PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kane Wade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koji Matsuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wade comes to the cage accompanied by System of a down - This cocaine make me feel like I'm on this song. Matsuda has chosen 科学忍者隊ガッチャ as his entrance music. Kane Wade could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Koji Matsuda's chin.

Wade
vs
Matsuda

186 cm
19
195 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kane Wade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Koji Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Wade misses the target.
A slow jab from Wade misses its intended target.
Wade lands a jab to the nose.
Matsuda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wade fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Wade shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wade showed some decent athleticism there.
Matsuda is refusing to be controlled, as Wade sits in half guard.
Matsuda wants to control but Wade is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wade is taking a breather. Matsuda says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wade is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Wade trying to control the action but Matsuda is working from the bottom.
Wade seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wade takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Wade is looking to pass Matsuda's guard but actually Matsuda recovers to full guard.
Matsuda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matsuda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matsuda keeping moving, preventing Wade from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wade is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kane Wade just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Wade shoots for a takedown but Matsuda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice defenses there by Matsuda.
Wade punishes Matsuda's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wade cracks Matsuda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Left hook, right uppercut from Wade.
Nice takedown defense from Matsuda. No joy for Wade on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kane Wade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuda lands with a kick to the temple. Wade shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Wade missing with a left hand there. Matsuda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsuda lets loose with a powerful body kick. Wade will feel that in the morning.
Matsuda misses with a head kick.
Wade throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matsuda's waist but Matsuda gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wade off to one side.
Matsuda slips under a jab from Wade.
Wade misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wade closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuda circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Wade dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wade bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Matsuda is looking to reverse the position.

Wade is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matsuda knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsuda tries to escape but Wade is in control.
Matsuda tries to improve position but can't.
Wade slows the pace down.
Wade working the strikes but Matsuda uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wade is working for a kimura but Matsuda is defending it quite comfortably.
Wade trying to mount his opponent but Matsuda defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matsuda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matsuda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Wade has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wade closes the distance and clinches up with Matsuda, looking for a takedown. Wade pushes Matsuda against the cage but Matsuda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wade connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matsuda momentarily.
Kane Wade seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wade misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kane Wade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wade shoots in and drives through. Matsuda sprawls well.
Wade lands a jab to the nose.
Wade takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Danga de danga de dang - Wade scores with a four punch combination!
Matsuda moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuda tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsuda misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Wade coming out on top.
Wade blocks a head kick by Matsuda.
Wade shoots in for a takedown but Matsuda shows good takedown defense.
Wade misses with a hook. Matsuda ducked under it nicely.
Matsuda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuda throws a solid leg kick but Wade takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matsuda.
Matsuda takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wade shoots in but no luck this time.
Matsuda moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuda slips a jab from Wade.
Wade shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsuda sprawls well. He's pushed Wade's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wade shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsuda as he jumps to the side.

Wade shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matsuda's guard.
Wade wants to control from the top but Matsuda keeps moving.
Matsuda trying to keep a closed guard but Wade is proving a slippery customer.
Matsuda is pulling down on Wade's head. It's preventing any offense from Wade, at least for the moment.
Wade throwing strikes from guard but Matsuda blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Wade dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Wade has a takedown stuffed.
Wade is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wade misses with an uppercut. Matsuda saw that one coming.
Wade has a takedown stuffed.
Matsuda moves out of range as Wade strikes.
Horrible takedown by Wade or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsuda which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kane Wade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wade fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuda manages to avoid it.
Wade changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matsuda tries to avoid it but Wade manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matsuda to the ground. Matsuda escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick misses from Matsuda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a head kick but Wade moves out of range.
Wade misses with an uppercut.
Wade takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wade closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuda circles away.
Wade shoots in but Matsuda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsuda throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wade is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuda.
Koji Matsuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wade moves out of range of the body kick from Matsuda.
Wade throws a big shot that misses.

Wade gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wade working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wade tries to advance to mount but can't.
Wade wants to control but Matsuda is keeping him busy.
Matsuda defending against the ground and pound.
Matsuda can't do much from the bottom here.
Matsuda is being controlled here.
Wade wants to control but Matsuda is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wade goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Matsuda rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wade's guard! Nice work there by Matsuda!

Wade kicks Matsuda off and gets to his feet.
Wade will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck for Wade with that takedown attempt.
Matsuda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsuda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wade.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matsuda misses with a low kick.
Kane Wade is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matsuda walks into a stiff left hand from Wade.

Wade scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Koji Matsuda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wade takes a little break here. Matsuda wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Wade tries to move into full mount but can't pass Matsuda's legs.
Matsuda can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kane Wade.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wade, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kane Wade!