PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shin Murakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Matsumoto
vs
Murakami

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shin Murakami!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsumoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Murakami wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short left from Matsumoto.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matsumoto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Matsumoto effectively controlling the action here.
Matsumoto prevents Murakami from breaking the clinch.
Murakami jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matsumoto walks away with a smile on his face. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matsumoto digs a good body shot into Murakami's ribs.
Murakami tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matsumoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Matsumoto closes the distance and clinches.
Murakami has had enough of the clinch but Matsumoto keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Matsumoto.

It looks like Shin Murakami has been cut.
Matsumoto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Murakami looking to slow down the pace here.
Matsumoto prevents Murakami from breaking the clinch.
Murakami trying to control the position but instead, Matsumoto has worked for underhooks and has pushed Murakami into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto is stalling here.
Murakami trying to stall but Matsumoto improves his position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Murakami - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Matsumoto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto lands an elbow that stopped Murakami in his tracks for a moment.
Murakami is trying to pull guard but Matsumoto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Murakami tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Murakami.
Murakami wants to take the fight to the mat but Matsumoto manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Murakami goes for a takedown in the clinch but Matsumoto prevents it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Matsumoto throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matsumoto misses with an elbow over the top.
Murakami is trying to pull guard but Matsumoto has him pressed against the cage.
Matsumoto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Murakami tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Murakami fails to pull guard.
Matsumoto lands an uppercut.
Murakami is trying to pull guard but Matsumoto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Matsumoto prevents the takedown attempt.
Murakami looks winded!
Murakami blocks the elbow strike.
Matsumoto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Murakami wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsumoto has him pressed against the cage.
Matsumoto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Murakami's defenses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murakami misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto pushes off an throws an elbow but Murakami leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matsumoto.
Murakami jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matsumoto walks away with a smile on his face. Murakami gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Murakami tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsumoto swivels and escapes.
Murakami doesn't manage to clinch there - Matsumoto circles away.
Matsumoto tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Murakami manages to circle out of the way.
Matsumoto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Matsumoto lands a nice looking body shot.

Matsumoto moves into the clinch.
Matsumoto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short right from Matsumoto.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside that Murakami shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murakami takes a shot to the head.
Matsumoto pushes off an throws an elbow but Murakami leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matsumoto lands a damaging elbow.
Matsumoto is leaning against Murakami and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Matsumoto.
Murakami takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Matsumoto throws an elbow but misses.
Murakami wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matsumoto misses with an elbow strike.
Matsumoto lands an elbow just above Murakami 's eye.
Matsumoto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murakami is trying to break free.
Matsumoto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside.
Matsumoto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Matsumoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shin Murakami's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Murakami takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Matsumoto rushes Murakami and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Murakami tries to pull guard but Matsumoto won't allow it.
Matsumoto misses with an elbow over the top.

Murakami turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Matsumoto explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsumoto cracks a nice hook into Murakami's ribs.
Matsumoto connects with a jab, followed by a picture perfect straight right that sends Murakami to the canvas, out cold! What a finish by Matsumoto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ikuhisa Matsumoto!