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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Zander McGuire (ranked 3949 p4p, 370 weight class) and Matsuda Taro (ranked 706 p4p, 84 weight class). McGuire kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Hall of Fame ft. will.i.am. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!
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| 178 cm
41
152 lbs
36 - 18 - 2 |
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164 cm
26
145 lbs
11 - 4 - 0 |
World class boxer
Insanely flexible
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World class boxer
Good gas tank
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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
36 - 18 - 2, fighting out of New York, Zander McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire wants to land a leg kick but Taro is out of range.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGuire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taro.
McGuire walks into a jab.
McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taro moves away.
Taro takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McGuire throws the left hand but Taro avoids the punch easily.
McGuire misses with a kick to the body.
Taro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Both fighters circling a little - Taro finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Taro misses.
McGuire steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taro.
McGuire tried to counter with a leg kick but Taro avoided it.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGuire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuire throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taro stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taro manages to avoid it.
McGuire has been working on his boxing with his coaches at River's Edge Gym in the buildup to the fight.
McGuire slips a straight right by Taro.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro lands with a nice body punch.
McGuire dips to his left and cracks Taro with an uppercut!
Taro plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Taro's coach down at Crassus was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Taro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McGuire slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McGuire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taro.
McGuire throws out a loose jab but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro throws a wild body kick that McGuire sees coming a mile off.
Taro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McGuire connects with the punch.
McGuire avoids the body shot from Taro.
McGuire slips a straight right by Taro.
McGuire clinches.
McGuire stalling in the clinch but Taro improves position.
McGuire manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Taro avoiding damage as McGuire throws knees to the body.
Taro is trying to maintain a safe position but McGuire gets an underhook and turns Taro into the ropes.
Taro is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Taro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire with a knee to the head.
McGuire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McGuire avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McGuire tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Taro is able to avoid easily.
Taro thuds his right hand into McGuire's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Taro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McGuire's head.
McGuire throws a front kick that sends Taro stumbling back into the ropes.
McGuire takes one to the side of the head.
McGuire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taro shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Taro throws a body punch but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire wants to slow Taro down by chopping away at his legs.
Taro appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Taro misses with the combination.
McGuire throwing a counter right hand but Taro manages to avoid it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGuire.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGuire throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Taro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Taro throws a jab when McGuire was well out of range.
Taro has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McGuire finds it's way round the side to connect with Taro's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
A slow jab from Taro misses its intended target.
Taro throws a shot from downtown. McGuire moves away and avoids it.
McGuire was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice defenses there by McGuire.
Taro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuire was well out of range. Poor timing from Taro.
Matsuda Taro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Taro misses.
As Taro backs away, McGuire returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
McGuire throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McGuire lands with an overhand left.
Taro slips under a jab.
Taro throws out a powerful jab.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
Taro throws a shot from downtown. McGuire moves away and avoids it.
Taro connects with a solid leg kick.
McGuire ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McGuire throwing a counter right hand but Taro manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Taro.
McGuire buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McGuire tests Taro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taro scores with a punch to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGuire is looking to land body kicks.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire scores with a nice body kick.
Taro lands a nice shot that snaps McGuire's head back.
McGuire throws a hook to the side of Taro's head but Taro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Taro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McGuire moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McGuire, right into the meat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McGuire checks a leg kick.
Taro moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
Taro connects with the punch.
A cross from Taro lands.
Taro misses with the combination.
Taro connects with the punch.
Taro swings widly with a right hand
and McGuire counters with a thumping low kick.
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!
McGuire throws a body punch but Taro moves out of range.
Taro misses the jab.
Taro uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McGuire has time to react.
A good leg kick by Taro.
A telegraphed right hand from Taro misses the target.
McGuire quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire cracks the inside of Taro's front leg.
McGuire tries to move into range but Taro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McGuire misses with a body kick.
McGuire forces Taro back against the ropes and clinches.
McGuire looking to slow down the pace here.
Taro lands a body punch.
McGuire tries to stall but Taro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
McGuire lands with a right to the head.
Taro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McGuire is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McGuire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGuire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro feints and then cracks McGuire's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McGuire down.
Taro misses with a lunging right hand
and McGuire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taro checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
Taro listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Taro with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McGuire to score with a decent uppercut.
Good leg kick by McGuire there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Taro defending well as McGuire loads up on a big left hand.
Taro moves into range and connects with a jab.
Taro lands a jab.
McGuire slips a straight right by Taro.
McGuire scores with a jab.
McGuire misses with a leg kick
and Taro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McGuire connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taro's hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro moves away from the strike by McGuire.
A jab from Taro does it's job there.
McGuire moves into the clinch successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
McGuire scores with a shoulder strike.
McGuire manages to break the clinch.
McGuire slips under a jab from Taro.
McGuire takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zander McGuire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice body punch from McGuire.
Taro lands a really nice looking cross but McGuire seems unphased.
McGuire misses with the combination.
McGuire misses with a series of wild punches.
A slow jab from McGuire misses its intended target.
McGuire takes one to the side of the head.
McGuire bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsuda Taro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Taro digs a good hook to McGuire's body.
McGuire uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taro.
Taro throws a combination that misses
and McGuire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Taro takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGuire scores with a nice head shot.
McGuire walks into a stiff left hand from Taro.
Taro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire swings for the body but Taro moves out of range.
McGuire tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taro cracks McGuire with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Taro jabs at McGuire's body.
Taro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGuire.
Taro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McGuire digs a good body shot into Taro's ribs.
McGuire fails in his attempt to clinch.
McGuire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGuire walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McGuire attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Taro rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Taro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McGuire connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Taro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro scores with a jab to the head.
Taro misses with a looping right.
It looked like McGuire was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Taro throws a poor cross that misses
and McGuire counters with a low kick, right behind Taro 's knee.
McGuire lands a glancing blow to the side of Taro's head.
Taro scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
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 Zander McGuire.
I think Taro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsuda Taro!
In his post fight interview, Matsuda Taro started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
85% |
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