PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Atsushi Matsunaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Ramen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsunaga kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Masaaki Endoh - Ai wo Torimodose!!. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ramen's choice of entrance music: Why Can't We Be Friends?. Atsushi Matsunaga looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Matsunaga
vs
Ramen

171 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Ramen!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsunaga forces Ramen back against the cage and clinches.
Matsunaga looking to slow down the pace here.
Ramen wants to break the clinch but can't.

Ramen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsunaga fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ramen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsunaga circles away.
Ramen swats away the attempt to clinch by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ramen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ramen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsunaga manages to avoid it.
Ramen scores with a one two! Matsunaga had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Matsunaga jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Matsunaga lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ramen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ramen tries for a takedown but Matsunaga circles away easily
and Matsunaga counters with a left and a right that stings Ramen.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ramen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matsunaga walks into a left hand.

Ramen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga is refusing to be controlled, as Ramen sits in half guard.

Ramen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ramen looks gassed!
Matsunaga is trying to maintain the position but Ramen is very close to passing his half guard.
Ramen trying to mount his opponent but Matsunaga defends it.
Ramen wants to stand up but Matsunaga has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matsunaga punching from the bottom.

Matsunaga kicks off Ramen and gets to his feet.

Matsunaga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ramen, pushing him back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga misses with a knee to the head.
Matsunaga using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Matsunaga gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ramen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Matsunaga puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ramen is trying to stand.
Ramen wants to improve his position but Matsunaga is controlling well.
Matsunaga stops Ramen from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ramen is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsunaga has a good base and remains in mount.
Ramen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Matsunaga is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ramen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ramen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsunaga lands a big elbow.
Ramen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramen is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ramen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ramen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Atsushi Matsunaga dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice body kick there by Matsunaga.
Ramen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matsunaga takes one to the chin there.
Matsunaga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Ramen moves out of range.
Matsunaga tries to bum rush Ramen with a series of wild strikes but Ramen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ramen.
No joy there for Matsunaga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ramen fails with the takedown.
Ramen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matsunaga momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsunaga is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsunaga lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ramen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ramen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ramen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga dodges the punch combination from Ramen.

Ramen forces Matsunaga back against the cage and clinches.
Matsunaga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ramen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ramen shoots in and bounces Matsunaga off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ramen wants to pass the guard but Matsunaga is keeping the position.
Matsunaga wants to control the position but Ramen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Matsunaga is looking for a sweep. Ramen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ramen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matsunaga moves into the clinch successfully.

Ramen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ramen tries to break the clinch but Matsunaga is controlling the position.
Matsunaga stalling.
Ramen wants to get back to striking at distance but Matsunaga won't allow it.
Ramen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsunaga has him pressed against the cage.
Ramen stops a takedown attempt from Matsunaga.
Ramen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Matsunaga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ramen throws a series of punches but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Matsunaga keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Atsushi Matsunaga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Ramen.
Ramen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ramen tries to bum rush Matsunaga with a series of wild strikes but Matsunaga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matsunaga throws a push kick but Ramen slaps the foot to one side.
Matsunaga keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ramen.

Matsunaga feints and as Ramen raises his hands in defense, Matsunaga changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ramen keeping moving, preventing Matsunaga from controlling successfully.
Ramen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matsunaga is controlling him.

Ramen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ramen fails with the takedown.
Kenji Ramen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Matsunaga.

Ramen has taken the fight to the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Matsunaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsunaga lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ramen takes a step back to recover.
Matsunaga throws a nice looking combination but Ramen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Matsunaga.
Ramen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Matsunaga closes the distance but Ramen moves to the side
and Ramen counters with a straight right hand.

Matsunaga pushes Ramen up against the cage in a clinch.
Matsunaga is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ramen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ramen has had enough of the clinch but Matsunaga keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Matsunaga.
A short uppercut from Matsunaga.
Ramen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matsunaga avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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

Matsunaga drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matsunaga works over Ramen with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Atsushi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ramen cracks the inside of Matsunaga's front leg.
Ramen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsunaga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ramen shoots in but Matsunaga avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Ramen moves out of range.
Matsunaga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ramen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Ramen is having none of it.
Ramen misses with a double jab
and Matsunaga counters with a two punch combo.
Matsunaga throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ramen's waist but Ramen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matsunaga off to one side.

Matsunaga tries to keep at a distance but Ramen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ramen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsunaga clinches but Ramen breaks the clinch
and Ramen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsunaga shoots for a double leg takedown but Ramen sprawls well. He's pushed Matsunaga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matsunaga takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ramen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Ramen stands up from Matsunaga's guard - Ramen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Matsunaga dodges the punch combination from Ramen.

Ramen clinches up against the cage.
Ramen lands a right hand.
Matsunaga landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ramen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ramen blocks an elbow strike from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ramen's face.
Matsunaga lands a right hand.
Matsunaga misses with a knee strike.
Matsunaga cracks Ramen with a nice body shot.
Good body shot from Matsunaga.

Matsunaga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsunaga tries to clinch up but Ramen circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ramen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ramen wants to get up but he can't break Matsunaga's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ramen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Matsunaga manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ramen has Matsunaga in his guard.
Matsunaga slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Ramen.
Ramen is trying to get back to full guard.

Ramen kicks Matsunaga off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramen misses with a two punch combination.
Matsunaga moves in looking to clinch but Ramen pushes him off.
Ramen misses with the combination.

Matsunaga forces Ramen back against the cage and clinches.
Ramen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Matsunaga is trying to stall.
Ramen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ramen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsunaga has him pressed against the cage.
Ramen prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Atsushi Matsunaga. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ramen breaks the clinch.
Matsunaga wants to clinch.

Ramen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matsunaga, pushing him back against the cage.
Ramen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matsunaga is keeping busy.
Matsunaga prevents Ramen from breaking the clinch.
Kenji Ramen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Ramen can't break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matsunaga.
Ramen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Matsunaga breaks from the clinch.
Ramen keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ramen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ramen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matsunaga is fending him off so far but Ramen persists. Nope, Matsunaga circles away and we're back to standing.
Ramen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matsunaga backs up against the cage.
Ramen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Atsushi Matsunaga is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matsunaga wants to clinch
and Ramen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ramen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matsunaga counters with a left and a right that stings Ramen.
Ramen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matsunaga lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ramen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matsunaga counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Ramen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matsunaga 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!