PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee Wallace has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matsumoto
vs
Wallace

180 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
179 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lee Wallace!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wallace misses with a takedown
and Matsumoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wallace shoots and misses
and Matsumoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wallace misses with a hook
and Matsumoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wallace doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Matsumoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Wallace.

Wallace shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matsumoto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wallace throwing strikes but Matsumoto manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wallace seems a little lost for a moment, as Matsumoto dominates the positioning.
Matsumoto trying to control the action but Wallace is working from the bottom.
Wallace is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto slows the pace down.
Wallace tries to buck Matsumoto off but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Wallace sneaks back into half guard.
Wallace is holding on to half guard well.
Wallace is refusing to be controlled, as Matsumoto sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Wallace keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Matsumoto controlling the action here.
Matsumoto trying to control from half guard but Wallace is working away.
Wallace is pressing down on Matsumoto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matsumoto looking to pass the guard.
Wallace can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matsumoto controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Wallace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wallace shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matsumoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Wallace fails to land the takedown.
Matsumoto throwing a counter right hand but Wallace manages to avoid it.
Wallace misses with a right hand
and Matsumoto counters with a left to the body.
Wallace gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Matsumoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wallace takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Wallace looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wallace looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace stopping the sweep attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is trying to keep Wallace in close.
Wallace throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wallace in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Wallace missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Matsumoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matsumoto jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wallace with a lazy takedown attempt
and Matsumoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Wallace doesn't manage to clinch there - Matsumoto circles away.
It looked like Matsumoto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wallace with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Matsumoto to counter with a crisp jab.

Wallace gets the takedown into side control.
Matsumoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wallace on the ground.
Wallace creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Matsumoto parries the strikes from Wallace easily there. Wallace is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Matsumoto to escape.
Matsumoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wallace can do to turn this around?
Matsumoto is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto is being controlled here.
Wallace has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Matsumoto!
Wallace lands a big shot there that rocks Matsumoto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace tries to control but Matsumoto wriggling away.
Wallace working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Matsumoto slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Wallace thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsumoto's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wallace lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wallace sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsumoto defending well though.
Still in half guard, Wallace seems content to control.
Wallace throws a strike but Matsumoto avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wallace with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsumoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wallace's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wallace is keeping the position for now.
Wallace pulls Matsumoto in close to his closed guard and prevents Matsumoto from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matsumoto trying to control but Wallace is working from the bottom.
Matsumoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallace swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matsumoto looking to sit in guard and control but Wallace gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matsumoto is trying to keep Wallace in close.
My spies in Helsinki Fight Club inform me that Wallace has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Wallace lands a couple of digs.
Lee Wallace has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace is looking to work some ground and pound but Matsumoto has wrist control.
Wallace won't allow Matsumoto to sweep him here.
Wallace throws a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matsumoto holds on and takes a little breather.
Wallace has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wallace postures up in Matsumoto's guard and throws a big left but Matsumoto blocks it.
Wallace stands up over Matsumoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wallace slips nicely into half guard.
Wallace missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wallace working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wallace thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wallace with the ground and pound but Matsumoto uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Wallace is looking to work some ground and pound but Matsumoto has wrist control.
Wallace connects with a couple of short punches.
Wallace tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsumoto is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matsumoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wallace shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matsumoto defends it nicely.
Matsumoto is looking to counter punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Wallace showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Matsumoto throws out a loose jab but Wallace uses good head movement to avoid it.

Wallace closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wallace lands in his opponent's guard.
Wallace is in close to Matsumoto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Wallace works over Matsumoto with some ground and pound from guard.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.
Wallace passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallace landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Wallace gets to mount! Matsumoto was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Wallace lands a big shot there that rocks Matsumoto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wallace is landing with some decent strikes but Matsumoto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Matsumoto is rocked!
Wallace is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Matsumoto goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Wallace!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Lee Wallace!
Lee Wallace thanked the fans post fight for their support.