PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Bunker (ranked 278 p4p, 37 weight class) and Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 218 p4p, 29 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bunker
vs
Matsunaga

173 cm
34
144 lbs
31 - 15 - 3

170 cm
30
145 lbs
21 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 31 - 15 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Bunker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsunaga rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bunker counters with an outside leg kick.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bunker.
Bunker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsunaga lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bunker misses with a hook. Matsunaga ducked under it nicely.
Matsunaga looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bunker lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matsunaga at a distance.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bunker.
Matsunaga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsunaga fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bunker moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bunker takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bunker slips a straight right by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsunaga rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bunker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
Bunker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsunaga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunker slips a straight right by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsunaga lands the left hand.
Bunker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bunker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Matsunaga throws a right hand that misses
enabling Bunker to counter with a crisp jab.
Bunker looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Matsunaga fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bunker is out of range.
Matsunaga bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Matsunaga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsunaga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Matsunaga has Bunker up against the cage in a clinch.
Matsunaga lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Matsunaga blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Matsunaga fails to land.
Bunker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bunker misses with the head strike.
Bunker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Matsunaga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bunker.
Matsunaga feints and then cracks Bunker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bunker down.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bunker has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matsunaga.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsunaga misses the target.
Bunker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsunaga doesn't manage to clinch there - Bunker circles away.
Bunker throws a head kick but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Futoshi Matsunaga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsunaga fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matsunaga connects with a jab.
Matsunaga moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bunker misses with a low kick.
Good work by Matsunaga as he checks the leg kick.
Matsunaga feints a counter leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a front kick aimed at Bunker's knee but Bunker avoids it well.
Matsunaga moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Matsunaga crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bunker - the referee stops the clock and Matsunaga gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bunker. Matsunaga manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bunker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bunker walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bunker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsunaga lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsunaga connects with a jab.
A slow jab from Bunker misses its intended target.
Matsunaga misses with a hook.
Bunker darts in looking for a takedown but Matsunaga gets double underhooks and turns Bunker into the cage.
Bunker sizes up Matsunaga with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bunker has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bunker there as he acknowledges the shot.
Matsunaga connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bunker's hands.
Bunker throws a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head but Matsunaga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bunker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsunaga.
Bunker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga connects with a looping right hand.
Bunker slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
Bunker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A jab from Matsunaga does it's job there.
Matsunaga dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bunker. That did some damage!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bunker takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matsunaga gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bunker.
Bunker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bunker stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bunker misses the shot to the body.
Bunker slips under a jab.
Matsunaga has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Matsunaga leaves Bunker with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Bunker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bunker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Bunker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bunker moves out of range of the strikes.
Bunker misses with a head kick.
Bunker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bunker drops his hands momentarily and Matsunaga takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bunker misses with a looping right.
Matsunaga fakes the leg kick and cracks Bunker in the body.
Matsunaga feints and then cracks Bunker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bunker down.
Matsunaga misses with a right hand
and Matsunaga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Matsunaga has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matsunaga lands a right hand.
A left hand lands to the body for Bunker.

Matsunaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsunaga misses with a right hand
and Bunker counters with a nice body shot.
Bunker throws a nice looking combination but Matsunaga bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matsunaga looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matsunaga throws a shot from downtown. Bunker moves away and avoids it.
Bunker slips under a jab.

Matsunaga takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Matsunaga fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bunker scores with a shot to the side of Matsunaga's head.

Matsunaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bunker throws a low kick but Matsunaga moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunker throws a jab when Matsunaga was well out of range.
Bunker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bunker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Matsunaga's corner calls for a 1-2. Matsunaga obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsunaga scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bunker misses with a kick to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Matsunaga.
Bunker misses with a looping left.
Matsunaga scores with a hook.
Matsunaga scores with the left hand. Bunker knows he should have avoided that one.
Jab from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga cracks Bunker with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bunker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Matsunaga as Bunker shoots in.
Bunker is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bunker misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
Matsunaga only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Matsunaga with a hook.
Matsunaga buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matsunaga dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Bunker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bunker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
Bunker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matsunaga misses with a left hand
and Bunker counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matsunaga throws the left hand but Bunker avoids the punch easily.
Matsunaga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsunaga looks to throw the jab but Bunker is out of range.
A shot to the liver by Matsunaga. Beautiful body shot.
Matsunaga misses with a hook. Bunker ducked under it nicely.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Bunker blocks it.
Bunker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsunaga swivels and escapes.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matsunaga lands a lovely overhand right.
Bunker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga blocks a jab.
Matsunaga thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsunaga connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bunker. Matsunaga does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bunker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Jab by Matsunaga.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga misses with a leg kick.
Bunker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bunker walks into a left hand.
A slow jab from Matsunaga misses its intended target.
Nice defenses there by Bunker.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga throws a poor cross that misses
and Bunker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsunaga attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bunker looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Bunker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsunaga was well out of range. Poor timing from Bunker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga misses with a lunging right hand
and Bunker counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Futoshi Matsunaga has been cut.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bunker lets loose with a powerful body kick. Matsunaga will feel that in the morning.
Good work by Bunker as he checks the leg kick.
Bunker tried to counter with a leg kick but Matsunaga avoided it.
Matsunaga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A cross from Matsunaga lands.
Matsunaga lands with an uppercut that bounces Bunker off the cage and back into range.
Matsunaga lands a body shot.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the side of Bunker's head but Bunker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bunker takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bunker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsunaga avoids a kick to the body.
Bunker defending well as Matsunaga loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bunker walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Matsunaga misses with a leg kick

and Bunker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bunker.
Bunker wants to control from the top but Matsunaga keeps moving.

Matsunaga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Futoshi Matsunaga's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
Bunker takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matsunaga scores with a jab. Bunker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Matsunaga lands with a right hand.
Bunker sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Matsunaga misses with a head kick.
Bunker connects with a good right hand that stumbles Matsunaga. Matsunaga circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bunker throws a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head but Matsunaga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bunker ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Bunker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bunker throws a body punch but Matsunaga moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bunker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
Matsunaga misses with a left hand
and Bunker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bunker misses with a hook.
Matsunaga connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsunaga uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bunker has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws a looping overhand right but Bunker ducks down to avoid it.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Bunker avoids it easily.
Bunker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Matsunaga lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bunker circles away quickly and effectively.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but Bunker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga scoring well with a low kick there.
Matsunaga scores with the left hand. Bunker knows he should have avoided that one.
Bunker lands a jab to the nose.
Bunker thuds his right hand into Matsunaga's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab lands there for Matsunaga.
Bunker moves out of range as Matsunaga strikes.
Bunker swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
Bunker with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bunker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bunker drops down looking for a counter takedown but Matsunaga sprawls and moves away.
Bunker throws out a loose jab but Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga throws out a counter right but Bunker avoids it with no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the jaw.
A clash of legs there as Matsunaga blocks the low kick.
Tony Bunker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bunker misses with a lunging right hand
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
Matsunaga looks to score with a jab to the body but Bunker is just out of range.
Matsunaga throws a wild body kick that Bunker sees coming a mile off.
Matsunaga throws an overhand right that lands on Bunker's shoulder, as Bunker tries to avoid the shot.
Matsunaga cracks Bunker with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bunker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the body.
A slow jab from Bunker misses its intended target.
Bunker walks into a stiff left hand from Matsunaga.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsunaga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bunker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matsunaga works the jab nicely.
Matsunaga lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bunker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Matsunaga.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Bunker misses.

Matsunaga closes the distance and clinches.
Matsunaga throws a head punch that misses.

Matsunaga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick that misses.
Bunker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Matsunaga throws a nice outside leg kick.
Matsunaga takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bunker takes one to the chin there.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Bunker avoids it easily.
Matsunaga fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bunker on the side of the head.
Bunker has a takedown stuffed.
Futoshi Matsunaga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsunaga throws a shot from downtown. Bunker moves away and avoids it.
Matsunaga slips a straight right by Bunker.
Matsunaga with a jab.
Matsunaga throws an overhand right that lands on Bunker's shoulder, as Bunker tries to avoid the shot.
Matsunaga moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a looping overhand right but Bunker ducks down to avoid it.
Bunker looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsunaga throws a lazy uppercut
and Bunker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jab from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws out a powerful jab.
Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bunker.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matsunaga.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bunker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Matsunaga quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsunaga on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Futoshi Matsunaga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matsunaga winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Futoshi Matsunaga!
A very excited looking Futoshi Matsunaga made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.