PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between fedor emilianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Matthews (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.

emilianenko
vs
Matthews

209 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
262 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, fedor emilianenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Matthews!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Matthews wants it to stay on the feet.
emilianenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matthews circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Matthews.
Matthews tries to bum rush emilianenko with a series of wild strikes but emilianenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

emilianenko has Matthews up against the cage in a clinch.

Matthews lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
emilianenko won't allow Matthews to pass to mount.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet.

emilianenko kicks Matthews off and gets back to his feet.

Matthews takes the fight into the clinch.

Matthews manages to break the clinch.
emilianenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for fedor emilianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
emilianenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matthews as he avoids it easily.
emilianenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Matthews counters with a single leg into guard. emilianenko didn't expect that.
emilianenko is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matthews wants to control from the top but emilianenko keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews postures up and lands a big shot to emilianenko's brow.

Matthews gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Matthews closes the distance and pushes emilianenko back into the cage.

Matthews breaks the clinch.

emilianenko gets caught flat footed, as Matthews shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
emilianenko keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
emilianenko is looking to stand up but Matthews isn't so interested in that idea.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. emilianenko is keeping the position for now.
Matthews controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is standing up over emilianenko. emilianenko looks to escape but Matthews dives into side control.
Matthews trying to control the position but emilianenko is working away.
emilianenko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Matthews is controlling him well.
Matthews should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
emilianenko tries to clinch but Matthews moves away
and Matthews counters with a nice low kick that buckles emilianenko's knee momentarily.

Matthews darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Matthews is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so emilianenko is just riding it out for now. Matthews eventually gives up the hold.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matthews seems to be working for a kimura but emilianenko defends the submission attempt.
emilianenko pushes Matthews off looking to stand but Matthews dives back in and keeps control.
Matthews seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but emilianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

emilianenko manages to escape and get back to his feet!
fedor emilianenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
emilianenko tries to clinch up

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Matthews is trying to control the action in half guard but emilianenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

emilianenko kicks off Matthews and gets to his feet.

Matthews shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matthews showed some decent athleticism there.
Matthews wants to take a breather but emilianenko is having none of it.
emilianenko is trying to stand back up but Matthews is controlling him
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
emilianenko trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Matthews wants to pass to mount but emilianenko is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Matthews dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

emilianenko has his takedown stuffed

and Matthews counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matthews.
emilianenko wants to stand but Matthews is controlling the position.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but emilianenko is keeping the position.
Matthews stops emilianenko from standing up.
emilianenko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
emilianenko being controlled here, momentarily.
Matthews really doesn't want to stay on the ground with emilianenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matthews thows a big elbow that misses.
emilianenko wants to stand up but Matthews is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A thudding body kick lands there by Matthews!

emilianenko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Matthews to score an easy takedown into full guard.
emilianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Matthews wants to control from the top but emilianenko keeps moving.
emilianenko is looking to stand up but Matthews isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes 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.
Matthews must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but emilianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

emilianenko manages to escape and get back to his feet.
emilianenko has his takedown stuffed

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but emilianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. emilianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
emilianenko wants to stand and escape but Matthews is having none of it.
emilianenko is looking to stand back up but Matthews counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by emilianenko.
emilianenko tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Matthews manages to move to mount!
emilianenko is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Matthews takes emilianenko's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, emilianenko is in trouble.
emilianenko trying to get back to his feet but Matthews is in full control for now.

That's four 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.
Jack Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.

Matthews is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but emilianenko has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
emilianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

emilianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Matthews trying to control but emilianenko is working from the bottom.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matthews scoring with some ground and pound.
Matthews trying to control but emilianenko is working from the bottom.
emilianenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matthews stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. emilianenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Matthews closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is dominant here and he's now got emilianenko's back!
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet.

Matthews is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. emilianenko defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
emilianenko trying to get back to his feet but Matthews is in full control for now.
Matthews lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
emilianenko looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Matthews working for the choke.

emilianenko is trying to shake Matthews off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Matthews won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
emilianenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Matthews counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matthews.

emilianenko pushes Matthews off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Matthews showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from emilianenko.

Matthews drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
emilianenko pushes Matthews away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Matthews gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is staying tight to emilianenko's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Matthews fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Matthews stands up.
emilianenko clinches but Matthews breaks the clinch

and Matthews counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for emilianenko!
emilianenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews cracks emilianenko with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
You get the feeling that emilianenko really doesn't like being in this position too much.

emilianenko bucks Matthews off and manages to get back to his feet!
emilianenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matthews.
fedor emilianenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matthews misses with a two punch combination.
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but emilianenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
emilianenko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
emilianenko misses with a double jab.
emilianenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. emilianenko won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for fedor emilianenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

emilianenko throws Matthews to one side and escapes!
emilianenko with a lazy takedown attempt

and Matthews counters with a takedown into side control.
fedor emilianenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jack Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matthews is looking to take a break and control but emilianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matthews 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Matthews!