PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Atsushi Matsunaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aryah Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsunaga comes to the cage accompanied by Masaaki Endoh - Ai wo Torimodose!!. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Matsunaga
vs
Thurston

171 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
22
146 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Alpha-Omega
Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Atsushi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aryah Thurston!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Thurston.
A combination from Thurston does no damage.
Thurston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matsunaga wants to clinch up but Thurston keeps it at a distance.
Thurston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thurston fails to land with a series of punches.
Thurston throws a series of punches but Matsunaga avoids them all with ease.
Aryah Thurston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Thurston misses.

Thurston clinches up with Matsunaga and pushes him back against the cage.
Matsunaga avoiding damage as Thurston throws knees to the body.
Thurston wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matsunaga takes an elbow to the temple.
Thurston wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Thurston breaks the clinch.
Thurston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thurston tries to clinch but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Matsunaga blocks a head kick by Thurston.
Thurston moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsunaga shoots in for a double leg but Thurston sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch but Thurston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thurston throws a right and a left that Matsunaga avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Thurston misses.
Thurston throws a sloppy head kick and Matsunaga moves out of range easily.
Matsunaga thuds a left hand into Thurston's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matsunaga shoots in and bounces Thurston off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thurston looks gassed!
Thurston is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Thurston had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Matsunaga is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thurston Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Matsunaga's back instead.
Thurston is not going to allow Matsunaga to sit and survive in this position.

Thurston is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Matsunaga knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Matsunaga for a finish.

Thurston looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Thurston decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Matsunaga has Thurston up against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston trying to stall but Matsunaga improves his position.

Thurston breaks the clinch.
Matsunaga fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aryah Thurston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Thurston gets caught flat footed, as Matsunaga shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Matsunaga decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thurston, up you get!
Matsunaga slips a jab and a cross from Thurston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston thuds a left hand into Matsunaga's body.
Thurston looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matsunaga has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Thurston blocks it.
Thurston throws a series of punches but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Matsunaga is looking to clinch.
Thurston scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thurston lands a head kick. Matsunaga smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick misses from Matsunaga.
Thurston misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thurston misses with a series of wild punches.
Thurston tries to clinch there but Matsunaga circles away.
Thurston misses with a series of wild punches.

Thurston moves into range and clinches up with Matsunaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thurston wants to get back to striking at distance but Matsunaga won't allow it.
Thurston can't break the clinch.

Matsunaga breaks the clinch.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A right-left combo lands from Thurston.
Thurston throws a nice looking combination but Matsunaga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thurston throws a one two combo.
Matsunaga tries to clinch up but Thurston circles away and keeps his distance.
Thurston tries to clinch
and Matsunaga counters with a left to the body.
Matsunaga has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thurston finds it's way round the side to connect with Matsunaga's head.
Thurston misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thurston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Matsunaga counters by moving into the clinch.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Matsunaga with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atsushi Matsunaga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thurston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thurston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Thurston gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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 Atsushi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
That's time! Matsunaga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matsunaga closes the distance and clinches.
Matsunaga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thurston tries to break the clinch but Matsunaga is controlling the position.
Thurston missing with knees to the body.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thurston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga slips a jab and a cross from Thurston.

Matsunaga clinches up against the cage.
Matsunaga stalls.

Thurston manages to break the clinch.
Thurston misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice sprawl there from Thurston as Matsunaga shoots in.

Matsunaga has Thurston up against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston lands an elbow just above Matsunaga 's eye.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsunaga wants to break the clinch but can't.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thurston misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston throws a right and a left that Matsunaga avoids nicely.
Thurston throws a push kick but Matsunaga slaps the foot to one side.
Thurston throws a nice head kick!
Thurston tries to bum rush Matsunaga with a series of wild strikes but Matsunaga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thurston tries to clinch but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Thurston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Matsunaga has Thurston up against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston misses with a knee strike.

Matsunaga breaks from the clinch.
Thurston lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thurston tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thurston wants to clinch.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses.
Thurston throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Matsunaga looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matsunaga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Thurston looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Matsunaga has picked Thurston up and slammed him! Thurston can't keep hold of the triangle and Matsunaga manages to pass to side control!
Thurston is trying to buck Matsunaga off.

Matsunaga decides to stand back up.

Thurston has managed to clinch.
Matsunaga wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thurston is looking to break free of the clinch but Matsunaga has double underhooks.

Thurston breaks from the clinch.
Matsunaga dodges the punch combination from Thurston.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thurston actively working from the bottom here.
Thurston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thurston wants to get back to his feet but Matsunaga is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matsunaga trying to control but Thurston is working from the bottom.

Thurston is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thurston misses with a head kick.
Matsunaga feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thurston's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thurston rushes Matsunaga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Matsunaga.

Matsunaga breaks from the clinch.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Thurston moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thurston.
Matsunaga showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thurston.
Matsunaga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsunaga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thurston moves in looking to clinch but Matsunaga pushes him off.
Matsunaga takes a kick to the side of the head.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Thurston is having none of it.
Thurston blocks a head kick by Matsunaga.
Thurston's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Thurston duly obliges.

Thurston clinches.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thurston throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Matsunaga counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atsushi Matsunaga dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matsunaga tries to clinch but Thurston moves out of range.
Thurston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thurston moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Thurston moves out of range.

Thurston takes the fight into the clinch.
Thurston is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Matsunaga wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thurston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matsunaga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thurston can't break the clinch.

Matsunaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thurston tries to clinch up but Matsunaga circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thurston misses with a double jab.
Thurston avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters circling - Thurston throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thurston takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thurston misses with a combination

and Matsunaga counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston with a knee to the head.

Matsunaga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thurston explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thurston swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thurston wants to clinch but Matsunaga slips to the side

and Matsunaga counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thurston gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Thurston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thurston scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thurston bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsunaga's head backwards.
Matsunaga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matsunaga fails in his attempt to clinch.

Thurston has Matsunaga up against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston wants to break free but Matsunaga has control.

Thurston breaks from the clinch.
Thurston displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.

Matsunaga closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurston tries to improve position but can't.

Matsunaga decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thurston to his feet.
Thurston misses with a double jab

and Matsunaga counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Matsunaga.
Thurston wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsunaga has him pressed against the cage.
Thurston is looking to break free of the clinch but Matsunaga has double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Matsunaga just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thurston's brow.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Matsunaga is working for takedown but Thurston is calmly controlling the position for now.
Matsunaga keeps control of Thurston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thurston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thurston throws a series of punches but Matsunaga avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Thurston misses.
Thurston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsunaga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thurston lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsunaga off the cage and back into rage.
A head kick misses from Thurston.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Thurston as he connects with a hook.
Thurston wants to clinch up but Matsunaga keeps it at a distance.

Thurston clinches up against the cage.

Thurston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Matsunaga closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matsunaga lands in his opponent's guard.
Matsunaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Thurston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matsunaga gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thurston scores with a head kick.
Thurston throws a left and a right that both miss

and Matsunaga counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thurston's guard now.

Thurston has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Matsunaga is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thurston.
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!
Thurston tries to bench press Matsunaga off him but Matsunaga keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thurston is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Matsunaga stops Thurston from getting back to his feet.
Well, if Matsunaga is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Aryah Thurston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thurston is refusing to be controlled, as Matsunaga sits in half guard.
Matsunaga will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thurston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Thurston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matsunaga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Atsushi Matsunaga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Matsunaga, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Atsushi Matsunaga!