PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matsuda Taro (ranked 1213 p4p, 76 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 1274 p4p, 81 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Taro
vs
Festation

164 cm
36
145 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

166 cm
37
145 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 20 - 16 - 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 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taro throws a sloppy head kick and Festation moves out of range easily.
Festation tries to clinch up but Taro circles away and keeps his distance.
Festation throws a leg kick
and Festation takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Festation has closed the distance and engaged Taro in a clinch.
Taro misses with a punch to the body.
Taro misses with a body punch.
Taro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Festation lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Festation's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Festation pivots, looking for a leg kick but Taro is out of range and Festation settles back down.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Festation tries to clinch up.
Festation moves in looking to clinch but Taro pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Taro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Festation does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation wants to clinch up but Taro keeps it at a distance.
Festation throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Taro.

Festation gets tackled into the cage by Taro. Taro maintains the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taro misses with the head strike.
Festation blocks an uppercut.
Taro misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taro is defending well for now.
Taro lands a shot to the body.
Festation lands a knee to the body.
Festation looking to throw knees to the head but Taro is blocking nicely.
Taro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Festation can't find room to land a body shot as Taro controls the action.
Taro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Festations head.
Taro gets through Festation's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Festation controls his hands.
Festation blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Festation controls his hands.
Festation doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taro trying to stall but Festation improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Taro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Taro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Festation working Taro over with knees to the body.
A short right from Festation on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Festation lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Taro or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation landing knees to the head.
Taro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Festation trying to land knees to the body.

Festation escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Festation thows a body kick. Taro tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Taro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Festation misses with a kick to the body.
Mana Festation is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Taro finds it's way through Festation's defenses.
Taro throws a hook to the side of Festation's head but Festation sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taro throws an off balance right hand
and Festation counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Festation looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Festation is looking to clinch but Taro is avoiding it.

Festation clinches with his opponent.
Festation misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taro misses with a knee strike.
Taro blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Taro.
Festation tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taro digs a right hand into Festation's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Festation's gas tank.
Taro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Festation backwards.
Festation tries to throw a body punch but Taro avoids it by throwing Festation back against the cage.
Taro is struggling to control the position.
Festation lands a right hand.
Taro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A body shot lands from Taro.
Taro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taro manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Taro working aggressively here.
Festation dodges an elbow strike from Taro.
Festation misses with a knee to the head.
Taro is trying to maintain a safe position but Festation gets an underhook and turns Taro into the cage.
Taro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taro lands with a right to the head.
Festation is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taro scores with a shot to the side of Festation's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Festation fails to land.
Festation blocks an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Taro.
Taro throws a punch but it's blocked by Festation.
Festation tries to land knees in the clinch but Taro avoids the damage to the body.
Taro stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Festation missing with knees to the body.
Festation tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Taro lands a body punch in the clinch.

Festation's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Festation throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Festation misses with a low kick.
Festation slips a jab from Taro.
Festation moves forwards but Taro connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Taro throws a shot to the body.
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 Matsuda Taro will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Festation tries to clinch but Taro is having none of it.
Festation doesn't manage to clinch there - Taro circles away.
Matsuda Taro is winning the standup battle so far.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Festation, right into the meat.

Festation has taken the fight to the clinch.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Festation's elbow.
Taro misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
Festation landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Taro.
Taro tries to throw a body punch but Festation avoids it by throwing Taro back against the cage.
Taro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Taro fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Festation creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Festation misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Festation lands a right hand.
Taro just leaning against Festation, taking a breather.
Taro scores with a shoulder strike.

Festation's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation throws a sloppy head kick and Taro moves out of range easily.
Taro is looking to chop away at Festation's legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taro.
Taro misses with a straight left.
A countering left hand to the body from Festation misses.
Taro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Taro takes a swing at Festation's ribcage but misses.
Festation throws out a leg kick but Taro moves out of range and Festation only half commits.
Festation stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Taro moves into the clinch.
Taro is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Festation is keeping busy.
Festation misses with a short punch on the inside.
Festation blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taro has a couple of punches blocked by Festation.
Festation unloads a knee to the mid-section. Taro lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Festation.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation throws a knee to the head but misses.
Festation blocks an uppercut.
Taro lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Matsuda Taro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Festation controls his hands.
Taro misses with some punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Festation misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short uppercut from Festation.
Festation tries to throw a body punch but Taro avoids it by throwing Festation back against the cage.
Festation working hard to break the clinch.
Festation lands a shot to the body.
Festation managing to block the knees to the body from Taro.
A nice left hand lands by Taro.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Festation throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
Taro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Taro tries to work over Festation's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Festation.
Taro tries to stall but Festation uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Festation struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.
Festation trying to stall but Taro improves his position.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
Festation blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Festation as the two fighters clinch.
A hook to the body from Taro.
Festation manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Taro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taro blocking some punches.
Taro landing knees to the body.
Taro prevents a body shot from Festation.
Taro lands a body punch.
Festation landing knees to the head.
Festation is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taro is defending well for now.
Taro misses with the head strike.
Taro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taro just leaning against Festation, taking a breather.
Festation struggles to land a body shot inside as Taro controls his hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Taro.
Taro misses with a punch on the inside.
Taro lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Festation backwards.
Festation can't find room to land a body shot as Taro controls the action.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Taro dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
Festation blocking some punches.
Festation throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taro blocks it with crossed arms.
Taro pushes Festation back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Festation misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taro.
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' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Festation misses with a series of wild punches.
As Festation tries to get set, Taro tries to push him back and clinch up but Festation manages to avoid the attempt.
Taro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taro lands a jab-cross combination.
Taro throws a big shot that misses.
Taro misses with a wild combination.
Festation looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taro fires out a quick counter leg kick but Festation just manages to avoid it.
Festation uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taro.
Festation swats away the attempt to clinch by Taro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation dodges the punch combination from Taro.
Festation uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taro.
Festation misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Taro looking to throw knees to the head but Festation is blocking nicely.
Taro displaying some good clinch control by pressing Festation up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Festation fails to land.
Festation scores with a nice hook to the head.
Festation tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taro prevents a body shot from Festation.
Festation working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Festation.
Festation has a couple of punches blocked by Taro.
Festation lands a good knee to the midsection. Taro won't want to take too many of those.
Taro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taro misses with a body punch.
Taro working aggressively here.
Mana Festation has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Festation.
Taro blocks an uppercut.
Festation tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taro's elbow.
Festation lands a body shot in the clinch.
Taro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right handed body shot lands from Taro.
Festation throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taro blocks it with crossed arms.
Festation tries to work over Taro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taro effectively controlling the action here.
A bit of stalling here from Taro.
Festation lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Taro displaying some good clinch control by pressing Festation up against the cage.
Taro is looking to control Festation's arms but Festation gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taro has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation tries a body shot but Taro blocks it.
Festation is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Festation.
A head punch on the inside from Festation fails to land.
Festation misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Taro.
Taro tries a knee to the head but Festation blocks it.
Taro prevents Festation from breaking the clinch.
Taro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taro blocks a body shot from Festation.
Festation utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Taro lands a nice elbow.
Taro avoiding damage as Festation throws knees to the body.
Taro works on Festation's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Festation.
Festation lands a good knee to the midsection. Taro won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Festation.
Festation lands a shot to the body.
Taro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Festation lands a hook to the side of the head.
Festation working aggressively here.
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Festation.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Festation's elbow.
Taro will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Festation up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Festation trying to land knees to the body.
Taro takes a knee to the side of the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
Festation lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Festation manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Festation trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mana Festation comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30

The fight is ruled a draw!