PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johann Jennsensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jennsensen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Matthews
vs
Jennsensen

184 cm
23
193 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
198 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Matthews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johann Jennsensen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jennsensen.
Jennsensen throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Raphael Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matthews lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Matthews lands a really nice looking cross but Jennsensen seems unphased.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matthews misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jennsensen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthews throws a head kick but Jennsensen moves out of range.
Jennsensen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matthews counters with a stiff right hand.
Matthews is looking to land body kicks.
Matthews keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jennsensen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jennsensen moves away.
Jennsensen scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jennsensen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Raphael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johann Jennsensen.
Matthews misses with a head kick.
Jennsensen misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews throws a leg kick that is checked
and Jennsensen counters with a leg kick.
Jennsensen shoots for a double leg takedown but Matthews sprawls well. He's pushed Jennsensen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matthews tries to land a leg kick but Jennsensen saw it coming and moves away.
Matthews checks a low kick from Jennsensen.
Jennsensen tries for a takedown but Matthews sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Matthews scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Raphael Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthews fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jennsensen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matthews swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jennsensen is defended easily by Matthews.
Matthews pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Jennsensen or perhaps it was just good defense by Matthews which made him look bad.
Matthews fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matthews tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matthews enables Jennsensen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matthews manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Matthews seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jennsensen trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthews wants to sweep here but Jennsensen controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matthews holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Raphael Matthews.
Matthews misses with a wild body shot.
Matthews misses with a hook

and Jennsensen counters with a takedown into side control.

Jennsensen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Jennsensen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matthews is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jennsensen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matthews keeps working.

Jennsensen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matthews knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Jennsensen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raphael Matthews will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jennsensen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jennsensen fails with the takedown
and Matthews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jennsensen throws a sloppy head kick and Matthews moves out of range easily.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Jennsensen moved out of range.
A shot to the liver by Matthews. Beautiful body shot.
Matthews thumps Jennsensen with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Matthews.
Jennsensen shoots for a double leg takedown but Matthews sprawls well. He's pushed Jennsensen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jennsensen.
Raphael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johann Jennsensen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Jennsensen misses with a takedown attempt - Matthews sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matthews misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jennsensen with a poor takedown
and Matthews counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Matthews throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jennsensen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matthews.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick
and Jennsensen counters with an outside leg kick.
Jennsensen throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews lands with an overhand left.
Matthews looks to land a combination. Jennsensen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice sprawl there from Matthews as Jennsensen shoots in.
Jennsensen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.
Jennsensen is breathing heavily.
Jennsensen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matthews as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matthews tries a head kick but it misses.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jennsensen manages to avoid it.
Matthews scores with a push kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Matthews.
Matthews throws a nice looking combination but Jennsensen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matthews lands a slapping body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jennsensen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice takedown defense from Matthews. No joy for Jennsensen on that attempt.
Matthews throws a head kick but Jennsensen moves out of range.
Matthews throws a sloppy head kick and Jennsensen moves out of range easily.
Matthews throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jennsensen slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.
Matthews connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jennsensen's hands.
Jennsensen is looking to clinch but Matthews is avoiding it.
Raphael Matthews is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jennsensen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses.
Matthews scores with a nice right hand.
Jennsensen misses with a wild body shot.
Jennsensen fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jennsensen.
Matthews throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jennsensen defending well as Matthews loads up on a big left hand.
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
A left and a right from Matthews both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jennsensen feints and as Matthews raises his hands in defense, Jennsensen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matthews looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jennsensen has gone for a leg lock! Matthews slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jennsensen's guard.
Jennsensen is trying to control the position but Matthews postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jennsensen is on top in guard.
Jennsensen wants to control from the top but Matthews keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Matthews dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matthews throws a head kick that misses
and Jennsensen counters with a thumping low kick.
Jennsensen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jennsensen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Matthews rather than just go for the knockout.
Matthews scores with a head kick.
Matthews misses with a low kick.
Jennsensen blocks a head kick by Matthews.
Nice uppercut lands for Matthews. That snapped Jennsensen's head back.
Jennsensen shoots in for a double leg but Matthews sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Matthews scores with a leg kick.
Matthews rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jennsensen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matthews keeping full guard, as Jennsensen tries to pass.
Matthews wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matthews holds on and takes a little breather.
Jennsensen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Matthews's guard.

Jennsensen is working for a submission of some sort.
Jennsensen tries to pass to full mount but Matthews defends it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jennsensen is looking for a kimura but Matthews is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jennsensen to get the leverage.

Jennsensen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matthews defends it well.
Jennsensen wants to take a breather but Matthews is having none of it.
Matthews is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jennsensen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jennsensen's back!
Matthews has the hooks in. Jennsensen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews controlling the position well here. Jennsensen rolled but Matthews kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Jennsensen is trying to break free.
Matthews biding his time, controlling Jennsensen.
Matthews not allowing Jennsensen to control his hands.
Matthews is trying to stick to Jennsensen's back but Jennsensen is turning into Matthews. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Matthews's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jennsensen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Jennsensen stops Matthews from standing up.
Jennsensen trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jennsensen fails to land the takedown.
Raphael Matthews has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johann Jennsensen.
Jennsensen tries to land a leg kick but Matthews saw it coming and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jennsensen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matthews as he jumps to the side.

Jennsensen scores with a takedown into Matthews's guard.
Johann Jennsensen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jennsensen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matthews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johann Jennsensen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matthews 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

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