PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Makao Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Sepultura - Territory . Pope has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. 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
Pope

188 cm
30
210 lbs
17 - 12 - 1

190 cm
27
213 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 17 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Makao Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Pope!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope thuds his right hand into Matsumoto's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Makao Matsumoto has been cut.
A shot to the liver by Matsumoto. Beautiful body shot.
Matsumoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsumoto swings for the body but Pope moves out of range.
Matsumoto scores with a hook to the body. Pope takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice defenses there by Pope.
Pope cracks Matsumoto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pope throws a lazy right hand but Matsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsumoto slips a jab from Pope.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
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 closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pope to the mat! Pope manages to get full guard.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
Matsumoto is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope pulls Matsumoto in close to prevent any damage.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.

Matsumoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
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 missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matsumoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pope wants to stand up but Matsumoto is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope controlling the position.

Matsumoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Matsumoto postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matsumoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsumoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsumoto engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pope preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is fighting to break Pope's control of his arms but Pope is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Matsumoto trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Pope has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the strikes.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto throws a right hand that misses
and Pope counters with a nice body shot.
A big left from Pope misses.
Pope thuds his shin into the meat of Matsumoto's side.
Pope lands a two punch combo.
Pope jabs Matsumoto right on the nose. Matsumoto blinks but takes it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsumoto lands with a cross.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
A left lands for Pope.
Pope misses with a right hand

and Matsumoto counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pope!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pope is not content to let Matsumoto control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matsumoto tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
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 Makao Matsumoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Makao Matsumoto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matsumoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pope circles away quickly and effectively.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pope, as that shot connected.
Pope thuds a left hand into Matsumoto's body.
Matsumoto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pope throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto lands a nice hook to Pope's body. Pope takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pope misses with an uppercut. Matsumoto saw that one coming.
Pope shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pope might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pope takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pope lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsumoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Pope loads up on a big right hand but Matsumoto slips the punch.
Pope lands a nice looking body shot.
Matsumoto is looking to wear down Pope with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pope moves forwards but Matsumoto connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A jab from Pope misses.
Matsumoto looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Matsumoto thows a body shot but no joy.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot.
Pope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matsumoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Donk. Matsumoto catches Pope right on the button with a cross.
Pope takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matsumoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsumoto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michael Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pope 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 takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope lands a jab.
A slow jab from Matsumoto misses its intended target.
Matsumoto thuds a left hand into Pope's body.
Matsumoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pope manages to avoid it.
Pope leaves Matsumoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makao Matsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the body from Matsumoto misses
and Pope counters with a left to the body.

Pope rushes Matsumoto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Matsumoto.
A right handed body shot lands from Pope.
Pope swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsumoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsumoto lands a nice uppercut.
Matsumoto throws a punch but it's blocked by Pope.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope misses with a body punch.
A short right from Pope on the inside.
Pope blocking some punches.
Matsumoto has Pope pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pope manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Matsumoto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pope blocks a body shot from Matsumoto.

Pope manages to break the clinch.
Pope throws a lazy right hand but Matsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pope defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matsumoto.
Pope walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Matsumoto lands with an overhand left.
Pope throws a shot from downtown. Matsumoto moves away and avoids it.
A big left from Pope misses.
Michael Pope seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsumoto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pope throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto takes a swing at Pope's ribcage but misses.
Pope moves into range and connects with a jab.
Matsumoto misses with an uppercut.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pope 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.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pope lands with a good body shot.
Matsumoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Pope counter with a right hand.
Pope takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pope thows a body shot but no joy.
Pope lands a jab.
Matsumoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Pope 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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pope scores with a jab. Matsumoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Matsumoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pope keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Pope moved out of range nicely.
Matsumoto scores with a body shot.
Pope throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pope misses with a leg kick.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pope is fending him off so far but Matsumoto persists. Nope, Pope circles away and we're back to standing.
Matsumoto connects with a nice looking jab.
Pope misses with a hook to the body

and Matsumoto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pope won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pope can't do much from the bottom here.
Matsumoto is working Pope over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pope keeps working.
Matsumoto is trying to ground and pound but Pope uses the momentary lack of control by Matsumoto to regain half guard.
Matsumoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Matsumoto.
Pope blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope is looking to improve his position.
Pope blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matsumoto wants to pass to mount but Pope is defending the position.
Matsumoto slips a nice elbow through Pope's hands, connecting with Pope's forehead.
Pope is staying active underneath Matsumoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Matsumoto is looking to pass Pope's guard but actually Pope recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
Matsumoto is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matsumoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Pope trying to control the position.
Matsumoto throwing strikes from guard but Pope blocks nicely.
Matsumoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pope works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matsumoto trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Matsumoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makao Matsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matsumoto 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makao Matsumoto!
Makao Matsumoto seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.