PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Hague (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hague
vs
Matthews

194 cm
25
256 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
23
222 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Springfield HW Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Hague !
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, Anton Matthews!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews tries to clinch up but Hague circles away and keeps his distance.
Matthews misses with a looping right.
Hague misses with a straight right.
Hague throws a big shot that misses.
Hague throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hague moves away.
Hague moves out of range of the strikes.
Matthews looks for a takedown but Hague sprawls well.
Hague thows a body shot but no joy.
Matthews closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hague throws a lazy uppercut

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hague won't be happy with that.
Hague prevents Matthews from improving position.
Matthews throwing strikes but Hague manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hague wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matthews keeps working.
Matthews takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Matthews tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hague wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hague is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matthews knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hague trying to control the position but Matthews is working away.

Hague is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matthews is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Matthews really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hague . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hague wants to take a breather but Matthews manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Hague .
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Matthews can do anything to dispel that myth.
Matthews can't keep his opponent in guard - Hague advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hague works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to hold on but Hague pushes him away.

Hague looking for a guillotine from mount but Matthews is having none of it.
Hague thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hague prevents Matthews from getting the reversal.
Matthews tries to hold on but Hague pushes him away.

Hague has control of Matthews's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Matthews regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Matthews wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hague looking to finish with strikes here!
Matthews tries to buck Hague off but he can't manage it.
Matthews is looking to get to half guard.

Hague looking to secure an arm triangle but Matthews defends it well.
Hague can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.
Matthews wants to hold on but Hague pushes him away.

Hague is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Matthews to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Matthews shrugs it off.
Matthews wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hague .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hague can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.

Hague looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Matthews throwing punches despite being mounted.
Matthews wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hague .

Hague is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Matthews to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Matthews shrugs it off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hague jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Matthews manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hague is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hague rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matthews counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hague jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hague misses with a takedown
and Matthews counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hague throws a right hand that misses
letting Matthews counter with a right hand.
Hague swings widly with a right hand
and Matthews counters with a two punch combo.
Hague misses with a left hand
letting Matthews counter with a right hand.
Matthews pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hague uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.
Tim Hague seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matthews darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hague misses with a combination
and Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hague throws a hook to the side of Matthews's head but Matthews sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matthews throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hague bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hague throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matthews counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hague misses with a lunging right hand
and Matthews counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hague is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Hague closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matthews to the mat! Matthews manages to get full guard.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Hague drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hague jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Matthews uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hague misses the shot to the body.
Hague shoots in but Matthews avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters circling - Matthews throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matthews throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hague avoids the body shot from Matthews.
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Hague misses

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hague won't be happy with that.
Matthews lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hague down.
Hague is trying to improve his position.
Matthews trying to control the position but Hague is working away.
Hague is letting Matthews control him for a moment.
Hague gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Matthews wants to stand up but Hague is controlling the position.
Hague wants to control but Matthews is keeping busy.
Hague manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hague seems keen to control Matthews's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hague working for a triangle but Matthews defends it easily.
Tim Hague overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hague had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matthews defends it easily.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hague is keeping the position for now.

Hague looking for a guillotine here but Matthews defends easily.
Hague not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hague is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matthews wants to pass the guard but Hague is keeping the position.
Matthews throws a big right hand that misses.
Hague working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matthews.

Matthews got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hague has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matthews has managed to get both his arms back between Hague 's legs - danger averted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hague working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hague manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anton Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hague throws the kick towards the body but Matthews avoids it.
Hague shoots and misses

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hague won't be happy with that.
Hague is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Hague is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hague punching from the bottom.
Hague is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matthews's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matthews's back!

Hague working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Hague gets his hands free as Matthews looks to control.
Matthews holding both Hague 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hague controlling well, preventing Matthews from escaping the position.

Hague has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Matthews has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Matthews fending off the submission attempt from Hague .
Matthews covering up well under a series of strikes from Hague .

Hague is cranking Matthews's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Matthews! He's tightened the choke and Matthews is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tim Hague !