PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Austin Lyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matsui Takamatsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takamatsu has chosen Dogs of War as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lyle
vs
Takamatsu

165 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
135 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Austin Lyle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Matsui Takamatsu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takamatsu throws a combination. Lyle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Takamatsu throws a chopping leg kick but Lyle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Takamatsu misses with a straight left.

Takamatsu darts in and clinches Lyle up against the cage.
Takamatsu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Takamatsu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lyle gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lyle tries for a takedown but Takamatsu manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamatsu prevents the takedown attempt.
Lyle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Lyle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takamatsu prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short left from Takamatsu.
Lyle looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Takamatsu tries to land knees in the clinch but Lyle avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyle blocks a body shot from Takamatsu.

Takamatsu drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lyle wants to pass the guard but Takamatsu is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lyle postures up.
Lyle looking to pass the guard.
Lyle won't allow Takamatsu to sweep him here.

Takamatsu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Takamatsu keeping moving, preventing Lyle from controlling successfully.
Takamatsu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lyle is one step ahead there.
Takamatsu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamatsu keeping moving, preventing Lyle from controlling successfully.
Lyle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takamatsu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Takamatsu trying to keep a closed guard but Lyle is proving a slippery customer.
Lyle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Takamatsu is keeping the position for now.

Takamatsu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lyle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Takamatsu seems keen to control Lyle's posture.
Takamatsu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lyle is one step ahead there.
Lyle cracks Takamatsu with a solid left hand.
Takamatsu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lyle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lyle cracks Takamatsu with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyle looking to pass the guard.
Takamatsu wants to sweep but no luck.
Lyle scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takamatsu trying to keep a closed guard but Lyle is proving a slippery customer.
Takamatsu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Takamatsu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lyle doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lyle manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Takamatsu looking for a sweep. Not yet Takamatsu, not yet.
Lyle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Takamatsu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takamatsu looking for a sweep. Not yet Takamatsu, not yet.
Takamatsu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Takamatsu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takamatsu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsui Takamatsu dominated that 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.

Takamatsu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lyle.
Takamatsu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lyle moves out of range of the strikes.
Lyle moves out of range of the strikes.
Lyle swats away the attempt to clinch by Takamatsu.
Takamatsu looks to land a left hand but Lyle moved out of range nicely.
Takamatsu misses with a double jab.
Takamatsu throws a nice looking combination but Lyle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyle slips a straight right by Takamatsu.
Matsui Takamatsu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takamatsu lands with an uppercut that bounces Lyle off the cage and back into range.
Lyle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takamatsu throws a lazy right hand but Lyle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takamatsu looks to land a right hand but Lyle moved out of range.
Lyle walks into a straight right hand from Takamatsu.
Takamatsu cracks Lyle with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Takamatsu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takamatsu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lyles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Takamatsu throws an off balance right hand

and Lyle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Takamatsu's guard.
Takamatsu is trying to keep Lyle in close.

Lyle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lyle trying to control but Takamatsu is working from the bottom.
Takamatsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lyle trying to control the position from guard on top but Takamatsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Takamatsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lyle advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lyle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Takamatsu, who protects the arm well.
Takamatsu wants to control but Lyle postures up.
Matsui Takamatsu has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Lyle looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Takamatsu tries to buck Lyle off but Lyle is having none of it.
Takamatsu gets back to half guard.
Takamatsu is trying to maintain the position but Lyle is very close to passing his half guard.
Takamatsu is staying active underneath Lyle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lyle wants to advance to full mount but Takamatsu doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Takamatsu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lyle is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Takamatsu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lyle can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Takamatsu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lyle defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takamatsu working a defensive guard here.

Takamatsu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lyle wants to control from the top but Takamatsu keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takamatsu is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Lyle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsui Takamatsu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Takamatsu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takamatsu wants to land a leg kick but Lyle is out of range.
We've been informed that Takamatsu has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Takamatsu scores with a jab.

Takamatsu has managed to clinch.

Takamatsu successfully pulls guard.

Lyle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Takamatsu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lyle has Takamatsu in his guard.

Lyle looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takamatsu decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lyle, up you get!
Lyle avoids the body shot from Takamatsu.

That's two 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.
Takamatsu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsui Takamatsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takamatsu misses with a body shot.
Lyle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takamatsu with a jab.
Takamatsu looks to score with a jab to the body but Lyle is just out of range.
Takamatsu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Some bone on bone action there as Lyle checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyle blocks a low kick nicely.
Takamatsu throws a front kick aimed at Lyle's knee but Lyle avoids it well.
Takamatsu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takamatsu is looking to clinch but Lyle is avoiding it.
Takamatsu tries to clinch up but Lyle circles away and keeps his distance.
Takamatsu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A good leg kick by Takamatsu.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takamatsu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamatsu throws a jab when Lyle was well out of range.
Takamatsu misses with a series of wild punches.
Takamatsu tries to clinch but Lyle moves out of range.
Takamatsu throws the left hand but Lyle avoids the punch easily.
Sloppy strikes from Takamatsu. Those never looked like landing.
Lyle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Austin Lyle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsui Takamatsu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A cross from Takamatsu lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsui Takamatsu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takamatsu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsui Takamatsu!
Matsui Takamatsu seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.