PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sub Position (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hachiro Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsui is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Solvent by Skinny Puppy. This should be a great matchup!

Position
vs
Matsui

176 cm
29
167 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

173 cm
31
163 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fighters First Nutrition Amsterdam 160

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Sub Position!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hachiro Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Position.
Position shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matsui sprawls well. Matsui wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Position gets slowly back to his feet.
Matsui defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sub Position. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matsui shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matsui showed some decent athleticism there.
We've been hearing good reports from Position's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Position is not content to let Matsui control the position.
Position is trying to control but Matsui passes into side control!
Matsui trying to control the action but Position is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Position tries to bench press Matsui off him but Matsui keeps the position.
Position is not content to let Matsui control the position.
Matsui controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hachiro Matsui wasn't active enough on the ground.
Matsui tries to score a power double leg takedown but Position sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Matsui somewhat.
Position shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Position looks for a takedown but Matsui sprawls well.
Matsui stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Matsui. No joy for Position on that attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Matsui.
Position is trying to get back to half guard.
Position is not content to let Matsui control the position.
Matsui moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsui working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Position holding on.
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.
Matsui is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Position will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Position wants to control but Matsui postures up.

Matsui tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Matsui has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui trying to control the position but Position is working away.
Position is looking to regain half guard here but Matsui keeps moving and retains side control.
Matsui trying to control the action but Position is working from the bottom.
Position is trying to get back to half guard.
Matsui is looking to take a break and control but Position is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsui is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Matsui is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Position is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Position is not content to let Matsui control the position.
You can see the frustration on Position's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Matsui tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Position is looking for a sweep.

Matsui wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Position, who protects the arm well.
Matsui trying to control the position but Position is working away.
Position is trying to control Matsui's posture but Matsui avoids it.
Position tries to escape but Matsui is in control.
Position sneaks back into half guard.
Position wants to control but Matsui is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Matsui tries to pass to full mount but Position defends it.

Matsui is working for a kimura but Position is defending it quite comfortably.
Matsui is trying to control. Position wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Matsui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Position is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsui wants to pass the guard but Position is defending well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Matsui keeps trying to improve his position.
Position makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Position.
Position not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Matsui wants to pass the guard but Position is keeping the position.
Matsui postures up.
Matsui wants to pass the guard but Position is keeping the position.
Matsui trying to control the position from guard on top but Position is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sub Position has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Matsui gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Position counters by moving into the clinch.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Matsui is trying to drag Position to the mat but Position just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Matsui is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Position is defending well.
Position changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Matsui fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matsui fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hachiro Matsui dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Position closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsui circles away.
Position has a takedown stuffed.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matsui enables Position to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matsui manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Position avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matsui keeping moving, preventing Position from controlling successfully.
Matsui looking for a sweep. Not yet Matsui, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Position trying to control but Matsui is working from the bottom.
Matsui tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Position trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Matsui manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Position looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matsui wants to control from the top but Position keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Position keeping full guard, as Matsui tries to pass.
Matsui wants to control from the top but Position keeps moving.

Position throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Position escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matsui gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Matsui has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Position to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Matsui is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Position pulls down on the head and he's put Matsui to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sub Position!
Sub Position retains his lightweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Sub Position thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Hachiro Matsui spoke after the fight, saying 'That was a great fight, I gotta give props to my opponent. He did what he had to do. But I'm not done and I'll be back stronger next time! Thank you to my fans and sponsors. '.