PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hakuna Matata (ranked 1394 p4p, 1261 weight class) and Keizo Kasai (ranked 175 p4p, 159 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Keizo Kasai was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Matata
vs
Kasai

169 cm
27
138
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
158
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hakuna Matata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keizo Kasai!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kasai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matata.
Kasai slips a straight right by Matata.
Kasai is looking for the big counter here.
Matata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kasai throws a counter combo.
Kasai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matata circles away quickly and effectively.
Matata drops his hands momentarily and Kasai takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Kasai moves into the clinch.
Kasai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matata's elbow.
A short body shot lands from Matata as the two fighters clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasai.
Matata throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kasais head.
Matata prevents Kasai from breaking the clinch.
Matata lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kasai backwards.
Kasai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matata creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Matata misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matata.
Matata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Matata fails to land.
Matata tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Kasai.
Matata tries to work over Kasai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matata misses with a body punch.
Matata tries to work over Kasai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kasai blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Matata fails to land.
Matata tries a body shot but Kasai blocks it.
Matata misses with the head strike.
Kasai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matata lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kasai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matata backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kasai takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Matata misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matata misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kasai blocking some punches.
Matata lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Matata working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two 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!
Matata misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kasai tries to work over Matata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Matata on the inside.
Kasai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matata lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kasai scores with a shoulder strike.
Kasai pressing his opponent against the cage.
Matata scores with a hook to the body.
Kasai misses with some punches.
Matata working aggressively here.
Kasai lands a nice shot to the body.
Matata scores with a shot to the side of Kasai's head.
Matata tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kasai's elbow.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kasai will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Matata up against the cage.
Kasai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matata backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kasai's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matata lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matata creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Matata lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kasai backwards.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
Matata throws a head punch that misses.
Matata swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Kasai on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Kasai.
Kasai working aggressively here.
Kasai works on Matata's body with a couple of short punches.
Matata lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kasai backwards.
Kasai lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Matata or not.
Matata lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matata lands with a short shot to the head.
Kasai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kasai throws a punch but it's blocked by Matata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasai has a couple of punches blocked by Matata.
Matata swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Matata fails to land.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
Matata fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kasai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matata.
Kasai lands a shot to the body.
Matata gets through Kasai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kasai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kasai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kasai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matata misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kasai blocking some punches.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
Kasai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matata.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuna Matata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matata throws a jab when Kasai was well out of range.
Kasai walks into a straight right hand from Matata.
Kasai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Keizo Kasai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kasai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big right from Matata misses.
Matata misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matata throws a looping overhand right but Kasai ducks down to avoid it.
Kasai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kasai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matata counters with a stiff right hand.
Kasai on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matata throws a hook but Kasai avoids it easily.
Kasai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Matata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kasai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasai scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Kasai does no damage.
Matata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kasai can do to turn this around?
Matata misses with a straight right.
Kasai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kasai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kasai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A right-left combo lands from Kasai.
Matata doesn't manage to clinch there - Kasai circles away.

Matata has Kasai up against the cage in a clinch.
Kasai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kasai misses with a hook to the ribs.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Matata here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Matata misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
Matata misses with some punches.
Matata goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matata fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matata lands a shoulder strike.
Matata misses with a body punch.
Kasai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matata's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Kasai scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matata creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Kasai.
Kasai is trying to break free.
Matata misses with a punch to the body.
Matata avoiding damage as Kasai throws knees to the body.
Kasai prevents a body shot from Matata.
Kasai blocking some punches.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
Kasai tries to throw a body punch but Matata avoids it by throwing Kasai back against the cage.
Matata misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai is trying to break the clinch but Matata has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasai.
We've been informed that Kasai has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A head punch on the inside from Matata fails to land.
Hakuna Matata has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Still in the clinch, Matata scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kasai has a couple of punches blocked by Matata.
Matata lands an uppercut.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matata.
Matata has a couple of punches blocked by Kasai.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matata.
Matata throws a head punch that misses.
Kasai tries to work over Matata's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matata throws a head punch that misses.
Kasai taking a breather.
Kasai misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Kasai.
Matata fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matata lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matata.
Matata working aggressively here.
Matata tries a body shot but Kasai blocks it.
Kasai tries to circle away but Matata has him pinned against the cage.
Kasai blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kasai.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matata throws a punch but it's blocked by Kasai.
Kasai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kasai taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Matata fails to land.
Kasai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matata fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matata misses with a punch on the inside.
Kasai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kasai blocking some punches.
Kasai presses Matata against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kasai missing with knees to the body.
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 Hakuna Matata will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kasai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matata.
A right-left combo lands from Matata.
A swing and a miss from Matata.
Matata throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kasai counters with a one-two to the body.
Kasai throws a right and a left that Matata avoids nicely.
Matata throws a hook but Kasai avoids it easily.
Matata throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kasai looks to land a combination but Matata avoids it well.
Matata darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Matata throws a hook but Kasai blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasai throws a nice looking combination but Matata bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kasai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Matata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasai throws a series of punches but Matata avoids them all with ease.
Good exchange - Matata coming out on top.
Matata scores with the left hand. Kasai knows he should have avoided that one.
Kasai misses with the combination.
It looked like Matata wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kasai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kasai looks to score with a jab to the body but Matata is just out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Kasai there.
Kasai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matata was well out of range. Poor timing from Kasai.
Matata throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matata moves in looking to clinch but Kasai pushes him off.
Sloppy strikes from Kasai. Those never looked like landing.
Matata tries to counter by clinching up but Kasai breaks away and moves out of range.
Matata misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matata is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasai misses the jab.
Matata misses with a double jab.
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!
Matata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kasai circles away quickly and effectively.
Kasai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matata throws out the jab.
Kasai is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A combination from Kasai does no damage.
Kasai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matata counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matata lands a head shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matata, as that shot connected.
Kasai scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Matata throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hakuna Matata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasai just misses with a punch to the body.
Kasai swats away the attempt to clinch by Matata.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasai ducks under a wild hook from Matata.
Kasai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kasai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Matata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kasai steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Matata.
Danga de danga de dang - Matata scores with a four punch combination!
Kasai throws a right and a left that Matata avoids nicely.
Kasai misses with an uppercut. Matata saw that one coming.
Hakuna Matata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matata connects with a body shot.
Matata tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kasai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kasai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kasai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasai misses with a wild combination.
Matata swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matata throws a jab when Kasai was well out of range.
Matata looks to land a left hand but Kasai moved out of range nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matata wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Matata. Those never looked like landing.
Kasai lands a nice hook to Matata's body. Matata takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Kasai tries to keep at a distance but Matata has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kasai has had enough of the clinch but Matata keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Kasai fails to land.
Keizo Kasai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasai scores with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakuna Matata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakuna Matata!