PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vincenzo Calliente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Calliente
vs
Matthews

179 cm
33
172 lbs
18 - 28 - 0

179 cm
31
180 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 28 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincenzo Calliente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugh Matthews!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calliente staying out of range there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Calliente looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthews tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Calliente was well out of range. Poor timing from Matthews.
Matthews throws an off balance right hand

and Calliente counters with a single leg into guard. Matthews didn't expect that.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but Calliente is having none of it.
Matthews being controlled here, momentarily.
Calliente trying to control but Matthews is working from the bottom.
Matthews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Calliente wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Matthews wants to stand and escape but Calliente is having none of it.
Calliente trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Calliente wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Calliente has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matthews looking for a sweep. Not yet Matthews, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews being controlled here, momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Vincenzo Calliente wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed right hand from Matthews misses the target.
Matthews cracks Calliente with an open hand slap.
Matthews slaps away a takedown attempt from Calliente, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matthews misses with a double jab.
Matthews misses with a right hand

and Calliente counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Matthews!
Calliente looking to control but Matthews is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
You get the feeling that Matthews really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Matthews really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Calliente. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Calliente trying to control but Matthews is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Calliente with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calliente lands with some strikes.
Calliente looking to ground and pound but Matthews is blocking nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Calliente there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Calliente tries to control but Matthews wriggling away.
Matthews wants to hold on but Calliente pushes him away.
Calliente wants to control the pace but Matthews is squirming around nicely.
Calliente punching from mount but Matthews doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Calliente tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Calliente misses with a head shot.
Matthews tries to buck Calliente off but he can't manage it.
Calliente looking to control but Matthews is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matthews wants to hold on but Calliente pushes him away.
Matthews is wriggling around trying to escape.
Matthews is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Calliente can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.
Calliente throwing strikes here but Matthews is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews blocking the ground and pound.
Matthews tries to lock up and control but Calliente gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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.
Calliente unloads with some shots from mount but Matthews bucks and avoids them well.
Matthews sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Matthews is trying to stand.
Matthews wants to control but Calliente is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Matthews is in trouble now - Calliente has advanced to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calliente can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matthews is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matthews wants to control but Calliente is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincenzo Calliente dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Calliente closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Calliente lands in his opponent's guard.
Calliente trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Calliente stands and throws Matthews's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matthews is pushing Calliente's head away, looking to escape. Calliente manages to hold on to the position though.
Matthews is not content to let Calliente control the position.
Matthews defending against the ground and pound.
Calliente wants to control but Matthews is keeping him busy.

Calliente decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calliente shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matthews pinned against the cage. Matthews gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hugh Matthews seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Matthews misses.
Matthews looks to land a right hand but Calliente moved out of range.
Matthews throws a low kick, looking for Calliente's leg but Calliente calmly moves out of range.
A left lands for Matthews.
Matthews throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Calliente counters with a takedown into side control.
Calliente scores with punches from side control.
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 prevents Calliente from moving into mount.
Matthews is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Calliente is controlling him well.
Matthews tries to buck Calliente off but Calliente is having none of it.
Matthews wants to get back to his feet but Calliente drags him back down.
Calliente is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Calliente sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Matthews is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Calliente advances to full mount.
Calliente is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matthews can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Calliente controlling from mount.
Vincenzo Calliente overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matthews tries to reverse the position but Calliente maintains control.

Matthews bucks Calliente off and manages to get back to his feet!
Matthews misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calliente fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matthews avoids it really well and circles away.
Calliente cracks the inside of Matthews's front leg.
Matthews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Calliente.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincenzo Calliente. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calliente shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matthews as he avoids it easily.
Calliente bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matthews throws a lazy uppercut

so Calliente counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Matthews scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A big left from Matthews misses.
Hugh Matthews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matthews lands a slapping body shot.
Calliente moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Calliente sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Calliente slips under a jab from Matthews.
Matthews is breathing heavily.
Calliente looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matthews is fending him off so far but Calliente persists. Nope, Matthews circles away and we're back to standing.
Calliente slips a jab and a cross from Matthews.
Calliente doesn't manage to clinch there - Matthews circles away.
Matthews tries to score with a low kick but Calliente moves his leg out of the way.
Calliente slips under a jab.
Matthews will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Matthews looks for the body kick but Calliente saw that one coming.
Matthews is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calliente.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matthews misses with a jab, cross combination.
Calliente shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matthews defends it nicely.

Calliente shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matthews manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincenzo Calliente dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Matthews throws a shot from downtown. Calliente moves away and avoids it.
Matthews misses with a left hand

and Calliente counters by clinching up.

Matthews is trying to trip Calliente. He has hold of a leg but Calliente is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Matthews persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Matthews must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Calliente pulls Matthews in to control the position.
Matthews stopping the sweep attempt from Calliente.
Calliente is working hard here to advance position.

Matthews gets to his feet. Calliente looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Matthews throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Calliente counters with a leg kick.
Calliente fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Matthews lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Matthews.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A low kick from Matthews misses

and Calliente counters with a single leg into guard. Matthews didn't expect that.
Calliente wants to pass the guard but Matthews is keeping the position.
Calliente with a nice head shot there.
Calliente trying to control the position from guard on top but Matthews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calliente stopping the sweep attempt from Matthews.
Calliente pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matthews is keeping the position for now.

Matthews is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matthews's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matthews throws a low kick but Calliente avoids it.
Matthews missing with a left hand there. Calliente was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matthews connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Calliente misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincenzo Calliente. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matthews lands a jab to the head.
Matthews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Calliente shoots for a takedown but Matthews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matthews misses with a leg kick

and Calliente counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hugh Matthews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews is controlling Calliente's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Calliente sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matthews defending well though.
Calliente is looking to take a break and control but Matthews is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Calliente scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Calliente takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Calliente is pressing down on Matthews's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matthews is holding on for now.
Matthews avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Calliente.
Calliente wants to free his trapped foot but Matthews is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Calliente seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matthews does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matthews pushes Calliente off looking to stand but Calliente dives back in and keeps control.
Vincenzo Calliente is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Calliente not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matthews is trying to stand.
Matthews wants to stand back up but Calliente manages to pass into side control.
Matthews takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matthews is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Calliente is controlling him well.
Matthews is not content to let Calliente control the position.
Matthews is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Calliente wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matthews keeps working.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vincenzo Calliente.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Calliente, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincenzo Calliente!
Vincenzo Calliente took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Canadian Fighter Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.