PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matsuda Taro (ranked 843 p4p, 94 weight class) and Kantaro Hoshino (ranked 1165 p4p, 115 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taro
vs
Hoshino

164 cm
31
145 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

165 cm
42
145 lbs
45 - 18 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sin City Allstars

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 45 - 18 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kantaro Hoshino!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Taro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Taro is looking to land body kicks.
As Taro backs off Hoshino throws a huge counter combo but Taro manages to avoid it all.
Hoshino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taro throws a wild body kick that Hoshino sees coming a mile off.
Taro misses with an uppercut.
Taro looks to land a body kick but Hoshino moved away.
Taro keeps the fight on the outside.
Taro throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Taro lands a slapping body shot.
Hoshino smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hoshino throws a lazy right hand but Taro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hoshino lands a jab to the nose.
Hoshino works over Taro's head and body with a nice combination.
A big right from Taro misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hoshino counters with a stiff right hand.
Taro lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Taro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hoshino tries to clinch up but Taro circles away and keeps his distance.
Hoshino throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Hoshino misses.
Hoshino takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hoshino's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hoshino scrambles back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Taro.
Hoshino takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hoshino lands a head shot.
Hoshino wants to clinch up but Taro keeps it at a distance.
Hoshino on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Taro. Taro obviously looking to wear him down.
Taro scores with a kick to the midsection.
Taro fails to land with a series of punches.
Hoshino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taro has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crassus in the buildup to the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoshino takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hoshino lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hoshino takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hoshino tries to clinch but Taro moves away
and Taro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoshino throws a right hand that misses
and Taro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taro connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Taro throws a front kick aimed at Hoshino's knee but Hoshino avoids it well.
Taro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch but Taro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hoshino cracks Taro with a good jab.
Taro cracks a nice hook into Hoshino's ribs.
Taro throws a lazy uppercut
and Hoshino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hoshino tries to clinch up.
Taro rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hoshino counters with a two punch combo.
Hoshino defending well as Taro loads up on a big left hand.
Hoshino moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Taro scores with a jab to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Hoshino. Those never looked like landing.
Hoshino wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hoshino swinging wildly here.
Hoshino misses with the combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Hoshino blocks the leg kick.
Hoshino blocks a head kick by Taro.
Hoshino staying out of range there.
Hoshino tries to clinch up.
Hoshino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Taro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hoshino looks to land a combination but Taro avoids it well.
No joy there for Hoshino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hoshino takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Taro connects with a crisp jab.
Taro misses with a body shot.
Hoshino now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A jab from Taro does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taro throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro scores with a hook.
Nice body punch from Hoshino.
Taro lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Taro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Taro with a jab.
Taro scores with a nice right hand.
Taro is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Taro jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hoshino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Taro.
Hoshino closes the distance looking to clinch
and Taro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hoshino.
Taro throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoshino now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro 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.

Taro misses with an attempted mid kick.
A lazy left from Hoshino finds it's target.
Hoshino misses with the combination.
Matsuda Taro is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoshino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taro cracks Hoshino with a good jab.
Taro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hoshino swinging wildly here.
Decent striking displayed by Hoshino there.
A punch combination from Taro misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body kick there by Taro.
Hoshino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Taro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hoshino.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Hoshino might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Taro has got the better of the exchanges.
A nice combination there by Taro.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro throws a body kick that misses.
Hoshino misses with a right hand
and Taro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hoshino. Taro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taro takes a swing at Hoshino's ribcage but misses.
Taro lands with a thumping leg kick.
A cross from Hoshino lands.
Hoshino throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoshino misses with a straight left.
Taro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taro misses the shot to the body.
Hoshino unleashes a big counter combination but Taro bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hoshino pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Taro back to the cage. Hoshino follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hoshino throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An inside leg kick lands from Taro.
Taro defending well as Hoshino loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Taro takes a swing at Hoshino's ribcage but misses.
Taro avoids a punch combination nicely.

Hoshino pushes Taro up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoshino swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
The referee calls for Taro to work.
Taro scores with a nice hook to the head.

Taro breaks the clinch.
Hoshino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taro punishes Hoshino's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taro. Hoshino does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Taro backs off Hoshino throws a huge counter combo but Taro manages to avoid it all.
Taro misses the jab.
Taro throws a right and a left that Hoshino avoids nicely.
Hoshino throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Taro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Hoshino closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Taro blocking some punches.
Hoshino struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.

Taro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taro lands with a nice body punch.
Hoshino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hoshino takes a swing at Taro's ribcage but misses.
Taro misses with a wild combination.
Taro paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino looks to throw the jab but Taro is out of range.
Taro takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoshino scores with a one two! Taro had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hoshino avoids the head kick by Taro.
Hoshino throws an off balance right hand
and Taro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hoshino. Taro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taro is looking to counter punch.
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hoshino misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Taro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taro avoids the body shot from Hoshino.
Hoshino is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taro.
Taro cracks a nice hook into Hoshino's ribs.
Taro misses with a body shot.
Hoshino let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Taro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoshino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hoshino throws a lazy right hand but Taro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taro just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Hoshino. Those never looked like landing.
Taro thinks about countering with a body kick.
Taro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoshino misses with a double jab.
Hoshino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taro.
Taro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoshino can do to turn this around?
Taro cracks the inside of Hoshino's front leg.
Taro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoshino.

Hoshino pushes Taro up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoshino lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Hoshino controls his hands.

Taro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoshino scores with a jab to the body.
Hoshino moves to clinch but Taro breaks away
and Taro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hoshino takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoshino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoshino drops his hands momentarily and Taro takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoshino.
Hoshino slips under a jab.
Taro just misses with a punch to the body.
Taro avoids the body shot from Hoshino.
Taro fires out a quick counter leg kick but Hoshino just manages to avoid it.
Hoshino wants to clinch up but Taro keeps it at a distance.
Taro swings for the body but Hoshino moves out of range.
Hoshino tries to clinch but Taro moves out of range.
A left and a right from Hoshino both land. Nice combination.
Kantaro Hoshino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hoshino.
Taro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hoshino takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hoshino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taro lands a head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from Hoshino misses.
Donk. Taro catches Hoshino right on the button with a cross.
Taro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Hoshino moves into the clinch successfully.
Come on Taro - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taro scores with a nice hook to the head.
Taro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hoshino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taro blocking some punches.
Taro scores with a shoulder strike.
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hoshino scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Hoshino misses with the head strike.

Taro breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hoshino.
Hoshino tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hoshino wants to clinch up but Taro keeps it at a distance.
Hoshino takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hoshino takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kantaro Hoshino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taro lands a nice shot to the body.
Taro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hoshino moves away.
Matsuda Taro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoshino showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taro.
Taro scores with a sloppy right hand. Hoshino should have avoided that one.
Taro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoshino throws an overhand right that lands on Taro's shoulder, as Taro tries to avoid the shot.
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Taro was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hoshino.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taro lands with an overhand left.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hoshino fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taro on the side of the head.
Taro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hoshino.
Hoshino looks to clinch
and Taro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hoshino's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
No joy there for Hoshino, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from Taro finds it's way through Hoshino's defenses.
Taro feints and then cracks Hoshino's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hoshino down.
Hoshino swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Taro makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hoshino tries to close the distance and clinch but Taro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hoshino moves in looking to clinch but Taro pushes him off.
Hoshino's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hoshino duly obliges.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Taro lands with a good body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Taro. Hoshino shrugs it off though.
Hoshino is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taro.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsuda Taro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taro, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsuda Taro!
After the fight, Matsuda Taro was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.