PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Matsushita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Martin
vs
Matsushita

168 cm
29
134 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

167 cm
26
141 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Matsushita!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martin misses with a looping right.
Matsushita tries to clinch there but Martin circles away.
Matsushita moves out of range as Martin throws a body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matsushita.
Matsushita pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Martin jabs Matsushita right on the nose. Matsushita blinks but takes it well.
A combination from Martin does no damage.
A big right from Martin misses.
Martin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Matsushita in his tracks.
Matsushita throws a head kick but Martin moves out of range.
Martin avoids the body shot from Matsushita.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsushita. Martin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Martin throws a leg kick which misses Matsushita's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsushita tries to avoid it.
An inside leg kick from Matsushita misses.
Martin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A slow jab from Martin misses its intended target.
Matsushita tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Martin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matsushitas head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsushita lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Martin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Martin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Martin is trying to break the clinch but Matsushita has him pressed against the cage.
Martin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsushita misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matsushita works on Martin's body with a couple of short punches.
Matsushita lands a hook that snaps the head of Martin backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Martin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Martin throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsushita.
Martin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nice body punch from Martin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Martin breaks from the clinch.
Jab from Martin.
Martin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsushita was well out of range. Poor timing from Martin.
We've been informed that Matsushita has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Matsushita ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Martin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsushita moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Steve Martin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Martin throws an overhand right that lands on Matsushita's shoulder, as Matsushita tries to avoid the shot.
Matsushita takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Matsushita throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsushita uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martin.
Martin throws a series of punches but Matsushita avoids them all with ease.
Steve Martin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsushita does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Martin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab by Martin.
Matsushita lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matsushita lands with a nice body kick.
Martin misses with a series of wild punches.
Matsushita uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Martin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsushita is looking to score with low kicks.
Martin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsushita ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martin moves away.
Matsushita moves out of range as Martin strikes.
Martin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matsushita tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Martin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Martin finds it's way through Matsushita's defenses.
Martin throws a jab when Matsushita was well out of range.
Matsushita tried to score with a low kick but Martin checks it.
Matsushita cracks the inside of Martin's front leg.
Martin misses with a head kick.
A shot to the liver by Martin. Beautiful body shot.
Martin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsushita.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matsushita is defended easily by Martin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Matsushita back to the cage. Martin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Martin lands a jab to the nose.
A shot to the liver by Martin. Beautiful body shot.
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!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matsushita checks a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Martin checks a leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Martin lands a body punch.
Martin misses with some punches.
Matsushita changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Martin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A solid leg kick lands there for Matsushita.
Martin lands a lovely overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Martin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matsushita throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Martin throws a chopping leg kick but Matsushita manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Matsushita is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Martin's half guard.
Martin trying to control here.
Matsushita misses with a head shot. Martin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Matsushita throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Martin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matsushita distracts Martin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsushita looking to pass the guard.
Martin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Martin has momentary wrist control but Matsushita slips an elbow through the middle.
Matsushita working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matsushita stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Martin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Martin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsushita wants to pass the guard but Martin is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsushita with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsushita looking to sit in guard and control but Martin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Martin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Martin cracks Matsushita with a solid left hand.
Matsushita wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Martin is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsushita actively working from the bottom here.

Matsushita actively working from the bottom here.
Martin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Martin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsushita defending well though.
Martin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matsushita blocking the ground and pound attempt from Martin.
Martin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsushita's head.
Martin is thwarting Matsushita's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsushita defending well though.
Martin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsushita makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Matsushita.

Matsushita working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Martin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Martin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matsushita preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsushita tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Matsushita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsushita misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matsushita throws a low kick but it's checked well by Martin.
Martin lands with a right hand.
Matsushita misses with a head kick.
Martin throws a right hand that Matsushita ducks under and follows up with a left that Matsushita also avoids with ease.
Matsushita misses with a head kick.
Matsushita avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Martin scores with a leg kick.
Martin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsushita.
Martin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martin looks to land a left hand but Matsushita moved out of range nicely.
Matsushita tries to land a front kick but Martin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Matsushita slips a straight right by Martin.
Matsushita moves away from the strike by Martin.
Martin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Martin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Matsushita looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Martin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsushita scores with punches from side control.
Matsushita looks up at the clock and then as Martin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matsushita smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The strikes coming from Matsushita are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Matsushita trying to control the action but Martin is working from the bottom.
Matsushita misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Matsushita sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Martin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Matsushita.
Matsushita trying to control the action but Martin is working from the bottom.
Matsushita lands a decent elbow from side control.
An elbow from Matsushita crashes against the mat.
Martin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Matsushita.
Matsushita throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin regains half guard, as Matsushita was trying to land strikes.
Matsushita not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Martin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matsushita is working away from the top position though.
Matsushita is trying to control the action in half guard but Martin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matsushita throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Martin to regain full guard.
Matsushita throws an elbow that misses. Martin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matsushita's guard. Nice move by Martin!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin throws a big elbow that misses.

Matsushita is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Martin is aware though and is defending well.
Matsushita preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Matsushita looking for a guillotine here but Martin defends easily.
Martin wants to pass the guard but Matsushita is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matsushita had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martin defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Matsushita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matsushita 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Matsushita!
A victorious Kenji Matsushita thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Steve Martin had this to say: 'I want to apologize to all my fans! I went to the strip club last night and I still have a f*****g hangover...plus...My huge penis threw me off balance a few times during the fight, I may tape it to my leg next fight.'.