PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kiyah Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faoa Sunia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faoa Sunia told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Matsumoto
vs
Sunia

168 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kiyah Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Faoa Sunia!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sunia throws a series of punches but Matsumoto avoids them all with ease.
Sunia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsumoto manages to avoid it.
Sunia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sunia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matsumoto but Matsumoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sunia looks for a takedown but Matsumoto sprawls well.
Sunia looks to land a left hand but Matsumoto moved out of range nicely.
Sunia looks to land a combination but Matsumoto avoids it well.
Sunia looks to land a left hand but Matsumoto moved out of range nicely.
Matsumoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sunia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Matsumoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsumoto thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Matsumoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Matsumoto working for a triangle but Sunia defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sunia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sunia pushes down on Matsumoto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sunia is tying to control. Matsumoto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matsumoto is trying to maintain the position but Sunia is very close to passing his half guard.
Matsumoto has a hand on Sunia's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Sunia takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matsumoto is in a horrible position here. Sunia smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Matsumoto is trying to escape the mount.
BOOM! Sunia connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Matsumoto blocking the ground and pound.
Sunia avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.
Matsumoto manages to control the position for a moment.
Sunia avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sunia is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Matsumoto has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto gets back to half guard.
Matsumoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Matsumoto is looking for a triangle but Sunia pushes his legs off easily.
Sunia is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Matsumoto is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sunia has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matsumoto keeping full guard, as Sunia tries to pass.
Sunia wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.
Matsumoto working a defensive guard here.
Sunia is looking to work some ground and pound but Matsumoto has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sunia shoots in and bounces Matsumoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sunia won't allow Matsumoto to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Faoa Sunia dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sunia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto is in trouble now - Sunia has advanced to mount!
Matsumoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsumoto wants to hold on but Sunia pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Sunia there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Matsumoto is desperately trying to improve his position but Sunia has a good base and remains in mount.
Sunia tries to control but Matsumoto wriggling away.
Sunia thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Matsumoto wants to hold on but Sunia pushes him away.
Matsumoto working to try and regain half guard.
Sunia controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto is trying desperately to improve position.
Poor strikes thrown by Sunia there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sunia is landing with some decent strikes but Matsumoto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Matsumoto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sunia lands a heavy elbow.
Matsumoto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sunia trying to control but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Matsumoto is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sunia landing strikes from the mount.
Sunia avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.
Matsumoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsumoto wants to hold on but Sunia pushes him away.
Matsumoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Sunia goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Matsumoto turns into him and now he's in Sunia's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sunia keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sunia holds on and takes a little breather.

Sunia had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Matsumoto is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sunia Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Matsumoto's back instead.
Sunia is breathing heavily.
Sunia somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Matsumoto rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Matsumoto trying to hold on to Sunia's head to control him but Sunia postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matsumoto is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Sunia wants to free his trapped foot but Matsumoto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Matsumoto wants to control but Sunia is keeping busy.
Matsumoto is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matsumoto thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sunia misses with a takedown attempt - Matsumoto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsumoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sunia is fending him off so far but Matsumoto persists. Nope, Sunia circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Faoa Sunia 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!

Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Sunia moved out of range nicely.
Sunia wants to clinch up but Matsumoto keeps it at a distance.

Matsumoto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sunia to the mat! Sunia manages to get full guard.
Matsumoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Sunia is retaining full guard.
Matsumoto trying to control but Sunia is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sunia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sunia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sunia throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Sunia keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matsumoto moves out of range as Sunia strikes.
Sunia throws a head kick that Matsumoto semi-blocks.
Sunia throws a sloppy head kick and Matsumoto moves out of range easily.
Sunia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sunia is looking to clinch.
Sunia moves out of range as Matsumoto strikes.

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Matsumoto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Matsumoto with shots to the head and body - Sunia looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sunia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sunia is surviving well by controlling Matsumoto's body position as best he can.
Sunia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Matsumoto landing strikes from the mount and Sunia is in trouble!
Matsumoto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sunia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sunia wants to hold on but Matsumoto pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Matsumoto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sunia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matsumoto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sunia?
Sunia is looking to get to half guard.
Matsumoto scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Matsumoto controlling the position easily from mount.
Matsumoto wants to control the pace but Sunia is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sunia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Faoa Sunia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sunia bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Sunia passes Matsumoto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kiyah Matsumoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Matsumoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiyah Matsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sunia 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Faoa Sunia!