PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damian Matsuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Marshall (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!

Matsuo
vs
Marshall

189 cm
23
182 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

182 cm
23
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damian Matsuo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damian Marshall!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuo keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsuo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuo looks for the body kick but Marshall saw that one coming.
Matsuo tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsuo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marshall circles away quickly and effectively.
Marshall wants to clinch up but Matsuo keeps it at a distance.
Marshall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matsuo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matsuo throws a body kick that misses.
Marshall tries to clinch but Matsuo moves out of range.
Matsuo throws a head kick but Marshall moves out of range.
Marshall closes the distance but Matsuo moves to the side
and Matsuo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Marshall on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Marshall is looking to clinch but Matsuo is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Matsuo misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Marshall's head.

It looks like Damian Marshall has been cut.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsuo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsuo misses with a head kick.
Marshall tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsuo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marshall tries to clinch

and Matsuo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuo is working Marshall over against the cage.
Marshall looking for a takedown.
Matsuo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Marshall up against the cage.
Matsuo tries a knee to the head but Marshall blocks it.

Matsuo manages to break the clinch.
Marshall tries to clinch up.
Marshall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marshall tries to clinch up
and Matsuo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Marshall's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuo jabs Marshall right on the nose. Marshall blinks but takes it well.
Matsuo throws a leg kick which misses Marshall's front leg but catches the back leg as Marshall tries to avoid it.
Marshall moves to clinch but Matsuo breaks away
letting Matsuo counter with a right hand.
Marshall tries to clinch but Matsuo moves out of range.
Marshall tries to clinch up.
Matsuo circles away from the clinch attempt
and Matsuo counters with a nice body kick.
Marshall fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marshall wants to clinch
and Matsuo counters with a good low kick that Marshall was not able to check.
A head kick from Matsuo lands but Marshall takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuo misses with a head kick.
Matsuo feints and then cracks Marshall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marshall down.
Marshall moves to clinch but Matsuo breaks away
and Matsuo counters with a one-two to the body.
Marshall tries to clinch up but Matsuo circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Marshall wants to clinch up but Matsuo keeps it at a distance.
Matsuo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marshall's hands.
Marshall wants to clinch.
Matsuo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Marshall.
Marshall moves in looking to clinch but Matsuo pushes him off.
Marshall wants to clinch up but Matsuo keeps it at a distance.
Marshall closes the distance but Matsuo moves to the side

and Matsuo counters by clinching up.
Marshall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Matsuo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsuo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Matsuo just leaning against Marshall, taking a breather.
Marshall can't get the takedown.
Damian Matsuo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Marshall.

Matsuo manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuo lands with a straight right. Marshall didn't see that one coming.
Marshall's coach down at Cozad MMA Rio was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Marshall's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Marshall tries to clinch but Matsuo moves out of range.
Matsuo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Marshall is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whack! Matsuo lands a heavy head kick that drops Marshall. The ref tackles Matsuo to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Marshall was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Damian Matsuo!