PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diesel Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Power's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Xzibit-Release Date . Matsumoto has chosen Sepultura - Territory as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Power
vs
Matsumoto

180 cm
31
221 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

188 cm
28
210 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Diesel Power!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Power swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Matsumoto.
Horrible takedown by Power or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsumoto which made him look bad.
Matsumoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Power.
Power shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matsumoto pinned against the cage. Matsumoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Power thows a left - swing and a miss!
Power fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diesel Power. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Power throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Power with a lazy takedown attempt
and Power takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Power misses with a head kick.
Power looks to throw the jab but Matsumoto is out of range.
Matsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Power.
Power ducks right into an uppercut from Matsumoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power misses with a takedown attempt - Matsumoto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Power moves away.
Power cracks Matsumoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Power throws out a loose jab but Matsumoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Power falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matsumoto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Power misses with an uppercut. Matsumoto saw that one coming.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Power.

Power clinches.
Power tries to pull guard but Matsumoto forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Matsumoto tries for a takedown but Power manages to get underhooks.
Matsumoto misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a hook that snaps the head of Power backwards.

Matsumoto successfully pulls guard.

Matsumoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Matsumoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsumoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matsumoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Power can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Power connects with a couple of short punches.
Matsumoto is trying to keep Power in close.
Power pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matsumoto is keeping the position for now.

Matsumoto is looking for a triangle but Power pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsumoto is retaining full guard.
Power trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Matsumoto 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.
Power looking to pass the guard.
Power 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 Power defends easily.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Power looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matsumoto looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Power passes into side control.
Matsumoto isn't going anywhere.
Matsumoto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Power wants to work for an arm triangle but Matsumoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matsumoto has hold of Power's hands but Power slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matsumoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Power.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Power is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Matsumoto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Power.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Diesel Power will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matsumoto missing with a left hand there. Power was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsumoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Power.
Power fails with a takedown attempt.
Diesel Power seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Power tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matsumoto throws a hook but Power avoids it easily.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Power moves out of range.
Matsumoto loads up on a big right hand but Power slips the punch.
Power throws an overhand right that lands on Matsumoto's shoulder, as Matsumoto tries to avoid the shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Power.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsumoto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Power.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diesel Power. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Power misses with a straight right.
Power missing with a left hand there. Matsumoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsumoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Power.

Power moves into the clinch.
Matsumoto is pressed up against the cage. Power has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Matsumoto down to the mat. Matsumoto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Power clobbers Matsumoto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Power will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsumoto stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Power throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matsumoto cracks a nice hook into Power's ribs.
Power misses with a takedown attempt - Matsumoto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsumoto slips a jab and a cross from Power.
Power shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsumoto sprawls well. He's pushed Power's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsumoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Power is just out of range.
Power misses with an uppercut.
Power uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsumoto.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Power doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsumoto missing with a left hand there. Power was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big right from Power misses.
Nice takedown defense from Matsumoto. No joy for Power on that attempt.
Power will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matsumoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsumoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Power was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matsumoto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Matsumoto ducks right into an uppercut from Power.
Power lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Power moves out of range.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Power.
Power is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matsumoto scores with a shot to the body.

Matsumoto fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Power to the ground. Matsumoto is now in Power's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Power has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Matsumoto has passed into side control.
Power is not content to let Matsumoto control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto is trying to get an arm triangle but Power is defending well.

Matsumoto tries for a kimura but Power is defending well.
Power is being controlled here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makao Matsumoto 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matsumoto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Power swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Power pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Power does a little dance to reset his feet.

Power shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Matsumoto is looking for a sweep. Power is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Makao Matsumoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matsumoto manages to get to full guard.
Matsumoto keeping moving, preventing Power from controlling successfully.

Matsumoto is looking for a triangle but Power pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matsumoto's head.
Matsumoto trying to control the position here.
Power's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Power throws an elbow that misses. Matsumoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Power's guard. Nice move by Matsumoto!
Matsumoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Power swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Power trying to keep a closed guard but Matsumoto is proving a slippery customer.
Matsumoto forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matsumoto trying to control the action but Power is working from the bottom.
Power wants to get back to full guard.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Power keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto works his way into full mount!
Matsumoto raining down hammerfists from mount.
Matsumoto working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Matsumoto tries to control but Power wriggling away.
Matsumoto with good strikes from the mount here!
Power tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matsumoto with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto tries to control but Power wriggling away.
Matsumoto landing strikes from the mount and Power is in trouble!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Power tries to hold on but Matsumoto pushes him away.
Power working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makao Matsumoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matsumoto 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makao Matsumoto!
Makao Matsumoto managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Mango Nutrition , into his post fight interview.