PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takeo Matsukata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Only MacPherson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Matsukata
vs
MacPherson

179 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Snap Crackle Pop Fight Gear

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Takeo Matsukata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Only MacPherson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacPherson throws a series of punches but Matsukata moves out of range.
Matsukata misses with a head kick.
Matsukata fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from MacPherson misses.
Matsukata really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matsukata misses with a combination
and MacPherson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Matsukata misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacPherson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matsukata's hands.
Matsukata shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with MacPherson but MacPherson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
MacPherson misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacPherson tries to work over Matsukata's front leg with a kick but Matsukata checks it.
Matsukata wants to clinch but MacPherson slips to the side
and MacPherson counters with a straight right hand.
Matsukata throws a head kick that misses
and MacPherson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsukata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matsukata doesn't manage to clinch there - MacPherson circles away.
Matsukata connects with a high kick.
Matsukata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsukata stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata with a lazy takedown attempt

and MacPherson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeo Matsukata. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matsukata breaks from the clinch.
Takeo Matsukata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsukata throws a push kick but MacPherson slaps the foot to one side.
MacPherson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matsukata tries to clinch but MacPherson moves out of range.
Matsukata tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. MacPherson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsukata wants to clinch.
MacPherson wants to slow Matsukata down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata tries for a takedown but MacPherson circles away easily
and MacPherson counters with a one-two to the body.

Matsukata shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
You get the feeling that MacPherson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Matsukata will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Matsukata trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matsukata thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Matsukata throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Matsukata looking to control but MacPherson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Matsukata 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.
Matsukata putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsukata sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsukata avoids the attempt from MacPherson to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsukata shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as MacPherson sprawls well. MacPherson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matsukata gets slowly back to his feet.
MacPherson misses with a two punch combination.
Matsukata with a poor takedown
and MacPherson counters with a one-two to the body.

Matsukata has MacPherson up against the cage in a clinch.

Matsukata manages to break the clinch.
Matsukata moves in looking to clinch but MacPherson pushes him off.
Matsukata tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsukata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsukata has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeo Matsukata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacPherson keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsukata tries to score a power double leg takedown but MacPherson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matsukata somewhat.
MacPherson tries to clinch up.
MacPherson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsukata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Matsukata or perhaps it was just good defense by MacPherson which made him look bad.
MacPherson swinging wildly here.

Matsukata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. MacPherson sprawls well initially but Matsukata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

MacPherson pushes Matsukata off and gets back to his feet.

Matsukata gets tackled into the cage by MacPherson. MacPherson maintains the clinch.
MacPherson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Matsukata pulls guard.
MacPherson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matsukata. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacPherson wanted to stand there but Matsukata had control of the position.
Matsukata working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
MacPherson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsukata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

MacPherson gets to his feet. Matsukata looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
MacPherson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matsukata swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matsukata fails with a takedown attempt.
Matsukata tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but MacPherson swivels and escapes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsukata swings for the body but MacPherson moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from MacPherson, right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Takeo Matsukata will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

MacPherson slaps away a takedown attempt from Matsukata, before circling back to the center of the mat.
MacPherson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and MacPherson wants it to stay on the feet.

MacPherson gets caught flat footed, as Matsukata shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matsukata slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

MacPherson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Matsukata tries to close the distance and clinch but MacPherson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsukata gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and MacPherson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeo Matsukata. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsukata misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matsukata blocks a leg kick.
Matsukata fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacPherson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Matsukata fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matsukata shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and MacPherson counters with a two punch combo.
Only MacPherson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacPherson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsukata.
Matsukata swinging wildly here.
MacPherson throws a right hand that Matsukata ducks under and follows up with a left that Matsukata also avoids with ease.
Sloppy strikes from MacPherson. Those never looked like landing.
Matsukata is looking to clinch but MacPherson is avoiding it.
MacPherson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matsukata.
Matsukata dodges the punch combination from MacPherson.
Matsukata looks for a takedown but MacPherson sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsukata fails with an attempt to clinch.

MacPherson moves into the clinch.
MacPherson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matsukata blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
MacPherson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matsukata misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata tries to pull guard but MacPherson holds him up against the cage and eventually Matsukata drops back down to his feet.
Matsukata looking for a takedown.
Only MacPherson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsukata jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacPherson walks away with a smile on his face. Matsukata gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
MacPherson looks to land a combination but Matsukata avoids it well.
Matsukata tries to clinch but MacPherson moves out of range.
Matsukata with a lazy takedown attempt
and MacPherson counters with a one-two to the body.
MacPherson's corner calls for a 1-2. MacPherson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsukata misses with a takedown
and MacPherson counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Only MacPherson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matsukata 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Only MacPherson!
Only MacPherson spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.