PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Matkowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Herring
vs
Matkowski

180 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Esteban Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Matkowski!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Matkowski misses
and Herring counters with a good, hard body kick but Matkowski shrugs it off.
Herring looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Matkowski forces Herring back against the cage and clinches.
Matkowski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Herring smiles and moves away.
Matkowski shoots for a takedown but Herring saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Herring's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matkowski connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Herring scrambles back to his feet.

Herring gets tackled into the cage by Matkowski. Matkowski maintains the clinch.

Matkowski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matkowski working a defensive guard here.
Matkowski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Herring!
Herring tries to hold on but Matkowski postures up.
Matkowski controlling the position easily from mount.

Matkowski is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Herring can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matkowski content just to control the position here.
Herring is trying to stand but he's just given Matkowski his back.

Matkowski is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Herring defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matkowski throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Matkowski slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Matkowski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herring preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Matkowski.

Matkowski looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Matkowski dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matkowski throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Herring takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Matkowski rushes Herring and presses him up against the cage.
Herring wants to take the fight to the mat but Matkowski manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Matkowski fails to pull guard.
Matkowski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Come on Herring - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matkowski stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Herring pulls guard successfully.
Matkowski preventing the sweep.
Matkowski looking to pass the guard.
Matkowski content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Michael Matkowski wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice cross by Matkowski.
Matkowski goes for a double leg but Herring avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Herring continues to drive forward.
Matkowski stops a takedown attempt from Herring.
Matkowski is looking for a takedown.
Esteban Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Matkowski.
Herring has Matkowski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matkowski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Matkowski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matkowski avoids it.

Matkowski lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Matkowski stands up and beckons Herring to join him on the feet.

Matkowski takes the fight into the clinch.
Herring is working for takedown but Matkowski is calmly controlling the position for now.
Herring is looking to take this one to the mat.
Herring drops down looking for an ankle pick but Matkowski pulls his leg out and moves away.
Matkowski goes for a double leg but Herring avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Herring continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matkowski has Herring pressed against the cage, preventing Herring from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matkowski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Herring drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Herring has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Matkowski manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matkowski trying to control the position.
Herring trying to control but Matkowski is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Matkowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matkowski fails with the takedown.
Matkowski throws a half hearted mid kick.

Matkowski darts in and clinches Herring up against the cage.
Herring keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Matkowski's efforts to push away.
The referee calls for Herring to work.

Herring pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matkowski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herring.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matkowski gets a clinch.
Matkowski jumps guard but Herring stands there with Matkowski around his waist. Matkowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matkowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Herring is defending well for now.
Herring looking to stall.
Matkowski is trying to pull guard but Herring turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Esteban Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Matkowski.
Matkowski has had enough of the clinch but Herring keeps him there for the moment.
Matkowski drops down looking for an ankle pick but Herring pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck for Matkowski with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matkowski has a takedown stuffed.

Matkowski closes the distance and clinches.

Herring manages to pull guard.
Herring trying to keep a closed guard but Matkowski is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Esteban Herring just wasn't active enough.
Matkowski shoots in and drives through. Herring sprawls well.
Matkowski misses with a takedown attempt - Herring sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matkowski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matkowski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Herring circles away quickly and effectively.
Matkowski shoots in for a takedown but Herring shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herring tries to clinch up.
Herring tries to clinch but Matkowski is having none of it.
Matkowski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Herring connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Herring tries to clinch up.
Herring fakes the leg kick and cracks Matkowski in the body.
Matkowski is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herring sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Herring fakes the leg kick and cracks Matkowski in the body.
Esteban Herring has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Matkowski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Matkowski clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Matkowski.
Well Matkowski 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Matkowski!