PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 1376 p4p, 194 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 1992 p4p, 277 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Matsuzaka
vs
Smith

179 cm
20
181 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
177 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Smith !
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith .
Smith throws the left hand but Matsuzaka avoids the punch easily.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Matsuzaka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Smith on the side of the head.
Matsuzaka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Smith 's head.
Matsuzaka scores with a body shot.
Matsuzaka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Matsuzaka lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith misses with a hook
and Matsuzaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.
A swing and a miss from Smith .
Matsuzaka connects with a single shot there.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith is looking for the big counter here.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab from Smith does it's job there.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a body punch
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsuzaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsuzaka throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Smith has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Good exchange - Matsuzaka coming out on top.
Matsuzaka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matsuzaka lands a body shot.
Smith misses with a hook. Matsuzaka ducked under it nicely.
Matsuzaka wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Matsuzaka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Smith tries to get set, Matsuzaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Smith manages to avoid the attempt.
Matsuzaka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matsuzaka lands with a shot to the body.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the head.
Matsuzaka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsuzaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka scores with a hook.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith misses with a straight right.
Matsuzaka cracks Smith with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matsuzaka connects with a crisp jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matsuzaka.

Smith is rocked!

Matsuzaka cracks Smith with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Matsuzaka has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Smith to stand back up!
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Matsuzaka finish him?
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith looks winded!
Smith misses with a lunging right hand

and Matsuzaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Matsuzaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.

It looks like Mike Smith has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
Smith takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka scores with a shot to the side of Smith 's head.
Matsuzaka lands a damaging elbow.
Matsuzaka pulls back and lands a big elbow that stuns Smith ! Matsuzaka unloads with more strikes and Smith sinks to his knees! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keisuke Matsuzaka!
A very excited looking Keisuke Matsuzaka rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.