PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matsuda Taro (ranked 277 p4p, 17 weight class) and Takashi Yoshida (ranked 82 p4p, 7 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Taro
vs
Yoshida

164 cm
33
145 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

165 cm
26
135 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Garra Nutri
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 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 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takashi Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Taro.
Yoshida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Taro misses with a leg kick.
Yoshida dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Taro. That did some damage!
Taro works Yoshida's body with a nice hook.
Yoshida tests Taro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yoshida misses with a low kick.
Yoshida scores with a jab.
Taro looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yoshida slips under a jab from Taro.
Taro misses with a wild body shot.
Yoshida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yoshida throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yoshida fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Taro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yoshida blocks a jab.
Yoshida connects with a looping right hand.
Yoshida tries to land a leg kick but Taro saw it coming and moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A swing and a miss from Taro.
Taro has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yoshida.
Yoshida misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro misses with a two punch combination.
Yoshida looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taro lands with a nice body punch.
Taro checks the leg kick.
Yoshida plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Yoshida looks to land a right hand but Taro moved out of range.
Yoshida looks for the body kick but Taro saw that one coming.
Taro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yoshida.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
A little jabbing left from Yoshida on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
Taro connects with a right hand. Yoshida shakes it off.
Taro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yoshida.
Taro misses the shot to the body.
Yoshida misses with a low kick as Taro jumps back.
Taro is looking to wear down Yoshida with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yoshida slips under a jab from Taro.
Yoshida looks for the body kick but Taro saw that one coming.
Taro was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Yoshida checks a low kick from Taro.
Taro connects with a looping right hand.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taro tries to score with a low kick but Yoshida moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Taro.
Taro throws a body kick that misses.
Yoshida throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Taro needs to keep his hands up - Yoshida had a free shot at his head there.
Danga de danga de dang - Yoshida scores with a four punch combination!
Nice shot by Yoshida.
Taro throws a right hand that Yoshida ducks under and follows up with a left that Yoshida also avoids with ease.
Yoshida looks to score with a jab to the body but Taro is just out of range.
Yoshida connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taro's hands.
Yoshida tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yoshida.
Taro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taro walks into a left hand.
Taro misses with a jab to the body
and Yoshida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yoshida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taro.
Yoshida feints and then cracks Taro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taro down.
Yoshida swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yoshida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taro was well out of range. Poor timing from Yoshida.
Taro throws a body shot but no joy.
Taro loads up on a big right hand but Yoshida slips the punch.
Yoshida is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Taro had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida slips a straight right by Taro.
Yoshida fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Taro.
Yoshida lands with a cross.
Yoshida takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yoshida has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Taro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yoshida.
Yoshida thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Taro if he has to take too many more of those.
Yoshida slips a jab from Taro.
Yoshida waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taro.
Taro connects with a body shot.
Taro throws a hook but Yoshida blocks it.
Yoshida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taro.
Good work by Taro as he checks the leg kick.
A jab from Taro misses.
Good work by Yoshida as he checks the leg kick.
Yoshida misses with a kick to the body.
Yoshida misses with a straight left.
Good standup being displayed there by Taro as he connects with a hook.
Yoshida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taro manages to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yoshida throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Taro misses.
Taro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yoshida was well out of range. Poor timing from Taro.
Yoshida misses with a looping right.
Taro fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Yoshida checks it well.
Taro blocks a head kick by Yoshida.
Taro throws a quick inside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Taro.
Taro throws a body kick that misses.
Yoshida misses the shot to the body.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice shot by Taro.
A big left from Yoshida misses.
Taro seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yoshida, right into the meat.
Yoshida looks to score with a jab to the body but Taro is just out of range.
Taro digs a good hook to Yoshida's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taro lands with a straight right. Yoshida didn't see that one coming.
Taro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yoshida.
Taro thinks about countering with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Taro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takashi Yoshida will probably get the nod.
That's time! Taro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yoshida blocks a jab.
Taro throws a lazy right hand but Yoshida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice defenses there by Yoshida.
Taro throws a body shot but no joy.
Taro throws out a loose jab but Yoshida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro lands a really nice looking cross but Yoshida seems unphased.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Taro.
Yoshida lands a nice looking body shot.
Taro throws a hook but Yoshida blocks it.
Taro throws a series of punches but Yoshida avoids them all with ease.
Yoshida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taro.
Taro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taro tried to score with a low kick but Yoshida checks it.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yoshida.
Yoshida throws a body punch but Taro moves out of range.
Good exchange - Yoshida coming out on top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro moves away from the strike by Yoshida.
Taro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A big left from Taro misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro throws a jab but it's blocked by Yoshida.
Yoshida with a jab.
Yoshida attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Taro lands an overhand right.
Yoshida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taro moves away.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yoshida.
Yoshida on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yoshida throws a body punch but Taro moves out of range.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A low kick from Yoshida misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Taro takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yoshida throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taro on the side of the head.
Taro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It seemed like Yoshida was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Taro misses the target.
Yoshida doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Taro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yoshida.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yoshida, right into the meat.
Yoshida works Taro's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Yoshida. That snapped Taro's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida misses with a looping right.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Taro throws a head kick but Yoshida moves out of range.
Taro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Taro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
Yoshida uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Taro slips under a jab from Yoshida.
Taro swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Taro throws the left hand but Yoshida avoids the punch easily.
Yoshida only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Yoshida checks the leg kick.
Yoshida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
That kick from Yoshida tenderised Taro's leg. Taro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Taro looks to throw the jab but Yoshida is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Yoshida on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Yoshida as he connects with a hook.
Yoshida connects with an inside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taro.
A lazy body kick from Yoshida
and Taro counters with a stiff right hand.
Takashi Yoshida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yoshida fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Taro misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro moves away from the strike by Yoshida.
Taro throws a body punch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Taro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Taro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yoshida. Yoshida obviously looking to wear him down.
Yoshida scores with a head kick.
Taro lands with a right hand.
Yoshida throws a lazy right hand but Taro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yoshida connects with a leg kick. Taro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Yoshida fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yoshida throws a low kick, looking for Taro's leg but Taro calmly moves out of range.
Taro cracks Yoshida with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yoshida motions for Taro to come forward. Yoshida throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yoshida gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yoshida misses with an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
Yoshida looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Yoshida takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yoshida staying out of range there.
Yoshida is trying to counter with his kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida throws out a leg kick but Taro moves out of range and Yoshida only half commits.
Taro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yoshida.
Taro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yoshida.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yoshida cracks the inside of Taro's front leg.
Yoshida slips under a jab from Taro.
Yoshida moves away from the strike by Taro.
Taro throws a right and a left that Yoshida avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Taro. Yoshida does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yoshida lands a jab to the head.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A combination from Yoshida does no damage.
Taro misses with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshida slips under a jab from Taro.
A telegraphed right hand from Taro misses the target.
Yoshida lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yoshida stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yoshida lands a jab to Taro's midsection.
Yoshida blocks the body kick.
Yoshida is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Taro with a body shot.
Yoshida takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yoshida throws the left hand but Taro avoids the punch easily.
Taro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taro cracks a nice hook into Yoshida's ribs.
Taro looks to score with a jab to the body but Yoshida is just out of range.
Yoshida takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Good work by Taro as he checks the leg kick.
Taro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yoshida.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Yoshida! But no joy.
Yoshida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yoshida lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Taro at a distance.
Taro misses with a straight left.
Yoshida throws a solid leg kick but Taro takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yoshida.
Yoshida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taro manages to avoid it.
Taro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshida smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yoshida thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yoshida has time to react.
Taro throws a jab when Yoshida was well out of range.
Taro ducks under a wild hook from Yoshida.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoshida moves away.
Taro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yoshida manages to avoid it.
Yoshida thows a leg kick but Taro checks it
enabling Taro to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Taro misses.
Taro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yoshida takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A slow jab from Yoshida misses its intended target.
Yoshida scoring well with a low kick there.
Yoshida throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yoshida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taro fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yoshida is out of range.
Taro throws a front kick aimed at Yoshida's knee but Yoshida avoids it well.
Yoshida ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
Yoshida lunges at Taro with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Taro's hand.
Taro misses with a straight left.
Yoshida scores with a nice head shot.
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Yoshida.
Nice straight punches there by Yoshida. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Yoshida.
Yoshida just misses with a punch to the body.
Yoshida throws a low kick but Taro moves out of range easily.
Yoshida pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taro takes a swing at Yoshida's ribcage but misses.
Yoshida misses with a leg kick
and Taro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A good leg kick by Yoshida.
A slow jab from Taro misses its intended target.
A big right from Yoshida misses.
Taro throws a big shot that misses.
Yoshida flicks out a counter leg kick but Taro steps away.
Yoshida takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yoshida moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yoshida can pounce on him.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Yoshida - that will leave a mark!
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taro misses with a left hand
and Yoshida counters with a stiff right hand.
Taro looks to land a left hand but Yoshida moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida looks to land a left hand but Taro moved out of range nicely.
Taro misses with an uppercut
and Yoshida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yoshida.
Yoshida ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
Taro misses with a looping right.
Nice shot by Taro.
Yoshida throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yoshida tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yoshida throws a big shot that misses.
Taro throws out a loose jab but Yoshida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yoshida misses with an uppercut. Taro saw that one coming.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Yoshida thumps Taro with a low kick.
Yoshida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taro misses with a hook. Yoshida ducked under it nicely.
A combination from Yoshida does no damage.
Taro throws a hook but Yoshida avoids it easily.
Yoshida only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Taro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yoshida. Yoshida obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yoshida misses with an uppercut
and Taro counters with a nice uppercut.
Yoshida throws a chopping leg kick but Taro manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Taro connects with a looping right hand.
Yoshida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taro.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yoshida cracks Taro with a good jab.
Taro throws a lazy right hand but Yoshida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yoshida swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Taro lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Yoshida throws a lazy right hand but Taro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yoshida feints and then cracks Taro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taro down.
Taro misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro blocks a jab.
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yoshida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yoshida finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takashi Yoshida.
Well Yoshida 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takashi Yoshida!