PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tony Villeneuve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Matusow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Villeneuve
vs
Matusow

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
142 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tony Villeneuve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Matusow!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villeneuve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tony Villeneuve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Villeneuve changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Villeneuve is defended easily by Matusow.
Villeneuve lands the left hand.
Matusow throws a sloppy head kick and Villeneuve moves out of range easily.
Villeneuve connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matusow on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matusow on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Villeneuve throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Villeneuve circles away from the clinch attempt.
Villeneuve rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matusow moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matusow slips a straight right by Villeneuve.
Villeneuve lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matusow circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villeneuve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Villeneuve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matusow fails with an attempt to clinch.
Villeneuve misses with a wild combination.
Matusow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matusow chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Villeneuve can pounce on him.
Villeneuve tries to clinch up.
Villeneuve tests Matusow's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matusow takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Villeneuve shoots and misses

and Matusow counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matusow is taking a breather. Villeneuve says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
This has been an exciting period of action!
It looks like Matusow might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matusow wants to work for an arm triangle but Villeneuve is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Villeneuve wants to get back to full guard.
Matusow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Villeneuve makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Villeneuve ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matusow walks into a straight right hand from Villeneuve.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matusow's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Villeneuve connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Matusow scrambles back to his feet.
Villeneuve tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matusow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Villeneuve doesn't manage to clinch there - Matusow circles away.
Villeneuve takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matusow looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Matusow pivots, looking for a leg kick but Villeneuve is out of range and Matusow settles back down.
Villeneuve swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matusow throws a head kick that misses.
Matusow swats away the attempt to clinch by Villeneuve.
Villeneuve shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Matusow counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Villeneuve!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Villeneuve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matusow is trying to get an arm triangle but Villeneuve is defending well.
Villeneuve gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Villeneuve looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matusow seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matusow really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Villeneuve. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matusow is pressing down on Villeneuve's thigh, looking to free his foot. Villeneuve is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Villeneuve dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Villeneuve connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matusow momentarily.
Matusow tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Villeneuve paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Villeneuve moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Villeneuve buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Villeneuve throws a right hand that Matusow ducks under and follows up with a left that Matusow also avoids with ease.

Matusow feints and as Villeneuve raises his hands in defense, Matusow changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matusow must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Villeneuve is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Matusow got a little sloppy there for a moment and Villeneuve has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matusow has managed to get both his arms back between Villeneuve's legs - danger averted.
Matusow showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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!

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matusow throwing strikes but missing.
Matusow sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mike Matusow has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Villeneuve moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big right from Villeneuve misses.
Matusow tries to close the distance and clinch up but Villeneuve swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matusow dives in and scores a takedown into Villeneuve's guard.
Villeneuve is looking to stand up but Matusow isn't so interested in that idea.

Matusow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Matusow looking to pass the guard.
Villeneuve wants to get back to his feet but Matusow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matusow trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Matusow is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Matusow was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Villeneuve throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villeneuve throws a right and a left that both miss.
Villeneuve with a nice cross.
Villeneuve connects with a nice looking jab.
No joy there for Villeneuve, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matusow fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matusow keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Villeneuve.
Villeneuve throws an overhand right that lands on Matusow's shoulder, as Matusow tries to avoid the shot.
Matusow bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Villeneuve looks to land a combination but Matusow avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villeneuve looks to score with a jab to the body but Matusow is just out of range.
Villeneuve scores with a punch to the head.
No joy there for Villeneuve, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matusow steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Villeneuve.
Tony Villeneuve is winning the standup battle so far.
Villeneuve works over Matusow's head and body with a nice combination.
Villeneuve goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matusow throws a chopping leg kick but Villeneuve manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A punch combination from Matusow misses.
A clash of legs there as Villeneuve blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Villeneuve tries to clinch up.
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!
Villeneuve misses with a wild combination.
Villeneuve waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matusow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Villeneuve dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Villeneuve misses with a two punch combination.
Matusow drops his hands momentarily and Villeneuve takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Villeneuve throws a lazy right hand but Matusow sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Matusow gets tackled into the cage by Villeneuve. Villeneuve maintains the clinch.
Matusow jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Villeneuve walks away with a smile on his face. Matusow gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matusow takes one to the chin there.
Villeneuve misses with a two punch combination.
Villeneuve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matusow moves away.
Matusow fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matusow slips a jab from Villeneuve.
Villeneuve swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matusow ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Villeneuve scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matusow throws a wild body kick that Villeneuve sees coming a mile off.
Tony Villeneuve is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Villeneuve tries to work over Matusow's front leg with a kick but Matusow checks it.
Matusow blocks a jab.
Villeneuve throws a nice looking combination but Matusow bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Villeneuve throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Matusow closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Villeneuve shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matusow but Matusow pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matusow avoids the head kick by Villeneuve.
Villeneuve staying out of range there.
Matusow misses with a kick to the body.
Villeneuve shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matusow as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matusow moves into the clinch successfully.
Villeneuve has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Matusow is trying to pull guard but Villeneuve turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Villeneuve looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Villeneuve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Villeneuve tries to land a knee to the head but Matusow blocks with his arms.
Matusow tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tony Villeneuve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Matusow.

Villeneuve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Villeneuve looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Villeneuve throws a shot from downtown. Matusow moves away and avoids it.

Matusow gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Matusow wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Villeneuve, who protects the arm well.
Villeneuve tries to improve position but can't.
Villeneuve is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Villeneuve is trying to stand up here but Matusow is controlling him well.
Matusow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mike Matusow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Villeneuve is trying to stand up here but Matusow is controlling him well.
Matusow wants to pass the guard but Villeneuve is defending well.
Matusow is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Mike Matusow has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Villeneuve throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villeneuve misses with a jab, cross combination.

Matusow gets a double leg takedown into Villeneuve's guard.
Mike Matusow has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Villeneuve keeping full guard, as Matusow tries to pass.
Villeneuve trying to keep a closed guard but Matusow is proving a slippery customer.
Matusow looking to pass the guard.
Matusow advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Villeneuve is looking to improve his position.
Tony Villeneuve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matusow tries to pass the half guard into mount. Villeneuve knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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 Tony Villeneuve.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Villeneuve, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Villeneuve!
In his post fight interview, Tony Villeneuve started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.