diff --git a/core/matching/body_formdata_matching.go b/core/matching/body_formdata_matching.go
index d718d55cf..68a49bc30 100644
--- a/core/matching/body_formdata_matching.go
+++ b/core/matching/body_formdata_matching.go
@@ -11,10 +11,7 @@ func BodyMatching(fields []models.RequestFieldMatchers, req models.RequestDetail
 	var score int
 
 	if len(fields) == 0 {
-		return &FieldMatch{
-			Matched: matched,
-			Score:   1,
-		}
+		return &FieldMatch{Matched: true}
 	}
 
 	for _, field := range fields {
diff --git a/core/matching/first_match_strategy_test.go b/core/matching/first_match_strategy_test.go
index 8c228b380..0b9adde75 100644
--- a/core/matching/first_match_strategy_test.go
+++ b/core/matching/first_match_strategy_test.go
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ import (
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 )
 
-var testResponse = models.ResponseDetails{
-	Body: "request matched",
-}
-
 func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_EmptyRequestMatchersShouldMatchOnAnyRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterTestingT(t)
 
@@ -21,7 +17,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_EmptyRequestMatchersShouldMatchOnAnyRequest(t *test
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{},
-		Response:       testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -50,7 +48,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnBody(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_ReturnResponseWhenAllHeadersMatch(t *testing.T) {
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -127,7 +129,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_ReturnNilWhenOneHeaderNotPresentInRequest(t *testin
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -167,7 +171,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_ReturnNilWhenOneHeaderValueDifferent(t *testing.T)
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -207,7 +213,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_ReturnResponseWithMultiValuedHeaderMatch(t *testing
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -248,7 +256,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_ReturnNilWithDifferentMultiValuedHeaders(t *testing
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -307,7 +317,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_EndpointMatchWithHeaders(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -369,7 +381,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_EndpointMismatchWithHeadersReturnsNil(t *testing.T)
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -416,7 +430,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_AbleToMatchAnEmptyPathInAReasonableWay(t *testing.T
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -456,7 +472,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatcherResponsePairCanBeConvertedToARequestR
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	}
 
 	pairView := requestMatcherResponsePair.BuildView()
@@ -487,7 +505,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsAndBeMatched(t *testing.T
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -516,7 +536,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsOnSchemeAndBeMatched(t *t
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -548,7 +570,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsOnHeadersAndBeMatched(t *
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -578,7 +602,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatcherResponsePair_ConvertToRequestResponse
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	}
 
 	pairView := requestMatcherResponsePair.BuildView()
@@ -640,7 +666,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersAtL
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -652,7 +680,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersAtL
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -729,7 +759,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersZeroTi
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -741,7 +773,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersZeroTi
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -849,7 +883,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchStrategy_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnStateAndNotBeCacheable(
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			RequiresState: map[string]string{"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -909,7 +945,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateAtLea
 				"foo": "bar",
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -921,7 +959,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateAtLea
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -990,7 +1030,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateZeroTime
 				"foo": "bar",
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -1002,7 +1044,9 @@ func Test_FirstMatchShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateZeroTime
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
diff --git a/core/matching/strongest_match_strategy_test.go b/core/matching/strongest_match_strategy_test.go
index 46da201d5..f69cf36bc 100644
--- a/core/matching/strongest_match_strategy_test.go
+++ b/core/matching/strongest_match_strategy_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_EmptyRequestMatchersShouldMatchOnA
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{},
-		Response:       testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -48,7 +50,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnBody(t
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -60,6 +64,42 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnBody(t
 	Expect(result.Pair.Response.Body).To(Equal("request matched"))
 }
 
+func Test_StrongestMatch_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnBodyPrioritizingNotNilMatcher(t *testing.T) {
+	RegisterTestingT(t)
+
+	simulation := models.NewSimulation()
+
+	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
+		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
+			Body: []models.RequestFieldMatchers{
+				{
+					Matcher: matchers.JsonPartial,
+					Value:   `{"bot": true}`,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "json partial body matched",
+		},
+	})
+
+	// if both matchers have the same score, this one will be picked because it's the most recent one.
+	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
+		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{},
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "absent body matched",
+		},
+	})
+
+	r := models.RequestDetails{
+		Body: `{"bot": true, "name": "chatty"}`,
+	}
+	result := matching.MatchingStrategyRunner(r, false, simulation, &state.State{State: map[string]string{}}, &matching.StrongestMatchStrategy{})
+	Expect(result.Error).To(BeNil())
+
+	Expect(result.Pair.Response.Body).To(Equal("json partial body matched"))
+}
+
 func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnResponseWhenAllHeadersMatch(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterTestingT(t)
 
@@ -84,7 +124,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnResponseWhenAllHeadersMatch(
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -125,7 +167,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnNilWhenOneHeaderNotPresentIn
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -165,7 +209,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnNilWhenOneHeaderValueDiffere
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -205,7 +251,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnResponseWithMultiValuedHeade
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -245,7 +293,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_ReturnNilWithDifferentMultiValuedH
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			Headers: headers,
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -304,7 +354,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_EndpointMatchWithHeaders(t *testin
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -366,7 +418,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_EndpointMismatchWithHeadersReturns
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -413,7 +467,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_AbleToMatchAnEmptyPathInAReasonabl
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -455,7 +511,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsAndBeMat
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -484,7 +542,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsOnScheme
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -516,7 +576,9 @@ func Test_ClosestRequestMatcherRequestMatcher_RequestMatchersCanUseGlobsOnHeader
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	request := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -810,7 +872,9 @@ func Test__NotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersAtLeastOnce(t *tes
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -822,7 +886,9 @@ func Test__NotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersAtLeastOnce(t *tes
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -899,7 +965,9 @@ func Test__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersZeroTimes(t *te
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -911,7 +979,9 @@ func Test__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeadersZeroTimes(t *te
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -1594,7 +1664,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch_ShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeade
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -1606,7 +1678,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch_ShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeade
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -1683,7 +1757,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeaders
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -1695,7 +1771,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromHeaders
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -1803,7 +1881,9 @@ func Test_MatchingStrategyRunner_RequestMatchersShouldMatchOnStateAndNotBeCachea
 		RequestMatcher: models.RequestMatcher{
 			RequiresState: map[string]string{"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -1863,7 +1943,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch_ShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromState
 				"foo": "bar",
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -1875,7 +1957,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch_ShouldNotBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromState
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{
@@ -1944,7 +2028,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateZe
 				"foo": "bar",
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	simulation.AddPair(&models.RequestMatcherResponsePair{
@@ -1956,7 +2042,9 @@ func Test_StrongestMatch__ShouldBeCacheableIfMatchedOnEverythingApartFromStateZe
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		Response: testResponse,
+		Response: models.ResponseDetails{
+			Body: "request matched",
+		},
 	})
 
 	r := models.RequestDetails{