PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 107 p4p, 4 weight class) and Segey Taranin (ranked 2969 p4p, 82 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Segey Taranin enters the cage!

Matsunaga
vs
Taranin

170 cm
31
145 lbs
24 - 11 - 2

166 cm
36
159 lbs
27 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of New York, Segey Taranin!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Taranin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matsunaga to the mat! Matsunaga manages to get full guard.
Matsunaga has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Taranin won't allow Matsunaga to sweep him here.

Taranin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taranin postures up.

Matsunaga had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taranin defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga is trying to control the position but Taranin postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsunaga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taranin throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matsunaga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Matsunaga is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Matsunaga trying to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Taranin distracts Matsunaga with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Matsunaga being controlled here, momentarily.
Matsunaga wants to stand up but Taranin is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Taranin wants to control from the top but Matsunaga keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taranin doesn't manage to clinch there - Matsunaga circles away.
Matsunaga smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Taranin misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
Taranin cracks Matsunaga with a good jab.
Taranin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsunaga finds it's way round the side to connect with Taranin's head.
Matsunaga lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taranin misses with a double jab.
Taranin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Taranin looks to land a right hand but Matsunaga moved out of range.
Matsunaga connects with a single shot there.
Jab, jab by Matsunaga - just one landing.
Taranin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matsunaga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taranin.
Taranin tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsunaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsunaga slaps away a takedown attempt from Taranin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matsunaga steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taranin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taranin closes the distance and clinches.
Matsunaga working aggressively here.
Matsunaga misses with some punches.
Matsunaga scores with a shot to the side of Taranin's head.
Taranin jumps guard but Matsunaga stands there with Taranin around his waist. Taranin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Futoshi Matsunaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Segey Taranin.
Taranin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matsunaga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taranin backwards.
Matsunaga lands an uppercut.
Matsunaga misses with a punch on the inside.
Matsunaga scores with a shoulder strike.
Matsunaga lands a right hand.
Taranin tries to stall but Matsunaga uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matsunaga misses with a punch on the inside.
Taranin is working for takedown but Matsunaga is calmly controlling the position for now.
A head punch on the inside from Matsunaga fails to land.
Taranin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Taranin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matsunaga smiles and moves away.
Matsunaga connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsunaga keeps Taranin at a distance using the push kick.
Taranin tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsunaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsunaga connects with a good right hand that stumbles Taranin. Taranin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Taranin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Matsunaga has one foot on Taranin's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A swing and a miss from Taranin.
Matsunaga half committed to a counter leg kick.
Matsunaga tests Taranin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taranin wants to clinch up but Matsunaga keeps it at a distance.
Matsunaga connects with a good right hand that stumbles Taranin. Taranin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taranin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A big left from Taranin misses.
Futoshi Matsunaga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Taranin closes the distance and clinches up with Matsunaga, looking for a takedown. Taranin pushes Matsunaga against the cage but Matsunaga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matsunaga comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsunaga swats away the attempt to clinch by Taranin.
Matsunaga lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matsunaga throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taranin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matsunaga pinned against the cage. Matsunaga gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Taranin darts in and clinches Matsunaga up against the cage.
Matsunaga lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matsunaga throws a head punch that misses.
Matsunaga is pressed up against the cage. Taranin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Matsunaga down to the mat. Matsunaga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Taranin digs a good body shot into Matsunaga's ribs.
Matsunaga with a jab.
Futoshi Matsunaga is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsunaga avoids the body shot from Taranin.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but Taranin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taranin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Matsunaga defends it well.
Matsunaga throws an overhand right that lands on Taranin's shoulder, as Taranin tries to avoid the shot.
Taranin feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but Taranin uses good head movement to avoid it.

Taranin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matsunaga, pushing him back against the cage.
Matsunaga misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taranin misses with a punch on the inside.
Futoshi Matsunaga has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taranin blocks an uppercut.
Taranin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matsunaga gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Futoshi Matsunaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Segey Taranin.
Taranin blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matsunaga is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Matsunaga lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taranin goes for a takedown attempt but Matsunaga pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
It looks like Matsunaga has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Matsunaga moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Taranin is rocked!
Matsunaga feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Taranins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Taranin is still on wobbly legs! Can Matsunaga finish him?
Taranin gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Matsunaga gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Futoshi Matsunaga!
After winning the bout, Futoshi Matsunaga thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.