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. Ikuhisa Matsumoto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matsumoto
vs
Kriel

180 cm
21
175 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple 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 6 - 4 - 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willem Kriel!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kriel lands a nice looking kick to the body. Matsumoto takes a step back to recover.
Kriel scores with a kick to the body.
Kriel dodges the punch combination from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kriel staying out of range there.
Kriel avoids the body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big left from Kriel misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Matsumoto misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto moves out of range as Kriel strikes.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matsumoto checks a leg kick.
Kriel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kriel walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
An inside leg kick lands from Kriel.
Matsumoto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Matsumoto misses with a shot to the body
and Kriel counters with a right hand to the body.
Kriel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Matsumoto lands with a hook. Kriel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Matsumoto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kriel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsumoto scores with a hook to the body. Kriel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto throws an off balance right hand
and Kriel counters with a left and a right that stings Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a hook
and Kriel counters with a good low kick that Matsumoto was not able to check.
Kriel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsumoto lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsumoto throws a body punch but Kriel moves out of range.
Kriel is looking for the big counter here.
Kriel darts in trying to clinch
and Matsumoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good leg kick by Kriel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice straight punches there by Matsumoto. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matsumoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsumoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Danga de danga de dang - Matsumoto scores with a four punch combination!
Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Kriel moved out of range nicely.
Matsumoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Kriel throws a leg kick but Matsumoto checks it.
Matsumoto swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Matsumoto throws a poor cross that misses

and Kriel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kriel digs a right hand into Matsumoto's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Matsumoto's gas tank.
Matsumoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kriel misses with a punch to the body.
Matsumoto tries to work over Kriel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kriel tries a body shot but Matsumoto blocks it.
Kriel misses with a body punch.
Kriel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Matsumoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kriel.
Matsumoto tries to throw a body punch but Kriel avoids it by throwing Matsumoto back against the cage.
Kriel scores with a shoulder strike.
Matsumoto misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kriel misses with a knee to the head.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kriel scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Kriel.

Matsumoto breaks the clinch.
Matsumoto throws a poor cross that misses
and Kriel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsumoto scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kriel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kriel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot
letting Kriel counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ikuhisa Matsumoto will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kriel misses with a looping right.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsumoto moves out of range as Kriel throws a body kick.
Matsumoto avoids the body shot from Kriel.
Kriel scores with a jab. Matsumoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kriel looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kriel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel takes a swing at Matsumoto's ribcage but misses.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot.
Kriel lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Matsumoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
An inside leg kick from Kriel misses.
A little feinted left hand from Matsumoto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kriel can pounce on him.
Matsumoto throws an off balance right hand
and Kriel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kriel throws a combination that misses
and Kriel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matsumoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kriel circles away quickly and effectively.
Kriel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matsumoto misses with a double jab
and Kriel counters with a low kick, right behind Matsumoto 's knee.
Kriel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a lunging right hand
and Kriel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsumoto misses with a left hand
and Kriel counters with a nice uppercut.
Good shot there by Matsumoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto swings widly with a right hand
and Kriel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsumoto lands a nice looking body shot.
Kriel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kriel, right into the meat.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Kriel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matsumoto misses with a lunging right hand
and Kriel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kriel throws out a leg kick but Matsumoto moves out of range and Kriel only half commits.
Kriel misses with a left hand
and Matsumoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto punishes Kriel's body with a nice straight punch.
Matsumoto connects with a body shot that sends Kriel's belly button to the back.
Kriel throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Jab from Matsumoto.
A combination from Matsumoto does no damage.
Matsumoto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsumoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsumoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Matsumoto sets himself, and Kriel steps forward looking for the clinch! Matsumoto avoids it this time.
Matsumoto lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel avoids the body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matsumoto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matsumoto missing with a left hand there. Kriel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Matsumoto misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Kriel.
Matsumoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsumoto blocks a head kick by Kriel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ikuhisa Matsumoto will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kriel moves out of range as Matsumoto strikes.
Kriel now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Matsumoto misses with a jab to the body

and Kriel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kriel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Matsumoto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kriel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matsumoto prevents a body shot from Kriel.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matsumoto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kriel has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Matsumoto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kriel can turn it around.
Kriel cracks Matsumoto with a nice body shot.
Kriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matsumoto backwards.
Matsumoto prevents a body shot from Kriel.
Matsumoto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kriel keeps control of Matsumoto as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kriel throws a head punch that misses.
Kriel scores with a shoulder strike.
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside.
Matsumoto tries to throw a body punch but Kriel avoids it by throwing Matsumoto back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Kriel scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel tries a body shot but Matsumoto blocks it.
Nice body punch from Matsumoto - that landed with a thud.
Matsumoto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kriel lands with a right to the head.
Kriel tries a body shot but Matsumoto blocks it.
Kriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matsumoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsumoto controls his hands.
Kriel pushes Matsumoto back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kriel landing knees to the head.
Kriel lands a knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kriel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kriel.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Matsumoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Kriel fails to land.
Willem Kriel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel is stalling here.
Kriel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kriel landing knees to the head.
Kriel looking to throw knees to the head but Matsumoto is blocking nicely.
Matsumoto lands a right hand.
Matsumoto avoiding damage as Kriel throws knees to the body.
Kriel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kriel trying to land knees to the body.
Kriel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsumoto.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matsumoto creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kriel scores with a shoulder strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kriel.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsumoto.
Kriel lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matsumoto.
Nice body punch from Kriel - that landed with a thud.
Matsumoto misses with some punches.
A right hand to the body from Matsumoto.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kriel.
Kriel missing with knees to the body.
Matsumoto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matsumoto cracks Kriel with a nice body shot.
Kriel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matsumoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kriel wants to stall.
Kriel misses with some punches.
Matsumoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel tries to throw a body punch but Matsumoto avoids it by throwing Kriel back against the cage.
Kriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsumoto blocks an uppercut.
Kriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kriel tries to throw a body punch but Matsumoto avoids it by throwing Kriel back against the cage.
Kriel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matsumoto's elbow.
Kriel throws a head punch that misses.
Kriel lands a good knee to the midsection. Matsumoto won't want to take too many of those.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kriel.
Kriel scores with a shot to the side of Matsumoto's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willem Kriel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matsumoto 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikuhisa Matsumoto!