PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jamey Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julian Matsumoto is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Howard
vs
Matsumoto

175 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamey Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julian Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Howard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matsumoto, pushing him back against the cage.
Matsumoto keeps control of Howard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Matsumoto turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Matsumoto wants to control but Howard is keeping him busy.
Matsumoto throws a strike aimed at the side of Howard's head but Howard avoids it well.
Howard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsumoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.
Howard wants to control but Matsumoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto tries to pass to full mount but Howard defends it.

Matsumoto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Howard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Howard manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsumoto is one step ahead there.
Matsumoto is looking to stand up but Howard won't let him.
Howard pulls Matsumoto in to control the position.
Matsumoto distracts Howard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Matsumoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Matsumoto looking to sit in guard and control but Howard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Howard throws an elbow that misses. Matsumoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Howard's guard. Nice move by Matsumoto!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard 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.
Matsumoto looking to sit in guard and control but Howard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matsumoto trying to control the position here.
Howard throws a big elbow that misses.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matsumoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matsumoto has his hands on Howard's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Howard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsumoto pulls Howard in close to his closed guard and prevents Howard from doing any damage or advancing position.

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.
Howard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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

Howard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsumoto trying to control the position.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matsumoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamey Howard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matsumoto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Howard quickly recovers to half guard.
Matsumoto controlling the action here.
Howard is concentrating on defense, preventing Matsumoto from advancing position.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howard trying to control from the bottom.
Matsumoto working over Howard with some ground and pound. Howard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Matsumoto wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto drops an elbow to the side of Howard's head.
Matsumoto trying to mount his opponent but Howard defends it.
Howard preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matsumoto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matsumoto's back!

Howard is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Matsumoto knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Matsumoto for a finish.

Howard looking for the choke from the back.
I really don't envy Matsumoto right now.
Howard softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto trying to control the hands but Howard won't let him.
Matsumoto covering up well under a series of strikes from Howard.
Matsumoto just trying to survive but Howard is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Matsumoto is covering up but some of the strikes from Howard are getting through and doing damage.
Matsumoto trying to control the position but Howard manages to sink in the hooks.
Matsumoto tries to break free.
Howard has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Matsumoto.
Howard lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Matsumoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Matsumoto to escape the position.
Matsumoto trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Matsumoto showing good submission defense here.
Howard avoiding Matsumoto 's attempts to control his hands.

Matsumoto showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto showing good submission defense here.
Matsumoto tries to escape but Howard has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard avoiding Matsumoto 's attempts to control his hands.
Matsumoto looking very determined here, making life difficult for Howard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamey Howard dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsumoto darts in looking for a takedown but Howard gets double underhooks and turns Matsumoto into the cage.
Nice uppercut there from Howard.
Horrible takedown attempt by Matsumoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Howard, which made it look bad.
Matsumoto shoots and misses
and Howard counters with a left and a right that stings Matsumoto.
Jamey Howard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julian Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws a wild body kick that Howard sees coming a mile off.
That kick from Howard tenderised Matsumoto's leg. Matsumoto is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matsumoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard tries to clinch up but Matsumoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown but Howard sprawls well.
Howard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Matsumoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howard sprawls well. Howard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Howard.
Howard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matsumoto can do to turn this around?
Howard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Howard throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Howard tries to clinch but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Howard has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Howard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Julian Matsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsumoto shoots in and drives through. Howard sprawls well.

Howard moves into the clinch.

Howard pulls guard effortlessly.
Howard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsumoto's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard is working Matsumoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Howard stands up from Matsumoto's guard - Howard perhaps looking for a knockout.
Matsumoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Howard.
Matsumoto avoids the head kick by Howard.

Howard forces Matsumoto back against the cage and clinches.

Howard pulls Matsumoto into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsumoto wants to stand but Howard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Matsumoto throws a strike but Howard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard landing with the ground and pound.
Howard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matsumoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Howard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Howard throwing strikes from guard but Matsumoto blocks nicely.
Matsumoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Matsumoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Howard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Howard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Howard stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Matsumoto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matsumoto showed some decent athleticism there.

Howard manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Matsumoto keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Howard gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto is trying is best to control the position here.

Matsumoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamey Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Howard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamey Howard!