PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Vovchanchyn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes to the cage accompanied by Sepultura - Territory . Vovchanchyn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: the game. 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
Vovchanchyn

188 cm
27
210 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

177 cm
36
208 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wanderlei Vovchanchyn!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vovchanchyn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matsumoto's hands.
Vovchanchyn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsumoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsumoto misses with a looping right.
Nice takedown defense from Vovchanchyn. No joy for Matsumoto on that attempt.
Vovchanchyn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vovchanchyn ducks under a wild hook from Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn moves away from the strike by Matsumoto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Vovchanchyn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vovchanchyn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vovchanchyn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matsumoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vovchanchyn was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn dodges the punch combination from Matsumoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
A swing and a miss from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto jabs at Vovchanchyn's body.
Matsumoto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vovchanchyn lands a nice hook to Matsumoto's body. Matsumoto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vovchanchyn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matsumoto is out of range and Vovchanchyn settles back down.
Vovchanchyn lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsumoto off the cage and back into range.
Matsumoto connects with a body shot.
Matsumoto misses with a takedown attempt - Vovchanchyn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Vovchanchyn moves out of range.
Matsumoto misses with an uppercut. Vovchanchyn saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Vovchanchyn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto tries to move into range but Vovchanchyn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsumoto throws a looping overhand right but Vovchanchyn ducks down to avoid it.
Matsumoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Vovchanchyn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsumoto avoids the body shot from Vovchanchyn.
Vovchanchyn takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vovchanchyn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vovchanchyn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vovchanchyn moves away.
Matsumoto throws a looping overhand right but Vovchanchyn ducks down to avoid it.
Matsumoto slips a jab from Vovchanchyn.
Matsumoto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Matsumoto checks the leg kick nicely there.
Vovchanchyn slips under a jab.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Vovchanchyn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the strikes.
Vovchanchyn just misses with a punch to the body.
Vovchanchyn tries to bum rush Matsumoto with a series of wild strikes but Matsumoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Vovchanchyn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Matsumoto misses with a straight left.
Vovchanchyn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsumoto swivels and escapes.
Matsumoto closes the distance and clinches up with Vovchanchyn, looking for a takedown. Matsumoto pushes Vovchanchyn against the cage but Vovchanchyn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Matsumoto throws an off balance right hand
and Vovchanchyn counters with a stiff right hand.
Vovchanchyn throws out a leg kick but Matsumoto moves out of range and Vovchanchyn only half commits.
Matsumoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vovchanchyn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vovchanchyn does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Matsumoto lands with an uppercut that bounces Vovchanchyn off the cage and back into range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Vovchanchyn moves out of range.
Matsumoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vovchanchyn.
Vovchanchyn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wanderlei Vovchanchyn will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matsumoto misses with a wild combination.
Vovchanchyn moves away from the strike by Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn slips a jab and a cross from Matsumoto.
Wanderlei Vovchanchyn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsumoto thows a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Matsumoto does no damage.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Matsumoto is looking to wear down Vovchanchyn with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matsumoto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vovchanchyn doesn't seem bothered though.
Vovchanchyn misses with a leg kick.
Matsumoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vovchanchyn.
Vovchanchyn throws a lazy right hand but Matsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vovchanchyn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto cracks Vovchanchyn with a right hand to the side of the head.
Vovchanchyn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsumoto.
Vovchanchyn scores with a body shot.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot.
Matsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Vovchanchyn loads up on a big right hand but Matsumoto slips the punch.

Vovchanchyn shoots in and gets a takedown into Matsumoto's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vovchanchyn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vovchanchyn forces his way into half guard.
Matsumoto wants to improve his position but Vovchanchyn is controlling well.

Vovchanchyn is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matsumoto sees it coming and defends easily.
Vovchanchyn wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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 moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Matsumoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vovchanchyn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matsumoto looking for a guillotine here but Vovchanchyn defends easily.
Vovchanchyn working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vovchanchyn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vovchanchyn landing with the ground and pound.
Vovchanchyn wants to pass the guard but Matsumoto is keeping the position.
Vovchanchyn wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.
Matsumoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsumoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Matsumoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vovchanchyn's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vovchanchyn 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.
Matsumoto wants to sweep here but Vovchanchyn controlling him for the moment.
Vovchanchyn cracks Matsumoto with a solid left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto keeping full guard, as Vovchanchyn tries to pass.
Vovchanchyn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Vovchanchyn 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!

No joy there for Matsumoto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matsumoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Matsumoto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vovchanchyn!
Vovchanchyn can't escape the position.
Matsumoto tries to control but Vovchanchyn wriggling away.
Vovchanchyn is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vovchanchyn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto wants to control the pace but Vovchanchyn is squirming around nicely.
Vovchanchyn controls the position.
Matsumoto wants to control the pace but Vovchanchyn is squirming around nicely.
Vovchanchyn is looking to improve his position but Matsumoto isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn wants to control but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Matsumoto thowing shots but they're missing.
Vovchanchyn tries to reverse the position but Matsumoto maintains control.
Matsumoto unloads with some shots from mount but Vovchanchyn bucks and avoids them well.
Vovchanchyn is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto avoids the attempt from Vovchanchyn to control.
Vovchanchyn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Vovchanchyn is staying active underneath Matsumoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vovchanchyn holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Vovchanchyn is looking to control Matsumoto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vovchanchyn avoid being mounted?
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Matsumoto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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 wants to pass to mount but Vovchanchyn is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn wants to control but Matsumoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Matsumoto throws a strike but Vovchanchyn avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Matsumoto is looking to work some ground and pound but Vovchanchyn has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vovchanchyn is on top in guard.

Matsumoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vovchanchyn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vovchanchyn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Matsumoto looking for subs off his back but Vovchanchyn has passed one foot through into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Vovchanchyn connects with a nice short shot to Matsumoto's temple.
Matsumoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vovchanchyn's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vovchanchyn's back!
Matsumoto thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Vovchanchyn controlling Matsumoto 's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vovchanchyn trying to control but not successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vovchanchyn controlling Matsumoto 's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Wanderlei Vovchanchyn.
I've got Vovchanchyn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wanderlei Vovchanchyn!
Our winner, Wanderlei Vovchanchyn, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.