PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willem Kriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kriel has chosen Jack Parow & Freshlyground - Army Of One as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Matsumoto
vs
Kriel

180 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
183 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 - 3 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willem Kriel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto misses with a looping left.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Matsumoto checks a leg kick nicely.
Kriel throws a shot to the body.
Matsumoto slips under a jab from Kriel.
Kriel tests Matsumoto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Willem Kriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kriel pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kriel moves into the clinch.
Kriel pushes Matsumoto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Kriel fails to land.
Matsumoto misses with a punch on the inside.
Matsumoto can't break the clinch.
Matsumoto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kriel tries a body shot but Matsumoto blocks it.

Matsumoto breaks from the clinch.
Matsumoto tries to clinch but Kriel moves out of range.
Matsumoto slips under a jab.
A jab from Matsumoto misses.
It seemed like Kriel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kriel misses with a wild body shot.
A big right from Matsumoto misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsumoto under the eye.
Kriel throws out a loose jab but Matsumoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kriel scores with a nice strike.
Matsumoto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matsumoto connects with a right hand. Kriel shakes it off.
Kriel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsumoto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kriel scores with a nice strike.
Matsumoto has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hellfire Antechamber in the buildup to the fight.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Kriel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matsumoto at a distance.
Kriel has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kriel.
Matsumoto takes a head kick and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kriel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsumoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kriel scores with a body shot.
A big left from Matsumoto misses.
Kriel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Matsumoto is able to avoid easily.
Matsumoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kriel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kriel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsumoto.
Nice defenses there by Kriel.
Matsumoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kriel's hands.
Kriel connects with a solid leg kick.
Kriel throws a leg kick
and Matsumoto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matsumoto misses with a hook. Kriel ducked under it nicely.
Kriel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsumoto.
Kriel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto slips under a jab from Kriel.
Matsumoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kriel.
Kriel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kriel throws a series of punches but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto misses with a looping left.
Matsumoto throws a lazy uppercut
and Kriel counters with a low kick, right behind Matsumoto 's knee.

Kriel forces Matsumoto back against the cage and clinches.
Matsumoto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Matsumoto misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Kriel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kriel tries to land knees in the clinch but Matsumoto avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Kriel fails to land.
Matsumoto lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kriel looking to throw knees to the head but Matsumoto is blocking nicely.
Matsumoto throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Kriel.
Kriel lands a right hand.
Kriel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good body shot from Kriel.
Matsumoto misses with an elbow strike.
Matsumoto blocks an uppercut.
Kriel lands a right hand.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Matsumoto as Kriel tries to tie him up.
Matsumoto works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Matsumoto cracks Kriel with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Matsumoto breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kriel cracks the inside of Matsumoto's front leg.
A head kick misses from Kriel.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kriel.
Matsumoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kriel.
Kriel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsumoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kriel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kriel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kriel misses with a left hand
and Matsumoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsumoto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kriel's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsumoto under the eye.
Matsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Kriel.
Nice defenses there by Kriel.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kriel drives through and clinches with Matsumoto against the cage.
Kriel misses with a short punch on the inside.

Matsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsumoto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willem Kriel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kriel walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Matsumoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Matsumoto was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kriel.
Kriel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsumoto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matsumoto tries to clinch but Kriel is having none of it.
Kriel misses with an uppercut.

Matsumoto gets a clinch.
Matsumoto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kriel scores a nice knee to the body.
Matsumoto lands a right hand.
Kriel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matsumoto backwards.
Kriel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kriel is working Matsumoto over against the cage.
Matsumoto tries a body shot but Kriel blocks it.
Matsumoto throws a punch but it's blocked by Kriel.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kriel in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Matsumoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Kriel fails to land.
Kriel looking to throw knees to the head but Matsumoto is blocking nicely.
Kriel looking to throw knees to the head but Matsumoto is blocking nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsumoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kriel lands a good knee to the midsection. Matsumoto won't want to take too many of those.
A left hand lands to the body for Matsumoto.
Kriel controlling the action here for a moment.
Kriel misses with a knee strike.
Kriel is breathing heavily.
Matsumoto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matsumoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Matsumoto tries a body shot but Kriel blocks it.
Kriel prevents Matsumoto from breaking the clinch.
Matsumoto wants to get back to striking at distance but Kriel won't allow it.
Matsumoto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Matsumoto misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsumoto.
Kriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsumoto.
Kriel lands an uppercut.
Matsumoto stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel blocks an uppercut.
Matsumoto blocks an uppercut.
Matsumoto lands a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Matsumoto.
Kriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsumoto trying to stall but Kriel improves his position.
Matsumoto misses with a hook to the ribs.

Matsumoto manages to break the clinch.
Matsumoto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kriel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kriel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kriel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Matsumoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Kriel counter with a right hand.
A slow jab from Matsumoto misses its intended target.
Matsumoto moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromKriel.
Matsumoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kriel moves away.
Kriel is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Matsumoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kriel.
Kriel tries to bum rush Matsumoto with a series of wild strikes but Matsumoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matsumoto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kriel misses with a kick to the body.
Kriel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matsumoto misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kriel lands a head shot.
Kriel tries to score with a low kick but Matsumoto moves his leg out of the way.
Kriel connects with the punch.
Matsumoto lands with a nice combination. Kriel backs away looking to recover.
Kriel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matsumoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Kriel.
Kriel misses with a hook. Matsumoto ducked under it nicely.
That kick from Kriel tenderised Matsumoto's leg. Matsumoto is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kriel throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Matsumoto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matsumoto misses with an uppercut. Kriel saw that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kriel takes one to the side of the head.

Kriel is rocked!
Kriel lands with a cross.
Kriel wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kriel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsumoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsumoto misses with an uppercut. Kriel saw that one coming.
Kriel tries to counter with a clinch but Matsumoto shakes him off and moves away.
Kriel throws a right and a left that Matsumoto avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Kriel moved out of range nicely.
Kriel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsumoto.
Kriel misses with a low kick.
Kriel drops his hands momentarily and Matsumoto takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Kriel rushes Matsumoto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Matsumoto lands a nice elbow.
Kriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Matsumoto or not.
Matsumoto misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsumoto takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kriel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kriel swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsumoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
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.

A close second round but Willem Kriel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Matsumoto throws a poor cross that misses
and Kriel counters with a nice kick to the body.
Matsumoto misses with an uppercut.
Kriel fakes the leg kick and cracks Matsumoto in the body.
A big right from Matsumoto misses.
Matsumoto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kriel can pounce on him.
Matsumoto sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kriel lands with a shot to the body.
Kriel attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Willem Kriel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kriel throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kriel.
Kriel blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel throws a hook but Matsumoto blocks it.
Matsumoto clobbers Kriel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kriel lands a front kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kriel looks to throw the jab but Matsumoto is out of range.
Matsumoto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kriel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Kriel has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands an uppercut.
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside.
Matsumoto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kriel is working Matsumoto over against the cage.
Kriel scores with a shot to the side of Matsumoto's head.
Kriel blocks an elbow strike from Matsumoto.
A nice left hand lands by Matsumoto.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kriel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matsumoto's face.
Kriel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsumoto taking a breather.
Kriel lands a body shot.
Kriel misses with a punch to the body.
Kriel misses with a punch on the inside.
Kriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kriel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matsumoto is keeping busy.
Kriel stalling.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kriel tries to throw a body punch but Matsumoto avoids it by throwing Kriel back against the cage.
Matsumoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kriel's elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Matsumoto fails to land.
Kriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matsumoto misses with a punch to the body.
Matsumoto misses with a punch to the body.
Kriel trying to land knees to the body.
Matsumoto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Matsumoto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Willem Kriel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kriel misses with the head strike.

Matsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsumoto throws a jab when Kriel was well out of range.
Matsumoto takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kriel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsumoto.
Kriel staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsumoto's head backwards.
Kriel lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kriel misses with a left hand
and Matsumoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Kriel throws a leg kick but Matsumoto sees it coming and moves out of range.
Matsumoto throws a lazy uppercut
and Kriel counters with a left to the body.
Kriel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kriel throws a big shot that misses.
Matsumoto throws a body shot but no joy.

Matsumoto gets a clinch.
Kriel tries to work over Matsumoto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matsumoto is stalling here.
Kriel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kriel scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kriel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kriel is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kriel is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kriel.
Kriel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matsumoto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Matsumoto lands an elbow that stopped Kriel in his tracks for a moment.

Matsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Matsumoto feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Kriel sprawling to the canvas! Kriel rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Matsumoto finish him?!
Kriel is still on wobbly legs! Can Matsumoto finish him?
Kriel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matsumoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kriel bobbing and weaving nicely... He's ducked under a jab and ducks again but ooooooh! Matsumoto comes at him with an uppercut from hell! Kriel falls to the canvas, unconscious! This one is all over! Oh man, looking at the replay that was right on the button! Kriel was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ikuhisa Matsumoto!