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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conor Butcher (ranked 550 p4p, 779 weight class) and Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 88 p4p, 127 weight class). Butcher comes into the arena with Eaten by Bloodbath blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 173 cm
21
169
8 - 1 - 1 |
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179 cm
21
181
7 - 0 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Conor Butcher!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the strikes.
Butcher tries to clinch up.
Good shot there by Butcher.
Butcher is looking to clinch.
Matsuzaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Butcher attempts a counter takedown but Matsuzaka avoids it well and moves away.
Matsuzaka scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Butcher misses the shot to the body.
Matsuzaka misses the shot to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Butcher has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Butcher has a takedown stuffed.
Butcher moves out of range of the strikes.
Butcher shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsuzaka sprawls well. He's pushed Butcher's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka slips under a jab.
A jab lands there for Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the side of Butcher's head but Butcher sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Butcher pushes Matsuzaka up against the cage in a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsuzaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Butcher rushes Matsuzaka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Matsuzaka tries to throw a body punch but Butcher avoids it by throwing Matsuzaka back against the cage.
Butcher misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
It looks like Conor Butcher has been cut.
Butcher tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsuzaka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Butcher lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Matsuzaka lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuzaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Butcher shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Butcher showed some decent athleticism there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Butcher landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Butcher throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butcher throwing shots but Matsuzaka is blocking nicely.
Matsuzaka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Butcher scores with a couple of nice shots.
Butcher is looking to advance position but Matsuzaka won't allow it.
Matsuzaka felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Matsuzaka is looking for a sweep. Butcher is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matsuzaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Butcher.
Matsuzaka won't allow Butcher to pass to mount.
Butcher not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Butcher has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Butcher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matsuzaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Butcher.
Butcher not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Matsuzaka wants to get back to full guard.
Matsuzaka has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Butcher is working away from the top position though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Butcher seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matsuzaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Butcher there.
Matsuzaka tries to get to full guard but Butcher has control of the leg.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
Matsuzaka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Butcher is taking a breather. Matsuzaka says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Matsuzaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Butcher.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butcher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matsuzaka keeps working.
Matsuzaka has hold of Butcher's hands but Butcher slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Butcher throwing shots but Matsuzaka is blocking nicely.
Butcher trying to pass the guard but Matsuzaka defending well.
Butcher slips a nice elbow through Matsuzaka's hands, connecting with Matsuzaka's forehead.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matsuzaka controlling the position for now.
Butcher is thwarting Matsuzaka's attempts to control the position.
Butcher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Conor Butcher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Conor Butcher's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Matsuzaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Butcher.
Butcher working the ground and pound but Matsuzaka is defending the strikes.
Matsuzaka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Butcher wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Butcher are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Butcher throws an elbow but Matsuzaka slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Butcher.
Butcher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matsuzaka keeps working.
Butcher tries to score with some ground and pound. Matsuzaka controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher tries to score with some ground and pound. Matsuzaka controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Butcher throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Butcher.
The strikes coming from Butcher are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Butcher throws a strike aimed at the side of Matsuzaka's head but Matsuzaka avoids it well.
Butcher is looking to take a break and control but Matsuzaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Butcher is working Matsuzaka over with some ground and pound from side control.
Conor Butcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Butcher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matsuzaka keeps working.
Butcher misses with the ground and pound.
Butcher has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Matsuzaka!
Butcher landing strikes, looking to finish!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Butcher.
Butcher landing shots from mount.
Butcher thowing shots but they're missing.
Matsuzaka holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Butcher tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Butcher throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Butcher misses with a head shot.
Matsuzaka wants to hold on but Butcher pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee warns Matsuzaka that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Poor strikes thrown by Butcher there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher avoids the attempt from Matsuzaka to control.
Butcher with good strikes from the mount here!
Butcher punching from mount but Matsuzaka doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Butcher looking to ground and pound but Matsuzaka is blocking nicely.
Butcher thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Butcher is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Butcher with shots to the head and body - Matsuzaka looks very uncomfortable down there.
Butcher punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Butcher connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Butcher with the ground and pound from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Butcher thowing shots but they're missing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Butcher is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matsuzaka can do to turn this around?
Butcher is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Butcher throwing strikes but Matsuzaka bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Matsuzaka preventing the sweep.
Butcher is looking for a triangle here but Matsuzaka uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Butcher is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Butcher is pressing down on Matsuzaka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matsuzaka wants to control from the top but Butcher keeps moving.
Butcher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Conor Butcher dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Conor Butcher's cut.
That's time! Butcher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Butcher fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matsuzaka sprawls well initially but Butcher persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Butcher working Matsuzaka over with strikes.
Butcher throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
Butcher is trying to control the action in half guard but Matsuzaka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Butcher slips a nice elbow through Matsuzaka's hands, connecting with Matsuzaka's forehead.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
Butcher wants to take a breather but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Butcher connects with a nice short shot to Matsuzaka's temple.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matsuzaka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Butcher.
Butcher throwing shots but Matsuzaka is blocking nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Butcher working the head and body with strikes.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
Butcher sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Butcher working the head and body with strikes.
Butcher wants to take a breather but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
Matsuzaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Butcher.
Butcher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsuzaka defending well though.
Butcher thows a huge punch but Matsuzaka dodges it nicely.
Butcher thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsuzaka's head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka won't allow Butcher to pass to mount.
Butcher passes the guard and advances to mount!
Matsuzaka is in a horrible position here. Butcher smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Matsuzaka wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Butcher.
Butcher scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Matsuzaka?
Butcher lands a nice shot to the head.
Matsuzaka is bucking up trying to escape but Butcher cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Matsuzaka taking shots to the head.
Matsuzaka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Butcher cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Butcher landing strikes, looking to finish!
Butcher thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Butcher with good strikes from the mount here!
Butcher lands a couple of good shots and Matsuzaka has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Butcher's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Butcher lands an elbow to the side of the head.
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!
Matsuzaka covering up well under a barage of strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Butcher manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Butcher throwing damaging strikes from the back! Matsuzaka could be in trouble here!
Butcher throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Matsuzaka covering up well under a series of strikes from Butcher.
Butcher throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Butcher throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Butcher somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Butcher manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Butcher manages to miss with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Conor Butcher clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Conor Butcher's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Matsuzaka throws a jab when Butcher was well out of range.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut.
Butcher half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Butcher has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Butcher there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice sprawl there from Matsuzaka as Butcher shoots in.
Butcher shoots for a takedown but Matsuzaka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Butcher fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matsuzaka avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuzaka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Butcher moves into range and clinches up with Matsuzaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka breaks from the clinch.
Butcher shoots in and gets a takedown into Matsuzaka's guard.
Butcher throws a strike but Matsuzaka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Butcher looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsuzaka is one step ahead there.
Butcher is working hard here to advance position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Matsuzaka pushes down on Butcher's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Butcher wants to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matsuzaka trying to control from half guard but Butcher is working away.
Butcher is looking to improve his position.
Butcher trying to control from the bottom.
Butcher is trying to control but Matsuzaka passes into side control!
Butcher is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsuzaka's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Butcher manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher wants to sweep here but Matsuzaka controlling him for the moment.
Butcher manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matsuzaka manages to get himself to full guard.
Butcher being controlled here momentarily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Matsuzaka controls Butcher momentarily but Butcher frees himself.
Butcher postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Butcher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Butcher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Butcher with a nice head shot there.
Matsuzaka is pulling down on Butcher's head to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsuzaka keeping moving, preventing Butcher from controlling successfully.
Butcher wants to pass the guard but Matsuzaka is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Conor Butcher will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Conor Butcher's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!
Matsuzaka misses with a straight right.
Butcher shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsuzaka as he jumps to the side.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight right.
A lazy left from Butcher finds it's target.
Butcher shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matsuzaka sprawls well. Matsuzaka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Butcher gets slowly back to his feet.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight right.
Butcher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matsuzaka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher misses with a wild body shot.
Butcher tries to clinch up.
Matsuzaka throws out a counter right but Butcher avoids it with no problem.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy right hand but Butcher sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuzaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a shot from downtown. Butcher moves away and avoids it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Butcher steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsuzaka.
Butcher shoots in for a takedown but Matsuzaka shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuzaka lands a body shot.
Butcher takes the fight into the clinch.
Matsuzaka misses with an elbow over the top.
Butcher tries for a takedown but Matsuzaka manages to get underhooks.
Butcher tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matsuzaka smiles and moves away.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Butcher scores with a nice right hand.
Butcher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Matsuzaka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Matsuzaka tries to sprawl but Butcher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Butcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Butcher looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matsuzaka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Butcher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsuzaka defending well though.
Matsuzaka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsuzaka is looking to control Butcher's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matsuzaka avoid being mounted?
Butcher missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Butcher missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Butcher cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Matsuzaka blocking the ground and pound.
Butcher working Matsuzaka over with strikes here.
Conor Butcher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Butcher controlling the pace for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butcher has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Butcher.
Matsuzaka is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Butcher content just to control the position here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Conor Butcher showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Butcher, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 50:44
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 50:44
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 50:44
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor Butcher!
Conor Butcher retains his welterweight title!
A very excited looking Conor Butcher 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.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
48% |
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