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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Usko Matonen (ranked 1298 p4p, 1090 weight class) and Takashi Yoshida (ranked 73 p4p, 62 weight class). Yoshida is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Boogeyman by Motörhead. 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.
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| 165 cm
35
140
17 - 13 - 2 |
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165 cm
33
130
29 - 12 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Takashi Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matonen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Yoshida fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Yoshida ducks under a wild hook from Matonen.
Matonen misses with a double jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yoshida connects with a body shot that sends Matonen's belly button to the back.
Matonen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yoshida connects with an inside leg kick.
Matonen has closed the distance and engaged Yoshida in a clinch.
Yoshida has Matonen pushed against the cage.
Yoshida lands a hook to the side of the head.
Matonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Yoshida fails to land.
Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matonen looks to land a right hand but Yoshida moved out of range.
Matonen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matonen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Takashi Yoshida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yoshida darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Yoshida checks a leg kick.
Matonen tries to clinch up.
Yoshida moves away from the strike by Matonen.
A telegraphed right hand from Matonen misses the target.
Yoshida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Yoshida misses.
Matonen connects with a single shot there.
Matonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yoshida.
Yoshida comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yoshida throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matonen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a lovely overhand right.
Yoshida throws a body shot but no joy.
Yoshida throws a shot to the body.
Matonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yoshida manages to avoid it.
Yoshida takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yoshida. That's going to slow Matonen down.
Yoshida defending well as Matonen loads up on a big left hand.
Yoshida lands a jab.
Matonen checks a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Matonen misses the target.
Matonen misses the shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yoshida.
Yoshida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matonen. That did some damage!
Matonen moves out of range as Yoshida strikes.
A jab from Matonen misses.
A big left from Matonen misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice body kick from Matonen.
Matonen slips a jab from Yoshida.
Yoshida misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yoshida throws a big shot that misses.
Matonen avoids the body shot from Yoshida.
Matonen scores with a nice strike.
Matonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice side step and Yoshida releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Yoshida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matonen.
Matonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Yoshida is just out of range.
Yoshida throws the left hand but Matonen avoids the punch easily.
Matonen lands with a right hand.
Yoshida misses the shot to the body.
Yoshida throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yoshida has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yoshida there as he acknowledges the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matonen. Yoshida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yoshida feints a counter leg kick.
Matonen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yoshida takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matonen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Matonen misses the target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen looks to throw the jab but Yoshida is out of range.
Matonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matonen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yoshida checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yoshida lands with an overhand left.
Yoshida keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Yoshida throws a jab but it's blocked by Matonen.
Matonen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Yoshida moves out of range of the body kick.
Yoshida flicks out a counter leg kick but Matonen steps away.
Matonen throws a nice looking combination but Yoshida bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matonen is looking to chop away at Yoshida's legs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Matonen.
Yoshida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yoshida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matonen throws a body punch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Matonen checks a leg kick.
As Yoshida backs away, Matonen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Matonen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yoshida moves out of range of the body kick from Matonen.
Yoshida jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Yoshida lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matonen. Yoshida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matonen moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromYoshida.
Matonen ducks under a wild hook from Yoshida.
Yoshida scores with a leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida misses with a leg kick.
Matonen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yoshida checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yoshida slips a jab from Matonen.
Matonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matonen scores with a jab. Yoshida acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Yoshida throws a leg kick which misses Matonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Matonen tries to avoid it.
Matonen throws a right and a left that Yoshida avoids nicely.
Yoshida with a nice cross.
Matonen drives through and clinches with Yoshida against the cage.
Matonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Yoshida controls his hands.
Matonen throws a head punch that misses.
Matonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Matonen slips a straight right by Yoshida.
Yoshida missing with a left hand there. Matonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yoshida. Matonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yoshida fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matonen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Yoshida takes one on the button.
Matonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Yoshida scores with a leg kick.
Matonen misses with a wild body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Usko Matonen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yoshida.
Matonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matonen throws a leg kick but Yoshida moved away.
Yoshida swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Yoshida fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matonen checks it well.
It looked like Matonen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yoshida blocks a leg kick.
Matonen moves into the clinch successfully.
Yoshida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yoshida blocks a body shot from Matonen.
Matonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yoshida prevents a body shot from Matonen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matonen working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matonen.
Matonen cracks Yoshida with a nice body shot.
Yoshida misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Matonen.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen slowing the pace effectively.
Matonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matonen.
Yoshida is leaning against Matonen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Still in the clinch, Matonen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Matonen has Yoshida pressed against the cage.
Yoshida lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matonen backwards.
Yoshida lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Matonen tries to throw a body punch but Yoshida avoids it by throwing Matonen back against the cage.
Yoshida is looking to control Matonen's arms but Matonen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yoshida has his back to the cage.
Matonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Yoshida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matonen lands with a short shot to the head.
Matonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A swing and a miss from Matonen.
Yoshida looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yoshida scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matonen throws a lazy right hand but Yoshida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida takes a swing at Matonen's ribcage but misses.
Matonen throws a sloppy head kick and Yoshida moves out of range easily.
Yoshida misses with an attempted mid kick.
It looked like Matonen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoshida takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida throws a body punch but Matonen moves out of range.
Matonen lands a glancing blow to the side of Yoshida's head.
Yoshida scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Yoshida throws a one two combo.
Matonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yoshida can pounce on him.
Takashi Yoshida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matonen stuns Yoshida with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Matonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
Yoshida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Matonen throws a big shot that misses.
Matonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yoshida connects with a body shot.
Yoshida swings for the body but Matonen moves out of range.
Yoshida throws a body punch but Matonen moves out of range.
Yoshida throws a wild body kick that Matonen sees coming a mile off.
Yoshida scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yoshida.
Matonen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yoshida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yoshida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yoshida throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yoshida scores with a spinning back kick!
Yoshida paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Matonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matonen looks to land a left hand but Yoshida moved out of range nicely.
Matonen lands with an overhand left.
Matonen looks to land a combination but Yoshida avoids it well.
Yoshida staying out of range there.
Yoshida takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matonen wants to clinch up but Yoshida keeps it at a distance.
Matonen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matonen has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matonen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yoshida or not.
Yoshida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yoshida takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yoshida displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matonen throws out the jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen jabs at Yoshida's body.
Matonen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Yoshida throws a nice outside leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Yoshida.
Yoshida scoring well with a low kick there.
Yoshida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yoshida moves out of range of the body kick.
Yoshida appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Yoshida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matonen ducks under a wild hook from Yoshida.
Yoshida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matonen.
Matonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yoshida.
Matonen swings for the body but Yoshida moves out of range.
Matonen avoids the body shot from Yoshida.
Matonen throws a nice head kick!
Yoshida swings for the body but Matonen moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Yoshida lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida tests Matonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yoshida throws a body shot but no joy.
Matonen moves out of range of the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Takashi Yoshida will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Yoshida tries to land a leg kick but Matonen saw it coming and moves away.
Yoshida lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matonen moves into the clinch successfully.
Yoshida stalling against the cage.
Matonen lands a body punch.
Yoshida taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Usko Matonen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Yoshida.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Matonen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Yoshida on the inside.
Matonen lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matonen.
Yoshida breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matonen misses with a low kick.
Yoshida was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Matonen checks a leg kick.
Matonen avoids the head kick by Yoshida.
Matonen dodges the punch combination from Yoshida.
Matonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matonen lands with a hook. Yoshida tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yoshida.
Matonen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matonen tries to clinch there but Yoshida circles away.
Yoshida throws a big shot that misses.
Matonen half committed to a counter leg kick.
Matonen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yoshida is out of range and Matonen settles back down.
Matonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yoshida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matonen throws out a leg kick but Yoshida moves out of range and Matonen only half commits.
Yoshida keeps Matonen at a distance using the push kick.
Matonen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yoshida.
Yoshida throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yoshida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matonen slips a straight right by Yoshida.
Yoshida tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matonen misses with a wild combination.
Yoshida only half commits to the counter leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matonen fails to land with a series of punches.
Yoshida chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matonen can pounce on him.
Yoshida has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yoshida there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yoshida lands a front kick.
Yoshida slips a straight right by Matonen.
Good leg kick by Yoshida.
Matonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matonen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Matonen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matonen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yoshida throws a big shot that misses.
Matonen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yoshida pushes Matonen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Matonen fails to land.
Matonen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yoshida staying out of range there.
Yoshida moves out of range of the strikes.
Yoshida slips a straight right by Matonen.
Yoshida lands an overhand right.
Matonen scores with a one two! Yoshida had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Yoshida throws a leg kick but Matonen moved away.
Matonen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Yoshida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matonen.
Matonen defending well as Yoshida loads up on a big left hand.
Matonen with a nice calf kick.
Yoshida closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Matonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yoshida.
Yoshida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matonen moves away.
Matonen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good standup being displayed there by Matonen as he connects with a hook.
Yoshida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matonen lands a nice shot to the body.
Yoshida lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Matonen moves into the clinch successfully.
Yoshida misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yoshida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Yoshida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short left from Matonen.
Matonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yoshida blocking some punches.
Matonen tries to work over Yoshida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yoshida holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Matonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshida lands a hook that snaps the head of Matonen backwards.
Yoshida goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takashi Yoshida.
I think Yoshida has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takashi Yoshida!
After winning the bout, Takashi Yoshida thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Usko Matonen had this to say: 'Seriously? Why any org even allows to cheat with weight like that?'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
86% |
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