PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sam Campobello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matsuda Taro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsuda Taro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Campobello
vs
Taro

168 cm
24
150 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

164 cm
25
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Campobello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taro lands a nice looking body shot.
Taro does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
It looked like Campobello was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Campobello gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Campobello tries a knee to the head but Taro blocks it.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Campobello definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Campobello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taro scores with a shoulder strike.
Campobello blocking some punches.
A short right from Taro.
Campobello is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Campobello.
Campobello blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Campobello makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Campobello displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taro up against the cage.
Taro has a couple of punches blocked by Campobello.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campobello has a couple of punches blocked by Taro.
Campobello misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Campobello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taro is stalling here.
Taro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Campobello lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Campobello's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taro throws a punch but it's blocked by Campobello.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Campobello.
A nice left hand lands by Taro.
Taro can't find room to land a body shot as Campobello controls the action.
Taro lands a body punch in the clinch.
Taro blocks an elbow strike from Campobello.
Campobello looking to throw knees to the head but Taro is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campobello trying to stall but Taro improves his position.
Taro misses with some punches.
Taro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Campobello crunches a lovely knee into Taro's ribcage.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taro has Campobello pressed against the cage.
Campobello lands a nice uppercut.
Campobello lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Taro controlling the action here for a moment.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Campobello slowing the pace effectively.
Taro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taro has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Campobello seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Taro can turn it around.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Campobello gets through Taro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taro's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Taro blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Taro on the inside.
Campobello misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taro.
Taro lands a hook that snaps the head of Campobello backwards.
Taro lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Campobello or not.
Taro lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Taro.
A short uppercut from Taro.
Campobello with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Campobello misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taro controlling the action here for a moment.
Campobello is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taro is defending well for now.
Taro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taro scores with a shoulder strike.
Taro tries to work over Campobello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taro takes a knee right on the jaw!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro lands a body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Campobello is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Taro lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nice body punch from Taro - that landed with a thud.
Taro blocking some punches.
Taro pushes Campobello back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Campobello working aggressively here.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Campobello.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro misses with some punches.
Campobello tries to work over Taro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Campobello.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Taro rushes Campobello and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Campobello unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Campobello misses with the head strike.
Taro cracks Campobello with a nice body shot.
Campobello wants to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Campobello.
Campobello lands with a right to the head.
Campobello throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Campobello lands a hook that snaps the head of Taro backwards.
Taro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taro tries to throw a body punch but Campobello avoids it by throwing Taro back against the cage.
Campobello tries to stall but Taro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Campobello throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taro blocks it with crossed arms.
Taro has a couple of punches blocked by Campobello.
Campobello looking to stall.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro scores with a hook to the body.
Taro lands a right hand.
Taro scores with a shoulder strike.
Taro lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Taro.
Taro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taro tries to work over Campobello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Campobello blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Campobello.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Campobello being controlled against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Campobello misses with a short punch on the inside.
Campobello tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from Campobello fails to land.
Taro lands a left hand.
With the fighters up against the cage, Campobello throws an elbow but misses.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
Campobello tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taro's elbow.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Taro presses Campobello against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Taro has Campobello pressed against the cage.
Campobello is struggling to control the position.
Campobello is trying to stall.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Taro fails to land.
Taro swings wildly with an uppercut but Campobello uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
Taro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Taro digs a right hand into Campobello's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Campobello's gas tank.
Taro scores with a shot to the side of Campobello's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Taro.
Campobello working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taro throws a punch but it's blocked by Campobello.
Taro swings wildly with an uppercut but Campobello uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Taro lands with a right to the head.
Campobello throws a punch but it's blocked by Taro.
Taro misses with the head strike.
Taro lands with a light punch inside.
Taro lands a right hand.

Campobello is rocked!
Campobello blocking some punches.
Oh Campobello is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Campobello seems to have got his legs back now.
A short uppercut from Taro.
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matsuda Taro seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Taro digs a right hand into Campobello's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Campobello's gas tank.
Campobello trying to stall but Taro improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campobello has a couple of punches blocked by Taro.
Taro misses with a punch on the inside.
Taro lands with a left to the head.
Taro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Campobellos head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Campobello creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Taro pushes Campobello back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Campobello throws a head punch that misses.
Campobello pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Campobello takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Campobello throws a punch but it's blocked by Taro.
Campobello can't find room to land a body shot as Taro controls the action.
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taro.
Campobello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Campobello is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taro is keeping busy.
Taro lands a hook that snaps the head of Campobello backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro 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!

Campobello is looking to clinch.
Taro lands a slapping body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Campobello looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Campobello moves out of range of the strikes.
Campobello wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Campobello tries to clinch up but Taro circles away and keeps his distance.
Campobello tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taro sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Campobello somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campobello checks a low kick from Taro.
Taro looks to land a right hand but Campobello moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campobello tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Campobello dives in for a single leg takedown but Taro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Taro rushes Campobello and presses him up against the cage.
Taro blocking some punches.
Campobello tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taro avoids it.
Taro tries to work over Campobello's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro swings wildly with an uppercut but Campobello uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro avoiding damage as Campobello throws knees to the body.
Campobello's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Campobello.
Taro lands a body punch in the clinch.
Campobello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Campobello blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Taro as Campobello tries to tie him up.
Campobello lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taro backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campobello can't find room to land a body shot as Taro controls the action.
Campobello misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Taro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Campobello controlling the action here for a moment.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Campobello is trying to maintain a safe position but Taro gets an underhook and turns Campobello into the cage.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Campobello will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Taro up against the cage.
Taro lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Campobello struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.
Taro lands with a short shot to the head.
Campobello stalling in the clinch but Taro improves position.
Taro lands a nice uppercut.
Taro avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Campobello's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Taro lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Campobello.
Campobello's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taro lands a hook that snaps the head of Campobello backwards.
A short body shot lands from Taro as the two fighters clinch.
Taro lands with a left to the head.
Matsuda Taro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Campobello prevents a body shot from Taro.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Campobello is looking to control Taro's arms but Taro gets an underhook and turns him. Now Campobello has his back to the cage.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Campobello controls his hands.
Campobello blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
Taro can't find room to land a body shot as Campobello controls the action.
Campobello misses with a knee to the head.
Taro lands a nice uppercut.
Taro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Campobello blocks an uppercut.
Campobello swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Campobello tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taro avoids it.
Taro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Campobello is trying to maintain a safe position but Taro gets an underhook and turns Campobello into the cage.
Taro lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Campobello backwards.
Campobello swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sam Campobello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taro lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Campobello or not.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsuda Taro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsuda Taro!
Matsuda Taro spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.