PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy DeVito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toshi Matoshin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Matoshin's choice of entrance music: Mortal Kombat theme. This should be a great matchup!

DeVito
vs
Matoshin

168 cm
25
157 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
158 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer

Damnfield clothing

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tommy DeVito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toshi Matoshin!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matoshin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
DeVito bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matoshin scores with a leg kick.
Matoshin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. DeVito defends it nicely.
DeVito needs to keep his hands up - Matoshin had a free shot at his head there.
Matoshin misses with a takedown attempt - DeVito sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
DeVito cracks the inside of Matoshin's front leg.
Matoshin blocks a head kick by DeVito.
DeVito cracks the inside of Matoshin's front leg.
Tommy DeVito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DeVito throws a nice looking combination but Matoshin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matoshin misses with a hook
and DeVito makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from DeVito misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matoshin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and DeVito has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
DeVito connects with a leg kick. Matoshin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Matoshin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matoshin misses with an uppercut
and DeVito counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Matoshin thinking.

Matoshin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching DeVito on his heels. He'll look to pass DeVito's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Matoshin won't allow DeVito to get back to his feet.
DeVito is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matoshin looking to pass the guard.
DeVito seems keen to control Matoshin's posture.
DeVito keeping moving, preventing Matoshin from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matoshin looking to pass the guard.
DeVito looking for a sweep. Not yet DeVito, not yet.
Matoshin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. DeVito is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
DeVito looks to land a right hand but Matoshin moved out of range.
DeVito on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matoshin wants to clinch up but DeVito keeps it at a distance.
DeVito uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matoshin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin wants to clinch.
Matoshin throws a good cross that connects.
Matoshin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
DeVito connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
DeVito misses with a jab, cross combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matoshin checks a leg kick.
DeVito thumps Matoshin with a low kick.
Matoshin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. DeVito checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice jab there from Matoshin.
DeVito steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matoshin.
DeVito misses with a low kick as Matoshin jumps back.
DeVito fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeVito cracks the inside of Matoshin's front leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matoshin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Good leg kick by DeVito there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from DeVito 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 Matoshin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Matoshin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
DeVito misses with a body shot.
DeVito stuffs the takedown.
Tommy DeVito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshi Matoshin.
DeVito connects with a good right hand that stumbles Matoshin. Matoshin circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
DeVito keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matoshin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matoshin fails with a takedown attempt.
DeVito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matoshin. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Toshi Matoshin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

DeVito throws a low kick but Matoshin moves out of range easily.
DeVito ducks under a wild hook from Matoshin.

Matoshin forces DeVito back against the ropes and clinches.
DeVito tries to work over Matoshin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Matoshin pulls DeVito into guard.
DeVito slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
DeVito advances position into side control!
DeVito is looking to take a break and control but Matoshin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matoshin tries to buck DeVito off but DeVito is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matoshin is not content to let DeVito control the position.
DeVito gets to mount! Matoshin was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matoshin can't escape the position.
DeVito trying to control but he's not successful this time.
DeVito avoids the attempt from Matoshin to control.
Matoshin is looking to improve his position but DeVito isn't that keen on the idea.
DeVito can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matoshin is looking to escape.
DeVito controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin is squirming around, avoiding DeVito's attempts to control the action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
DeVito prevents Matoshin from getting the reversal.
DeVito controlling the pace for now.
Matoshin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
DeVito looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeVito trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tommy DeVito wasn't doing enough on the ground.
DeVito tries to land a leg kick but Matoshin saw it coming and moves away.
Matoshin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by DeVito.
The fight stays on the outside here - DeVito looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
DeVito swats away the attempt to clinch by Matoshin.
Jab by Matoshin.
Matoshin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
DeVito scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
DeVito connects with a solid leg kick.
Matoshin takes a swing at DeVito's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeVito avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
DeVito uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matoshin.
DeVito thows a body shot but no joy.

DeVito closes the distance and clinches.
DeVito swings wildly with an uppercut but Matoshin uses good head movement to avoid it.
DeVito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matoshin's elbow.
DeVito can't find room to land a body shot as Matoshin controls the action.

Matoshin drags the fight down to the ground.
DeVito pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matoshin is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matoshin looking to control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
DeVito not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Matoshin looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy DeVito dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

DeVito misses with a body shot
and Matoshin counters with a stiff right hand.
DeVito misses with a body shot.
DeVito darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
DeVito jabs Matoshin right on the nose. Matoshin blinks but takes it well.
DeVito misses with a hook. Matoshin ducked under it nicely.
Matoshin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
DeVito walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Matoshin rushes DeVito and presses him up against the ropes.
Matoshin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matoshin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Matoshin tries to pull guard but DeVito holds him up against the ropes and eventually Matoshin drops back down to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DeVito lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matoshin backwards.

Matoshin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, DeVito regains guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matoshin wants to pass the guard but DeVito is keeping the position.
Matoshin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Matoshin looking to pass the guard.
Matoshin advances to half guard.
DeVito is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Beast II, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
DeVito regains full guard. Nicely done.
Matoshin is stalling in the full guard.
DeVito is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Toshi Matoshin has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin looking to pass the guard.
Matoshin is still trying to improve position.
DeVito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matoshin wants to control from the top but DeVito keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tommy DeVito.
DeVito throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matoshin on the side of the head.
Matoshin checks a low kick from DeVito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matoshin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and DeVito counters with a nice low kick that buckles Matoshin's knee momentarily.

Matoshin closes the distance and pushes DeVito back into the ropes.
DeVito is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A right hand to the body from DeVito.

Matoshin has hold of one of DeVito's legs. DeVito is fighting the takedown attempt but Matoshin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Matoshin wants to control from the top but DeVito keeps moving.
DeVito not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matoshin trying to control the position from guard on top but DeVito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matoshin preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeVito looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
DeVito will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
DeVito throws a lazy right hand but Matoshin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

DeVito gets caught flat footed, as Matoshin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matoshin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Matoshin trying to move into half guard but instead DeVito has managed to sweep!
DeVito might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matoshin looking to control.
DeVito wants to stand but Matoshin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matoshin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matoshin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toshi Matoshin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matoshin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toshi Matoshin!
An out of breath Toshi Matoshin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.