PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kiyah Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Obomba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Matsumoto
vs
Obomba

168 cm
28
150 lbs
14 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
153 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

[JMFC] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kiyah Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Obomba!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto connects with a jab.

Matsumoto darts in and clinches Obomba up against the cage.
Matsumoto misses with the head strike.
Matsumoto lands a nice shot to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Matsumoto prevents a body shot from Obomba.

Obomba works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Matsumoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obomba is one step ahead there.
Obomba trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obomba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsumoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Matsumoto goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Obomba is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsumoto working a defensive guard here.
Obomba trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Obomba lands a couple of elbows.
Matsumoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Obomba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Obomba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Matsumoto dives on top into guard.

Matsumoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matsumoto throwing strikes from guard but Obomba blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obomba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Obomba looking to control.
Matsumoto with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Obomba is retaining full guard.
Obomba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matsumoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obomba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matsumoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsumoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obomba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Obomba can't keep his opponent in guard - Matsumoto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Matsumoto is pressing down on Obomba's thigh, looking to free his foot. Obomba is holding on for now.
Matsumoto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Obomba trying to control here.

Matsumoto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Matsumoto seems to be working for a kimura but Obomba defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Obomba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matsumoto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matsumoto slips a nice elbow through Obomba's hands, connecting with Obomba's forehead.
Matsumoto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Obomba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsumoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Obomba makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Obomba.
Obomba being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyah Matsumoto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Obomba wants to land a leg kick but Matsumoto is out of range.
Matsumoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Obomba.
Matsumoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obomba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Obomba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Obomba avoids it really well and circles away.
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Obomba scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Obomba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Obomba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Obomba working Matsumoto over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matsumoto wants to get back to full guard.
Obomba tries to pass to full mount but Matsumoto defends it.
Matsumoto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Obomba lands a couple of digs.
Obomba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obomba thows a big elbow that misses.
Obomba chips away with some ground and pound.
Obomba lands a couple of elbows.
Obomba stopping the sweep attempt from Matsumoto.

Matsumoto working for a triangle but Obomba defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obomba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Obomba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Matsumoto has his foot on Obomba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Obomba works his way back into a safe position though.
Matsumoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Matsumoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Obomba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Obomba lands a couple of elbows.
Matsumoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Obomba preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is trying to control the position but Obomba postures up.
Obomba is in close to Matsumoto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Matsumoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obomba is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obomba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Obomba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Obomba working some strikes from top position.
Obomba works over Matsumoto with some ground and pound from guard.
Matsumoto wants to sweep here but Obomba controlling him for the moment.

Matsumoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Obomba is aware though and is defending well.
Obomba tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsumoto is retaining full guard.
Obomba postures up in Matsumoto's guard and throws a big left but Matsumoto blocks it.
Obomba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Obomba wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Obomba working some strikes from top position.
Obomba is working Matsumoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Obomba thows a big elbow that misses.
Obomba chips away with some ground and pound.
Matsumoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Obomba is one step ahead there.
Obomba wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.

Matsumoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obomba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Obomba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsumoto throws a sloppy body shot

and Obomba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Matsumoto's guard now.
Matsumoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Obomba with a flurry of punches that miss.

Matsumoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matsumoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Obomba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Matsumoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Obomba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matsumoto lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Obomba!
Obomba tries to hold on but Matsumoto pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obomba is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsumoto has a good base and remains in mount.
Obomba wants to control but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Obomba is trying desperately to improve position.
Obomba regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Obomba manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matsumoto preventing the sweep.
Obomba is trying to control the position but Matsumoto postures up.
Obomba 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.
Obomba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matsumoto passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Obomba some visible discomfort.
Obomba is trying to improve his position.
Matsumoto slows the pace down.
Matsumoto landing a few strikes.

Matsumoto tries for a kimura but Obomba is defending well.
Matsumoto trying to control the action but Obomba is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Matsumoto are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The strikes coming from Matsumoto are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Matsumoto lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Obomba is looking for a sweep.
Matsumoto is looking to take a break and control but Obomba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsumoto lands some shots froms side control.
Obomba is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Obomba is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obomba actively working from the bottom here.
Barry Obomba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Obomba won't allow Matsumoto to pass to mount.
Obomba regains full guard. Nicely done.
Matsumoto works over Obomba with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matsumoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Obomba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matsumoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matsumoto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Obomba is trying to control the position but Matsumoto postures up.

Obomba is looking for a triangle but Matsumoto pushes his legs off easily.
Obomba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kiyah Matsumoto.
I think Matsumoto has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyah Matsumoto!