PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vernon Reeves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Matsuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Reeves
vs
Matsuda

197 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

167 cm
23
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vernon Reeves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshihiro Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reeves throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matsuda's waist but Matsuda gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reeves off to one side.

Matsuda looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Reeves!
Reeves manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Reeves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Reeves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reeves trying to control but Matsuda postures up.
Reeves is trying to stand up here but Matsuda is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matsuda is looking to take a break and control but Reeves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsuda tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Reeves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeves is looking to improve his position.
Reeves is trying to control but can't.
Reeves keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Matsuda wants to pass the guard but Reeves is defending well.
Matsuda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matsuda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Reeves knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Reeves manages to get to full guard.

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.
Reeves keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Reeves seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Reeves 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matsuda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Reeves is looking to counter with head kicks.

Reeves gets a takedown into half guard.
Matsuda pushes Reeves off looking to stand but Reeves dives back in and keeps control.
Reeves will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda works his way to full guard. Good work.
Matsuda wants to stand up but Reeves is controlling him.
Reeves postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Reeves wants to control from the top but Matsuda keeps moving.

Reeves is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Matsuda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Matsuda has escaped and now he's on top!

Reeves pulls Matsuda in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reeves tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Reeves is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Matsuda stopping the sweep attempt from Reeves.
Reeves keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Matsuda tries to free his leg and advance position but Reeves is retaining full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Reeves looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matsuda stands up over Reeves, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Matsuda dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Reeves shoots in and bounces Matsuda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Reeves postures up.
Reeves is in close to Matsuda's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reeves thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Matsuda looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeves preventing the sweep.

Reeves drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Matsuda dives on top into guard.

Matsuda stopping the sweep attempt from Reeves.
Matsuda wants to pass the guard but Reeves is keeping the position.
Reeves preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsuda looking to pass the guard.
Matsuda trying to control but Reeves is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reeves pushes Matsuda off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Matsuda doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Reeves holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Reeves fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Reeves prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matsuda is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Reeves to keep the fight standing.
Vernon Reeves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Matsuda.
Matsuda is breathing heavily.
Reeves pushes off an throws an elbow but Matsuda leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reeves jumps guard.

Reeves scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Reeves fails to land the takedown.
Matsuda steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Reeves.
Matsuda fails to land the takedown.

Reeves fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Matsuda to the ground. Reeves is now in Matsuda's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reeves wants to get up but he can't break Matsuda's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vernon Reeves overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Matsuda has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Reeves is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matsuda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reeves working the body and head with strikes.
Matsuda is looking to reverse the position.
Reeves works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Matsuda is trying to get back to half guard.
Reeves cracks Matsuda with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Reeves stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernon Reeves dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Reeves scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Reeves wants to pass to mount but Matsuda is defending the position.
Matsuda throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Matsuda wants to control but Reeves is keeping busy.

Matsuda is defending against the submission attempts here by Reeves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Reeves seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda is looking to improve his position.
Reeves is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Matsuda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Reeves's half guard.
Reeves is doing well to control the position and prevent Matsuda from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeves continues to stall.
Reeves is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reeves trying to hold on to Matsuda's head to control him but Matsuda postures up.
Matsuda controlling the action here.
Reeves has his hands clasped together around Matsuda's back. He's all about the action.
Reeves wants to improve his position but Matsuda is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Reeves moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Reeves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reeves pulls Matsuda in close to his closed guard and prevents Matsuda from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Matsuda slaps away a takedown attempt from Reeves, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Reeves gets tackled into the cage by Matsuda. Matsuda maintains the clinch.
Reeves lands a body punch.
Matsuda is trying to break free.
Reeves has Matsuda pushed against the cage.
Matsuda tries to stall but Reeves uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsuda is trying to drag Reeves to the mat but Reeves just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vernon Reeves.
I think Reeves 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vernon Reeves!