for a sweep.
Matthews prevents Mecca from improving position.
Matthews is looking to regain half guard here but Mecca keeps moving and retains side control.

Mecca working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Matthews sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Matthews moves into full guard.
Mecca has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Matthews is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matthews is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Matthews looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Matthews seems to be working for a kimura but Mecca defends the submission attempt.

Matthews is working for a kimura but Mecca is defending it quite comfortably.
Mecca wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Mecca dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mecca tries to clinch up but Matthews circles away and keeps his distance.

Matthews looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mecca!
Mecca is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Mecca really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mecca is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Matthews working for a submission but Mecca is keeping him at bay.
Mecca is working to get back to half guard.
Mecca tries to hold on but Matthews pushes him away.
Matthews wants to take Mecca's back here but Mecca is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mecca has left one of his arms exposed and Matthews doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Mecca screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dave Matthews!