PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Puckerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes to the cage accompanied by Sepultura - Territory . 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.

Matsumoto
vs
Puckerman

188 cm
24
210 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

184 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

1337 ANZAC

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Noah Puckerman!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsumoto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Puckerman sprawls well initially but Matsumoto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Puckerman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matsumoto is working away from the top position though.
Puckerman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matsumoto is trying to control. Puckerman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matsumoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Puckerman is staying active underneath Matsumoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Puckerman trying to control here.
Puckerman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throwing shots but Puckerman is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puckerman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matsumoto.

Matsumoto is working for a kimura but Puckerman is defending it quite comfortably.
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 takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Matsumoto wants to control but Puckerman is keeping him busy.
Matsumoto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matsumoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Matsumoto is looking for a kimura but Puckerman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Matsumoto to get the leverage.
Puckerman is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Puckerman is looking to improve his position.
Matsumoto looks to land a strike but Puckerman avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Puckerman keeping full guard, as Matsumoto tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Puckerman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsumoto is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matsumoto stands up over Puckerman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Puckerman keeps moving.
Matsumoto is stalling in the full guard.
Matsumoto throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puckerman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Matsumoto with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto slips nicely into half guard.
Puckerman tries to roll over but Matsumoto keeps him under control.
Matsumoto trying to control from half guard but Puckerman is working away.
Puckerman is looking to improve his position.
Puckerman regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puckerman working a defensive guard here.
Puckerman is looking to stand up but Matsumoto isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makao Matsumoto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puckerman as he jumps to the side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Puckerman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matsumoto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Puckerman.
Makao Matsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Puckerman attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Matsumoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Puckerman tries to avoid it but Matsumoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Puckerman to the ground. Puckerman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matsumoto scores with a hook to the body. Puckerman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matsumoto checks a leg kick.
Puckerman scores with a jab to the head.
Matsumoto has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puckerman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Puckerman is just out of range.
Matsumoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Puckerman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matsumoto somewhat.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puckerman as he avoids it easily.
Matsumoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puckerman was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsumoto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsumoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Matsumoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Puckerman circles away.
A good leg kick by Puckerman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Puckerman wants to slow Matsumoto down by chopping away at his legs.
Puckerman lands a leg kick that knocks Matsumoto off balance momentarily.
Noah Puckerman seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Puckerman defends it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Puckerman scoring well with a low kick there.
Puckerman throws a good cross that connects.
Matsumoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Puckerman lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matsumoto is looking to wear down Puckerman with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Puckerman feints and then cracks Matsumoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsumoto down.
Puckerman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Puckerman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Puckerman lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Matsumoto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Matsumoto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Puckerman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Puckerman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto shoots in and drives through. Puckerman sprawls well.
Puckerman tried to score with a low kick but Matsumoto checks it.
An inside leg kick lands from Puckerman.
Matsumoto has a takedown stuffed.
Matsumoto defending well as Puckerman loads up on a big left hand.
A slow jab from Matsumoto misses its intended target.
Matsumoto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Puckerman.
Puckerman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Puckerman connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matsumoto momentarily.

It looks like Makao Matsumoto has been cut.

Matsumoto gets the takedown into side control.
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!
Puckerman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matsumoto's best efforts.
Puckerman is trying to get back to full guard.
Puckerman is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Puckerman wants to get back to full guard.
Makao Matsumoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matsumoto throwing shots but Puckerman is blocking nicely.
Matsumoto throwing shots but Puckerman is blocking nicely.

Matsumoto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matsumoto drops an elbow to the side of Puckerman's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Puckerman is not content to let Matsumoto control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Puckerman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Makao Matsumoto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Puckerman lands with a cross.
Matsumoto keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Puckerman will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Matsumoto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Puckerman motions for Matsumoto to come forward. Puckerman throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsumoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Puckerman slaps away a takedown attempt from Matsumoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Puckerman shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puckerman stuffs the takedown.
Matsumoto blocks a low kick nicely.
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Puckerman throws a lazy right hand but Matsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puckerman throws a low kick, looking for Matsumoto's leg but Matsumoto calmly moves out of range.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
Horrible takedown by Matsumoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Puckerman which made him look bad.
Matsumoto slips under a jab from Puckerman.
Puckerman needs to keep his hands up - Matsumoto had a free shot at his head there.
Puckerman connects with a right hand. Matsumoto shakes it off.
Puckerman misses with a series of wild punches.
Matsumoto shoots in for a double leg but Puckerman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Matsumoto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Puckerman sprawls well. Puckerman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.
A cross from Puckerman lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Puckerman finds it's target.
Matsumoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Puckerman sprawls well. He's pushed Matsumoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsumoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Puckerman swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Puckerman.
Puckerman misses with an uppercut.
Matsumoto has a takedown stuffed.
Matsumoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Matsumoto is rocked!
Puckerman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Oh Matsumoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Puckerman drops Matsumoto with a straight right hand, right on the button! Puckerman follows him down to the mat and pounds him out with hammerfists until the referee jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Noah Puckerman!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Noah Puckerman waved his t-shirt featuring Global Nutritional ACME (Q157) 90% ROR on Laundry's logo in front of the cameras.