PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vanden Plas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Matsumoto's choice of entrance music: Sepultura - Territory . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Plas
vs
Matsumoto

184 cm
30
196 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

188 cm
30
210 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vanden Plas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Plas is just out of range.
Matsumoto takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Plas as he jumps to the side.
A head kick misses from Plas.
No luck for Matsumoto with that takedown attempt.
Plas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matsumoto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Matsumoto shoots in and bounces Plas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Plas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matsumoto controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Plas is on top in guard.
Matsumoto is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Plas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Plas sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Matsumoto looking for submissions off his back.
Plas is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Matsumoto!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Plas controlling his opponent.
Matsumoto is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto tries to lock up and control but Plas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Plas tries to control but Matsumoto wriggling away.
Matsumoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Plas wants to control the pace but Matsumoto is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto regains half guard.

Matsumoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Plas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsumoto defending well though.
Matsumoto is not content to let Plas control the position.
Plas wants to advance to full mount but Matsumoto doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto controls Plas momentarily but Plas frees himself.
Matsumoto looking for a sweep. Not yet Matsumoto, not yet.
Matsumoto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Plas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Plas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Matsumoto's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vanden Plas wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Matsumoto lands with an overhand left.
Matsumoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Plas's hands.
Plas walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plas throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick from Plas.

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Matsumoto trying to control the action but Plas is working from the bottom.
Plas is trying to stand up here but Matsumoto is controlling him well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in half guard, Matsumoto seems content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matsumoto is working for a submission of some sort.
Matsumoto is just content to waste time from the top position. Plas takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Makao Matsumoto dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Matsumoto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matsumoto digs a good body shot into Plas's ribs.
Plas throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto throws a big shot that misses.
Matsumoto scores with the left hand. Plas knows he should have avoided that one.
Plas tries to land a front kick but Matsumoto steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Makao Matsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Plas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Plas scores with a jab to the head.
Plas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Plas lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matsumoto lands a head shot.
Matsumoto misses with a jab to the body
and Plas counters with a body kick that stops Matsumoto in his tracks momentarily.
Makao Matsumoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, jab by Matsumoto - just one landing.
Vanden Plas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Plas lands with a nice body punch.
Plas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsumoto shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Plas eats them both and turns towards Matsumoto to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Matsumoto scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsumoto lands with a nice body punch.
Plas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Plas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsumoto connects with a right hand. Plas shakes it off.
Plas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matsumoto throws a hook but Plas avoids it easily.
Plas throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsumoto swings widly with a right hand
and Plas counters with a nice body kick.
Matsumoto moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsumoto shoots for a takedown but Plas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matsumoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Plas.
Matsumoto lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plas is fending him off so far but Matsumoto persists. Nope, Plas circles away and we're back to standing.
Matsumoto looks to land a right hand but Plas moved out of range.
Plas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Matsumoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Plas manages to avoid it.
Plas throws a head kick that misses.
Matsumoto tests Plas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matsumoto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Plas moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto throws a predictable looking body shot
and Plas counters with an outside leg kick.
Matsumoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Plas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Plas as he jumps to the side.
Vanden Plas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makao Matsumoto.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Plas moves away.
Matsumoto connects with a body shot.
Plas throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsumoto scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Plas. Plas obviously looking to wear him down.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Plas thows a body kick. Matsumoto tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Makao Matsumoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matsumoto moves out of range as Plas strikes.
Matsumoto throws a poor cross that misses
and Plas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Plas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Plas finds it's way round the side to connect with Matsumoto's head.

It looks like Makao Matsumoto has been cut.
Plas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matsumoto dives in and grabs Plas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Plas pushes down on Matsumoto's head and hops out.
Vanden Plas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makao Matsumoto.
Plas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matsumoto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Plas lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Matsumoto is rocked!
Plas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matsumoto's sensitive parts.
Matsumoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Plas finish him?
Matsumoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Plas.
Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Plas moved out of range nicely.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Plas is fending him off so far but Matsumoto persists. Nope, Plas circles away and we're back to standing.
Matsumoto swings away with a body shot that misses
and Plas finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Matsumoto seems to have recovered his senses.
Plas pounces like a tiger and cracks Matsumoto with a vicious hook! Matsumoto is down but not out! Plas follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Vanden Plas!
A very excited looking Vanden Plas made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.