PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto has chosen Carl Douglas - Kung fu fighting as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kiyoshi Matsumoto was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Johansson
vs
Matsumoto

175 cm
32
156 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

178 cm
38
170 lbs
32 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

The Big Kabosh

Affordable Quality
Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Johansson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johansson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsumoto manages to avoid it.
Johansson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matsumoto throws an off balance right hand
and Johansson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsumoto lands a front kick.
Johansson misses with a hook. Matsumoto ducked under it nicely.
Johansson throws a combination. Matsumoto tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Matsumoto lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matsumoto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johansson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johansson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Matsumoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Johansson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johansson thows a leg kick but Matsumoto checks it
and Johansson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matsumoto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mikael Johansson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a right hook to the body.
Johansson looks to land a left hand but Matsumoto moved out of range nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Matsumoto.
We've been told by Johansson's head coaches at GTi Boot Camp that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Johansson throws the left hand but Matsumoto avoids the punch easily.
Matsumoto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Some wild striking there from Johansson.
Johansson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Johansson walks into a stiff left hand from Matsumoto.
Johansson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johansson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Donk. Matsumoto catches Johansson right on the button with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Johansson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johansson.
Johansson swings widly with a right hand
and Matsumoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsumoto avoids the body shot from Johansson.
Johansson looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
Johansson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matsumoto takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Matsumoto connects with the punch.
Matsumoto is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Johansson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Johansson lands a glancing blow to the side of Matsumoto's head.
Matsumoto throws a front kick aimed at Johansson's knee but Johansson avoids it well.
Johansson scores with a one two! Matsumoto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Matsumoto works Johansson's body with a nice hook.
Matsumoto slips under a jab from Johansson.
Matsumoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Johansson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matsumoto. Matsumoto obviously looking to wear him down.
Johansson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Matsumoto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matsumoto thows a body kick. Johansson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Matsumoto blocks a head kick by Johansson.
Johansson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johansson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsumoto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johansson misses with a body kick.
Johansson throws a right and a left that Matsumoto avoids nicely.
Johansson throws a series of punches but Matsumoto avoids them all with ease.
Matsumoto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Johansson chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsumoto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Johansson throws a half hearted mid kick.
A lazy body kick from Matsumoto
and Johansson counters with a one-two to the body.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johansson.
Johansson avoids the body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto clobbers Johansson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johansson tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsumoto looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Johansson throws a predictable looking body shot

and Matsumoto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Johansson's guard now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Matsumoto trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kiyoshi Matsumoto will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A jab from Johansson misses.
Johansson misses with a straight left.
Matsumoto misses with a leg kick
and Johansson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mikael Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick.
A clash of legs there as Johansson blocks the low kick.
Johansson throws a right and a left that Matsumoto avoids nicely.
Johansson throws a leg kick but Matsumoto sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johansson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johansson thows a body shot but no joy.
Johansson just misses with a punch to the body.
Johansson misses with a double jab.
Johansson lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson throws a head kick that misses.
Johansson tried to score with a low kick but Matsumoto checks it.
Matsumoto dodges the punch combination from Johansson.
Matsumoto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johansson's head backwards.
Good shot there by Matsumoto.
Mikael Johansson is winning the standup battle so far.
A lazy left from Johansson finds it's target.
Johansson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Johansson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mikael Johansson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johansson misses with a body kick.
Johansson is looking to land body kicks.
Johansson avoids a kick to the body.
Johansson throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Matsumoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johansson throws a leg kick that misses.
Johansson misses with a kick to the body.
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.
Johansson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsumoto moves away.
Matsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Johansson.
Johansson works over Matsumoto's head and body with a nice combination.
Matsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Johansson. Those never looked like landing.
Johansson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Matsumoto counters with a straight right hand.
Matsumoto moves out of range as Johansson strikes.
Johansson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A solid body kick from Matsumoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johansson. Matsumoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johansson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johansson throws a chopping leg kick but Matsumoto manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matsumoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johansson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johansson misses with an uppercut.
Johansson missing with a left hand there. Matsumoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johansson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsumoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johansson was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsumoto.
Johansson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matsumoto connects with a crisp jab.
Johansson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matsumoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto slips a jab and a cross from Johansson.
Johansson throws a one two combo.
The crowd cheers as Matsumoto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Johansson doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd cheers as Johansson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Matsumoto doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Johansson looks to land a right hand but Matsumoto moved out of range.
Nice cross by Johansson.
Matsumoto throws a head kick that half lands.
Johansson lands a nice looking body shot.
Johansson stuns Matsumoto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matsumoto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsumoto lands a jab.
Johansson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Johansson 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.

Johansson looks to land a left hand but Matsumoto moved out of range nicely.
Johansson looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
Johansson misses with a hook
and Matsumoto counters with a leg kick.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Matsumoto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johansson throws the kick towards the body but Matsumoto avoids it.
Johansson throws a right hand that Matsumoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Matsumoto also avoids with ease.
Johansson throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsumoto feints and then cracks Johansson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Johansson down.
Matsumoto scores with a leg kick.
Johansson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsumoto throws out the jab.
Matsumoto connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto ducks right into an uppercut from Johansson.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matsumoto, right into the meat.
Matsumoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johansson counters with an outside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Matsumoto. That snapped Johansson's head back.
Matsumoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johansson's hands.
Matsumoto slips a jab from Johansson.
Matsumoto dodges the punch combination from Johansson.
Matsumoto lands with a good body shot.
Matsumoto scores with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Johansson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johansson's sensitive parts.
Johansson throws a series of punches but Matsumoto avoids them all with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johansson swings for the body but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Johansson throws an off balance right hand
and Matsumoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Matsumoto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Johansson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Johansson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matsumoto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sloppy strikes from Johansson. Those never looked like landing.
Matsumoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Johansson is just out of range.
Matsumoto avoids the head kick by Johansson.
Johansson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto keeps Johansson at a distance using the push kick.
Matsumoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sloppy strikes from Johansson. Those never looked like landing.
Matsumoto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Johansson. Matsumoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsumoto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
Johansson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A jab from Matsumoto misses.
Matsumoto tries to work over Johansson's front leg with a kick but Johansson checks it.
Johansson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Matsumoto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsumoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson scores with a nice head shot.
Matsumoto throws an off balance right hand
and Johansson counters with a nice leg kick.
Johansson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Johansson misses with a straight left.
Johansson tries to land a leg kick but Matsumoto saw it coming and moves away.
Johansson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsumoto moves away.
Johansson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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!
Johansson scores with a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsumoto.
Johansson throws a front kick aimed at Matsumoto's knee but Matsumoto avoids it well.
Johansson moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Kiyoshi Matsumoto just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matsumoto slips under a jab from Johansson.
Johansson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johansson wants to land a leg kick but Matsumoto is out of range.
Johansson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johansson is looking to score with low kicks.
Johansson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johansson misses with a wild body shot.
Johansson throws a low kick but Matsumoto avoids it.
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johansson misses with a two punch combination.
Johansson misses with a low kick.
Matsumoto swings for the body but Johansson moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto digs a good hook to Johansson's body.
Johansson misses the shot to the body.
Johansson misses with a body shot
and Matsumoto counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Johansson thinking.
Matsumoto cracks the inside of Johansson's front leg.
Johansson misses with a two punch combination.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Matsumoto shoots in but Johansson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the leg kick from Johansson.
Johansson checks a leg kick.
A nice combination there by Johansson.
Matsumoto dips to his left and cracks Johansson with an uppercut!
The fighters circling - Johansson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson is looking to land body kicks.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matsumoto, right into the meat.
Matsumoto defending well as Johansson loads up on a big left hand.
Johansson scores with a jab. Matsumoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsumoto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johansson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Johansson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johansson looks to land a combination but Matsumoto avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johansson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johansson misses the shot to the body.
Johansson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Johansson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matsumoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johansson misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Johansson.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot.
Johansson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsumoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johansson.
Matsumoto lands a right hook to the body.
Matsumoto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Johansson's sensitive parts.
A good leg kick by Johansson.
Johansson tries to land a leg kick but Matsumoto saw it coming and moves away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johansson.
Matsumoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto checks a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johansson. That's going to slow Matsumoto down.
Johansson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsumoto tries to work over Johansson's front leg with a kick but Johansson checks it.
Johansson throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Johansson.
A big left from Johansson misses.
Johansson lands a really nice looking cross but Matsumoto seems unphased.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson throws a solid leg kick but Matsumoto takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Johansson.
Johansson misses with a looping right.
Matsumoto avoids the head kick by Johansson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Johansson had his way with Kiyoshi Matsumoto in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A good leg kick by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto scores with a crisp jab that stopped Johansson in his tracks.
A telegraphed right hand from Johansson misses the target.
Matsumoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johansson was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Matsumoto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsumoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsumoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Johansson.
Johansson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Johansson motions for Matsumoto to come forward. Johansson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johansson fails to land with a series of punches.
Matsumoto scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson moves out of range as Matsumoto throws a body kick.
Matsumoto avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Johansson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Johansson moves out of range.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsumoto avoids a kick to the body.
Donk. Matsumoto catches Johansson right on the button with a cross.
Matsumoto misses with a low kick.
Matsumoto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A leg kick checked by Matsumoto.
Johansson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson moves out of range of the body kick.
Johansson is looking to land body kicks.
Johansson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johansson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Johansson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Johansson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matsumoto counters with a straight right hand.
Johansson scores with a nice body kick.
Johansson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
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!
Johansson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Johansson feints and then cracks Matsumoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsumoto down.
Matsumoto tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Johansson at a distance.
Johansson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsumoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A good leg kick by Matsumoto.
Johansson tries a head kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Johansson.
Matsumoto jabs Johansson right on the nose. Johansson blinks but takes it well.
Matsumoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
A big right from Johansson misses.
Johansson throws a hook to the side of Matsumoto's head but Matsumoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A shot to the body from Matsumoto misses
and Johansson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johansson checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsumoto.

Johansson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matsumoto lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johansson working aggressively here.

Matsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsumoto avoids the body shot from Johansson.
Johansson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsumoto throws a sloppy head kick
and Johansson counters with a three punch combo that has Matsumoto backing up. Matsumoto nods at Johansson to acknowledge the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johansson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Matsumoto doesn't seem bothered though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matsumoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Johansson tries to clinch up but Matsumoto circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mikael Johansson.
I think Johansson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:48
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mikael Johansson!
Mikael Johansson is the new lightweight champion!
A relieved looking Mikael Johansson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.