PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marc Spector (ranked 513 p4p, 27 weight class) and Dado Mata (ranked 856 p4p, 43 weight class). Mata has chosen 和楽器バンド / 千本桜 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Spector
vs
Mata

166 cm
37
143 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

172 cm
32
145 lbs
13 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Pit Bull Development
Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marc Spector!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dado Mata!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spector on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Spector scores with a decent looking hook.
Mata misses with a body shot.
Spector swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mata throws a hook but Spector blocks it.
We've been informed that Mata has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A telegraphed right hand from Spector misses the target.
Mata scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mata. Spector does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spector on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mata misses with a jab to the body
and Spector counters with a nice leg kick.
Spector keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mata.
Spector takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mata misses with a looping right.
Mata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spector.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spector lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice body punch from Mata.
Spector seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Mata throws a body punch but Spector moves out of range.
Spector staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spector ducks under a wild hook from Mata.
Spector scores with a jab to the head.
Mata digs a good body shot into Spector's ribs.
Marc Spector is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mata comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mata moves out of range of the body kick.
Mata shoots in but no luck this time.
Mata misses with a body shot.
Mata scores with a body shot.
Spector chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Spector gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Spector lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mata blocks a jab.
Spector scores with a nice body kick.
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!
Spector tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spector jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Spector scores with a punch to the head.
Spector throws a body punch but Mata moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Mata lands an impressive looking overhand right. Spector doesn't seem phased though.
Mata avoids the body shot from Spector.
Mata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mata thuds a left hand into Spector's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Mata.
Mata smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mata lands a jab to Spector's midsection.
Spector on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mata misses with a wild body shot.
Mata lands an overhand right.
Mata scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Mata finds it's way through Spector's defenses.
Mata lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spector.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mata.
Mata misses with a jab to the body
and Spector counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mata's knee momentarily.
Spector thows a leg kick but Mata checks it
and Mata counters with a left to the body.
Mata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marc Spector has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dado Mata.
Mata misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spector.
Spector was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Spector fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mata.
Spector throws a push kick but Mata slaps the foot to one side.
Mata fails with a takedown attempt.
Mata looks to score with a jab to the body but Spector is just out of range.
Mata blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata misses with a body shot
and Spector counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spector on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mata. Mata obviously looking to wear him down.
Mata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spector pinned against the cage. Spector gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A little feinted left hand from Spector on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dado Mata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mata throws a predictable looking body shot
and Spector counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mata misses with a hook.
Spector quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Spector takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Spector missing with a left hand there. Mata was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mata misses with a wild body shot.
Mata is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Spector had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Mata closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Spector.
A shot in the inside from Spector.
Mata can't find room to land a body shot as Spector controls the action.
Spector tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spector lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Spector uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mata.
Spector slips a jab from Mata.
Mata takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mata jabs at Spector's body.
Mata throws a predictable looking body shot
and Spector counters with a good low kick that Mata was not able to check.
Spector connects with a solid leg kick.
Spector looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mata misses with a body kick.
Mata throws a front kick aimed at Spector's knee but Spector avoids it well.
Spector throws out a powerful jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mata misses with a takedown attempt - Spector sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Spector feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mata takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Spector.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata avoids the body shot from Spector.
Mata scores with a sloppy right hand. Spector should have avoided that one.
Mata takes a swing at Spector's ribcage but misses.
Mata throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Spector on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Spector smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice jab there from Mata.
Mata gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Spector.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Spector, right into the meat.
Spector sizes up Mata with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Mata is rocked!
Mata lands a jab to the nose.
Mata is still on wobbly legs! Can Spector finish him?
Mata is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Spector rather than just go for the knockout.
Whack! Spector lands a heavy head kick that drops Mata. The ref tackles Spector to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Mata was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Marc Spector!
Marc Spector retains his bantamweight title!
Our winner, Marc Spector, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.