PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Matsuoka (ranked 1021 p4p, 106 weight class) and Emre Hussain (ranked 1700 p4p, 160 weight class). Matsuoka kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Tom Petty - Won’t back down. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Matsuoka
vs
Hussain

176 cm
34
155 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

171 cm
30
158 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Matsuoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emre Hussain!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuoka misses with a head kick.
Matsuoka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hussain.
Matsuoka looks for the body kick but Hussain saw that one coming.
Hussain on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hussain swings for the body but Matsuoka moves out of range.
Hussain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Matsuoka is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hussain throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsuoka sizes up Hussain with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Matsuoka throws a head kick but Hussain moves out of range.
Hussain throws a lazy right hand but Matsuoka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuoka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hussain sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsuoka moves out of range of the leg kick from Hussain.

Hussain closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Matsuoka quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsuoka regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hussain.
Matsuoka has momentary wrist control but Hussain slips an elbow through the middle.
Matsuoka is looking to stand up but Hussain isn't so interested in that idea.
Hussain throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain trying to control but Matsuoka is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hussain's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Matsuoka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hussain trying to control but Matsuoka is working from the bottom.
Matsuoka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hussain has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hussain has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsuoka finds it's way round the side to connect with Hussain's head.
Matsuoka scores with a head kick.
Hussain throws a wild body kick that Matsuoka sees coming a mile off.
Matsuoka seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nice defenses there by Matsuoka.
A jab from Matsuoka misses.
Hussain with a hook.
Hussain misses with a body shot.
Matsuoka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hussain.
It looked like Matsuoka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matsuoka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Matsuoka.
Matsuoka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hussain slips under a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hussain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hussain throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuoka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsuoka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matsuoka avoids the body shot from Hussain.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuoka throws a leg kick but Hussain sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hussain counters with a body kick.
Hussain throws a lazy right hand but Matsuoka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussain misses with a leg kick.
Hussain slips a straight right by Matsuoka.
Matsuoka scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hussain with a jab.
Matsuoka misses with a left hand
and Hussain counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsuoka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hussain misses with an uppercut. Matsuoka saw that one coming.
Hussain throws a hook to the side of Matsuoka's head but Matsuoka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matsuoka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matsuoka tries to close the distance and clinch but Hussain swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsuoka lands a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hussain cracks Matsuoka with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Matsuoka walks into a stiff left hand from Hussain.
Matsuoka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matsuoka is looking to clinch but Hussain is avoiding it.
Hussain lands with a hook. Matsuoka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hussain stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsuoka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain throws a lazy right hand but Matsuoka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hussain takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hussain drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hussain looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hussain throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsuoka lands a nice shot that snaps Hussain's head back.
Hussain scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matsuoka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuoka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuoka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Matsuoka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hussain throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Matsuoka counters with a leg kick.
Hussain throws a big shot that misses.
Matsuoka pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hussain back to the cage. Matsuoka follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Matsuoka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuoka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsuoka steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hussain. That one must have hurt.
Hussain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsuoka.
Hussain thows a leg kick but Matsuoka checks it
and Matsuoka counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hiroki Matsuoka will probably get the nod.
That's time! Matsuoka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matsuoka takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hussain - that will leave a mark!
Matsuoka bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hussain misses with a looping left.
Matsuoka tries a head kick but it misses.
A leg kick checked by Matsuoka.
No luck for Hussain with that takedown attempt.
Matsuoka with a hook.
Matsuoka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hussain manages to avoid it.
Hussain checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hiroki Matsuoka is winning the standup battle so far.
Hussain throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hussain throws a body punch but Matsuoka moves out of range.
Matsuoka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hussain.
Matsuoka throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hussain on the side of the head.
Hussain will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hussain scores with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hussain uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuoka.
Hussain throws a wild body kick that Matsuoka sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain throws a lazy uppercut
and Matsuoka counters with a thumping low kick.
Emre Hussain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hussain throws out a loose jab but Matsuoka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hussain throws an overhand right that lands on Matsuoka's shoulder, as Matsuoka tries to avoid the shot.
Matsuoka defending well as Hussain loads up on a big left hand.
Matsuoka is looking to counter punch.
Hussain with a hook.
Matsuoka fakes the leg kick and cracks Hussain in the body.
Hussain throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
As Hussain backs away, Matsuoka returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Matsuoka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Matsuoka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hussain throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matsuoka.
Matsuoka appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hussain misses with a straight right.
Hussain looks to land a right hand but Matsuoka moved out of range.
Hussain walks into a straight right hand from Matsuoka.
Hussain misses with a straight right.
A little feinted left hand from Matsuoka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hiroki Matsuoka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hussain lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matsuoka at a distance.
Matsuoka throws a head kick but Hussain moves out of range.
Hussain moves out of range of the leg kick from Matsuoka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuoka throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hussain takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Matsuoka scores with a jab. Hussain acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hussain closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuoka circles away.
Hussain throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuoka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Matsuoka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hussain pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsuoka takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Matsuoka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hussain wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsuoka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hussain works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matsuoka not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Matsuoka trying to control the position from guard on top but Hussain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hussain seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Matsuoka throws a big right hand that misses.
Matsuoka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hussain is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matsuoka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hussain looking for a sweep. Not yet Hussain, not yet.
Matsuoka trying to control but Hussain is working from the bottom.
Hussain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hussain is looking to stand up but Matsuoka isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Matsuoka with a hook.
Hussain throws a lazy right hand but Matsuoka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuoka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hussain.
Nice straight punches there by Matsuoka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matsuoka.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hussain. That's going to slow Matsuoka down.
Hussain fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuoka missing with a left hand there. Hussain was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hussain throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsuoka tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsuoka wants to clinch up but Hussain keeps it at a distance.
Matsuoka takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hussain is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hussain ducks under a wild hook from Matsuoka.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hussain lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuoka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsuoka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hussain throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matsuoka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hussain throws a looping overhand right but Matsuoka ducks down to avoid it.
Hussain lands a nice shot that snaps Matsuoka's head back.
Sloppy strikes from Matsuoka. Those never looked like landing.
Matsuoka misses with a low kick as Hussain jumps back.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hussain! But no joy.
Hussain lands with a nice body punch.
Matsuoka throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hussain lands a really nice looking cross but Matsuoka seems unphased.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Emre Hussain will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matsuoka dodges the punch combination from Hussain.
Hussain misses with a body kick.
Hussain dives in for a single leg takedown but Matsuoka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Matsuoka tries to clinch there but Hussain circles away.
A good leg kick by Matsuoka.
Matsuoka scores with a leg kick.
Hussain changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hussain throws a leg kick which misses Matsuoka's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsuoka tries to avoid it.
Hussain throws a shot from downtown. Matsuoka moves away and avoids it.
Hussain throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matsuoka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A good leg kick by Matsuoka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuoka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Hussain closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hussain working away.
Hussain creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Matsuoka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Hussain is trying to ground and pound but Matsuoka uses the momentary lack of control by Hussain to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussain throws a strike but Matsuoka avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hussain sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hussain pushing down on Matsuoka's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hussain tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matsuoka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hussain prevents Matsuoka from standing back up.
Matsuoka is controlling Hussain's trapped leg to prevent Hussain from advancing to side control.
Emre Hussain has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hussain is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Matsuoka is looking to get back to is feet but Hussain passes into side control.
Hussain cracks Matsuoka with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hussain working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hussain working the ground and pound from side control.
Hussain working the strikes but Matsuoka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Matsuoka wants to get back to his feet.
Hussain thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matsuoka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matsuoka gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussain lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hussain trying to control but Matsuoka is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hussain throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hussain throws a chopping leg kick but Matsuoka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matsuoka lands the left hand.
Matsuoka throws out a powerful jab.
Hussain takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hussain throws a jab when Matsuoka was well out of range.
Matsuoka ducks under a wild hook from Hussain.
Matsuoka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hussain's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hussain misses with a kick to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matsuoka.
Hussain scores with a hook.
Hussain thuds a left hand into Matsuoka's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussain throws a hook but Matsuoka avoids it easily.
Matsuoka was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hussain missing with a left hand there. Matsuoka was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hussain lands the left hand.
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!
Hussain jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Hussain misses.
Matsuoka moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsuoka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hussain.
Matsuoka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hussain shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matsuoka sprawls well. Matsuoka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hussain gets slowly back to his feet.
Hussain takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hussain throws a body punch but Matsuoka moves out of range.
Matsuoka scores with a sloppy right hand. Hussain should have avoided that one.
Hussain goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hussain has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Matsuoka connects with a looping right hand.
Hussain misses with a body kick.
A jab from Hussain misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emre Hussain.
I think Hussain 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Emre Hussain!
After the fight, Emre Hussain 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.