PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Carwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes to the cage accompanied by Sepultura - Territory . Carwin has chosen Tool - Vicarious as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Matsumoto
vs
Carwin

188 cm
23
210 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
208 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

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Adam's NORTHERN WILD

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Casey Carwin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsumoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Carwin tries to get to full guard but Matsumoto has control of the leg.
Carwin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is keen to just control but Carwin is a slippery customer.
Carwin is pressing down on Matsumoto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matsumoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Carwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carwin looking to control.
Matsumoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carwin is keeping the position for now.
Matsumoto trying to control but Carwin is working from the bottom.
Carwin wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carwin working a defensive guard but Matsumoto manages to pass into side control anyway.
Carwin sneaks back into half guard.
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!
Matsumoto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands with a punch from half guard.
Carwin wants to get back to full guard.
Carwin is trying to maintain the position but Matsumoto is very close to passing his half guard.
Carwin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Matsumoto trying to mount his opponent but Carwin defends it.
Carwin manages to get to full guard.
Carwin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Matsumoto controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Carwin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carwin pulls Matsumoto in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Carwin throws a half hearted mid kick.

Carwin drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Matsumoto looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Carwin passes into half guard.
Carwin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matsumoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Carwin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carwin is looking to advance position but Matsumoto won't allow it.
Matsumoto moves into full guard.

Matsumoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carwin is aware though and is defending well.
Carwin tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsumoto is retaining full guard.

Matsumoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carwin is aware though and is defending well.
Matsumoto keeping full guard, as Carwin tries to pass.
Matsumoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matsumoto has his hands on Carwin's head, controlling the position.

Matsumoto looking for a guillotine here but Carwin defends easily.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carwin throws a big right hand that misses.
Carwin distracts Matsumoto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Carwin trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Carwin scoring with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carwin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carwin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matsumoto is keeping the position for now.
Carwin trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.

Matsumoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carwin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Casey Carwin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsumoto manages to avoid it.

Carwin moves into the clinch successfully.
Carwin tries to throw a body punch but Matsumoto avoids it by throwing Carwin back against the cage.
Carwin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Carwin tries to work over Matsumoto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matsumoto can't get the takedown.

Carwin breaks from the clinch.
Carwin slaps away a takedown attempt from Matsumoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Carwin.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsumoto.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsumoto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto fails to land the takedown.
Carwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown but Carwin sprawls well.
Matsumoto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Carwin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Carwin cracks Matsumoto with a good jab.
Carwin misses with a looping right.
Matsumoto misses the jab.
Carwin misses with a hook. Matsumoto ducked under it nicely.
Matsumoto thows a body shot but no joy.

Carwin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matsumoto sprawls well initially but Carwin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsumoto looking to control.
Carwin wants to pass the guard but Matsumoto is keeping the position.
Carwin wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.

Matsumoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carwin defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carwin looking to pass the guard.

Matsumoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Carwin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsumoto keeping moving, preventing Carwin from controlling successfully.
Carwin passes Matsumoto's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Carwin wants to control but Matsumoto is keeping him busy.
Carwin is looking to stall here but Matsumoto recovers full guard.
Matsumoto controls Carwin momentarily but Carwin frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carwin postures up in Matsumoto's guard and throws a big left but Matsumoto blocks it.
Carwin trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.

Matsumoto working for a triangle but Carwin defends it easily.
Carwin wants to pass the guard but Matsumoto is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Carwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Carwin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matsumoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carwin tries to avoid it but Matsumoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carwin to the ground. Carwin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick from Carwin.
Carwin throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Carwin wants to clinch.
Carwin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carwin as he avoids it easily.
Matsumoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carwin jabs Matsumoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Carwin sprawls well. Carwin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carwin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin wants to clinch.

Matsumoto looking to score a takedown here. Carwin is defending well but Matsumoto drives through and ends up in Carwin's guard.
Carwin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Carwin has his foot on Matsumoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsumoto works his way back into a safe position though.

Carwin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matsumoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Matsumoto distracts Carwin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Carwin is looking for a triangle but Matsumoto pushes his legs off easily.
Carwin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carwin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matsumoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsumoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matsumoto trying to control but Carwin is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carwin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matsumoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carwin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carwin has his hands on Matsumoto's head, controlling the position.
Carwin is trying to keep Matsumoto in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matsumoto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matsumoto connects with a body shot that sends Carwin's belly button to the back.
Nice sprawl there from Carwin as Matsumoto shoots in.
Matsumoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Carwin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matsumoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Matsumoto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carwin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Casey Carwin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matsumoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carwin defends it nicely.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carwin but Carwin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carwin looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
Matsumoto shoots in but Carwin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Casey Carwin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carwin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carwin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto fails to land the takedown.
Carwin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Matsumoto rather than just go for the knockout.
Carwin misses with a body shot.
Matsumoto misses with a takedown attempt - Carwin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsumoto shoots in looking for a takedown. Carwin tries to sprawl out of it but Matsumoto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carwin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Matsumoto with that takedown attempt.
Makao Matsumoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carwin scores with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Casey Carwin.
Well Carwin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Casey Carwin!
Casey Carwin really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that >>> Blitzkrieg Formula 5000 (159++ Recovery $50) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.