PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mustafa Erdogan (ranked 281 p4p, 532 weight class) and Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 36 p4p, 72 weight class). Matsuda has chosen Gojira - Another World as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Erdogan
vs
Matsuda

188 cm
34
192
28 - 9 - 0

190 cm
36
200
39 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Brooklyn Threads
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mustafa Erdogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda misses with a right hand
and Erdogan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Matsuda misses with a body shot
and Erdogan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Matsuda throws out a loose jab but Erdogan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsuda throws a body shot but no joy.
Erdogan thuds his right hand into Matsuda's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Matsuda avoids the head kick by Erdogan.
Donk. Matsuda catches Erdogan right on the button with a cross.
Erdogan misses with a shot to the body
and Matsuda counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda misses with a takedown attempt
and Erdogan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsuda looks for a takedown but Erdogan sprawls well.
Erdogan feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tanaka Matsuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuda fails with a takedown attempt.
Erdogan is looking to counter punch.
Mustafa Erdogan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanaka Matsuda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erdogan moves away.
Erdogan needs to keep his hands up - Matsuda had a free shot at his head there.
Erdogan scores with a nice head shot.
Matsuda looks to land a left hand but Erdogan moved out of range nicely.
Matsuda throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Erdogan does it's job there.
Matsuda lands a nice looking body shot.
Erdogan throws a big shot that misses.
Erdogan ducks under a wild hook from Matsuda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erdogan's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Erdogan duly obliges.
Erdogan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsuda connects with a right hand. Erdogan shakes it off.
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!
Matsuda lands a nice hook to Erdogan's body. Erdogan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Matsuda 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.
Matsuda swats away the attempt to clinch by Erdogan.
Matsuda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Matsuda lands a nice hook to Erdogan's body. Erdogan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Matsuda there.
Matsuda clobbers Erdogan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Matsuda missing with a left hand there. Erdogan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda with a hook.
Erdogan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Erdogan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Erdogan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice cross by Matsuda.
The fighters circling - Matsuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Erdogan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matsuda.
Nice uppercut there from Erdogan.
Matsuda lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda misses with a hook to the body
and Erdogan counters with a good low kick that Matsuda was not able to check.
Erdogan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matsuda.
Matsuda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Erdogan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsuda misses the body punch
and Erdogan counters with a nice uppercut.
Erdogan clobbers Matsuda with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That has opened up Tanaka Matsuda's cut even more.
Erdogan misses with a hook
and Matsuda counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsuda scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Erdogan doesn't seem bothered though.
Erdogan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matsuda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Erdogan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Matsuda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Erdogan avoids it really well and circles away.
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 Mustafa Erdogan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erdogan throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsuda with the counter takedown but Erdogan avoids it easily.
A nice leg kick from Erdogan, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsuda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Matsuda slips under a jab.
Matsuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Erdogan throws a lazy right hand but Matsuda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Erdogan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsuda's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erdogan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A shot to the body from Matsuda misses
and Erdogan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Erdogan instigates a clinch.
Erdogan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Erdogan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Erdogan.
Matsuda blocks a body shot from Erdogan.
Erdogan lands a hook that snaps the head of Matsuda backwards.

Matsuda has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Erdogan regains guard immediately.
Matsuda looking to pass the guard.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Erdogan keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Erdogan holds on and takes a little breather.
Matsuda tries to free his leg and advance position but Erdogan is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erdogan controlling the position.
Erdogan keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Erdogan wants to stand up but Matsuda is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matsuda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Matsuda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slow jab from Matsuda misses its intended target.
Matsuda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matsuda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuda keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsuda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erdogan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matsuda connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Erdogan scrambles back to his feet.
Erdogan lands a nice shot to the body.
Erdogan wants to clinch
and Matsuda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matsuda misses with a lunging right hand
and Erdogan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Erdogan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Erdogan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mustafa Erdogan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Erdogan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Erdogan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a hook but Erdogan avoids it easily.
Erdogan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mustafa Erdogan is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsuda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Erdogan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matsuda just misses with a punch to the body.
Erdogan ducks under a wild hook from Matsuda.
Erdogan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuda.
Matsuda feints the counter takedown.
Erdogan thumps Matsuda with a low kick.
Erdogan ducks under a wild hook from Matsuda.
Matsuda lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erdogan misses with a hook. Matsuda ducked under it nicely.
Matsuda lands a slapping body shot.
Matsuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Erdogan moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mustafa Erdogan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Matsuda throws a body shot but no joy.
Erdogan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Erdogan just misses with a punch to the body.
Erdogan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsuda finds it's way round the side to connect with Erdogan's head.
Erdogan loads up on a big right hand but Matsuda slips the punch.
A low kick lands for Erdogan.
Matsuda lands a jab to the nose.
Erdogan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Erdogan counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsuda tests Erdogan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Erdogan scores with a sloppy right hand. Matsuda should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a shot from downtown. Erdogan moves away and avoids it.
Erdogan is looking to counter punch.
Erdogan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuda manages to avoid it.
Matsuda misses with a looping left.
Matsuda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Erdogan.
Erdogan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsuda.
An attempted straight right counter from Erdogan misses the target.
Erdogan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Erdogan throws a leg kick but Matsuda sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matsuda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Erdogan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Erdogan lands a nice looking body kick.
Erdogan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erdogan connects with a looping right hand.

The cut above Tanaka Matsuda's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Erdogan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsuda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Erdogans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Erdogan swings widly with a right hand
and Matsuda counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsuda misses with a looping right.
Erdogan is looking to counter with a body kick.
Erdogan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsuda lands a head shot.
Erdogan digs a good hook to Matsuda's body.
Matsuda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Erdogan.
Matsuda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Erdogan lands a glancing blow to the side of Matsuda's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuda. Erdogan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Erdogan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Erdogan looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Erdogan with a nice calf kick.
Jab by Erdogan.
Matsuda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Matsuda checks a low kick from Erdogan.
Matsuda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Erdogan forces Matsuda back against the cage and clinches.
Tanaka Matsuda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right from Erdogan.

Tanaka Matsuda's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Erdogan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Erdogan misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Erdogan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Matsuda is rocked!
Matsuda jumps guard but Erdogan stands there with Matsuda around his waist. Matsuda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matsuda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice right hand lands inside from Erdogan.
Matsuda is still on wobbly legs! Can Erdogan finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erdogan is pressed up against the cage. Matsuda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Erdogan down to the mat. Erdogan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Erdogan.
Matsuda misses with a takedown attempt
and Erdogan counters with a powerful cross that connects right on the chin and the lights go out! A massive one punch knock out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mustafa Erdogan!
A very excited looking Mustafa Erdogan made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.