PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Marcus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Marcus has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ikuhisa Matsumoto's chin.

Matsumoto
vs
Marcus

180 cm
23
181 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, 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, Simon Marcus!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Marcus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsumoto circles away.
Matsumoto wants to clinch.
Marcus shapes to counter with a head kick.
Marcus shoots in for a takedown but Matsumoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus wants a takedown.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Marcus.
Matsumoto pushes Marcus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Matsumoto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marcus backwards.
Matsumoto tries to work over Marcus's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto can't find room to land a body shot as Marcus controls the action.
The referee is keeping an eye on Matsumoto - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Matsumoto definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Marcus gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Marcus works his foot free and advances to mount.
Marcus takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Marcus working for a submission but Matsumoto is keeping him at bay.
Marcus controlling from the full mount.
Marcus looking to finish Matsumoto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Matsumoto!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto holds on, trying desperately to control.
Marcus trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Marcus thowing shots but they're missing.
Marcus throwing strikes here but Matsumoto is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Matsumoto is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matsumoto defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Marcus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Marcus.
Marcus raining down hammerfists from mount.
Matsumoto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Marcus.
Marcus landing strikes, looking to finish!
Matsumoto gets back to half guard.

Marcus is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is looking to take a break and control but Matsumoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Marcus is thwarting Matsumoto's attempts to control the position.
Marcus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marcus is looking for a kimura but Matsumoto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Marcus to get the leverage.

Marcus wants to work for an arm triangle but Matsumoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Marcus dominated that round.
That's time! Matsumoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marcus slips under a jab.

Matsumoto tries to keep at a distance but Marcus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marcus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Matsumoto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marcus misses with a takedown
and Matsumoto counters with a nice uppercut.

Marcus drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Marcus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Matsumoto!
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marcus on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcus in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Matsumoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcus controlling from the full mount.
Marcus throws some wild stikes that Matsumoto manages to avoid easily.
Matsumoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Marcus is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Matsumoto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Matsumoto!
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Marcus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcus is pulling down on Matsumoto's head to control his posture.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Marcus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Matsumoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Marcus is retaining full guard.
Matsumoto slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Simon Marcus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Marcus looking for a guillotine here but Matsumoto defends easily.
Marcus keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marcus controlling the position.
Marcus punching from the bottom.
Marcus controlling Matsumoto's posture.
Marcus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matsumoto manages to get himself to full guard.

Marcus is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that Marcus has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Matsumoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matsumoto keeping full guard, as Marcus tries to pass.
Marcus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marcus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marcus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Marcus throws an elbow that misses. Matsumoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Marcus's guard. Nice move by Matsumoto!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marcus looking for a guillotine here but Matsumoto defends easily.
Marcus keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Marcus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Marcus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsumoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matsumoto tries to clinch up but Marcus circles away and keeps his distance.
Matsumoto lands with a straight right. Marcus didn't see that one coming.
Marcus looks for a takedown but Matsumoto sprawls well.
Matsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcus tries for a takedown but Matsumoto circles away easily
and Matsumoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Matsumoto lands with a nice combination. Marcus backs away looking to recover.
Matsumoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marcus manages to avoid it.

Marcus closes the distance and clinches.

Marcus turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Marcus manages to end up in side control.

Marcus wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matsumoto, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from Marcus seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Marcus goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Matsumoto has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Marcus but great work by Matsumoto.
Marcus is trying to control Matsumoto's posture but Matsumoto avoids it.
Matsumoto staying calm.
Marcus is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Marcus manages to get back to half guard.
Marcus keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Marcus scores with a few weak punches.
Matsumoto is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Marcus manages to get to full guard.

Matsumoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Marcus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matsumoto has managed to get both his arms back between Marcus's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto won't allow Marcus to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marcus wants to stand but Matsumoto is controlling the position.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Marcus keeps moving.
Matsumoto is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Marcus is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Marcus tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Marcus had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matsumoto defends it easily.

Marcus is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Matsumoto rolls with it to try and escape but Marcus cranks on the arm and Matsumoto is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Simon Marcus!