PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 459 p4p, 1946 weight class) and Emporio Cannabino (ranked 61 p4p, 250 weight class). Matsuda's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King. Cannabino has chosen Ludacris - Blueberry yum yum as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matsuda
vs
Cannabino

190 cm
22
200
7 - 1 - 0

184 cm
23
194
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

Conviction
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Emporio Cannabino!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid body kick from Cannabino.
Cannabino tries a head kick but it misses.
Cannabino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsuda.
Matsuda lands a body shot.
Matsuda takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Matsuda misses with a shot to the body
and Cannabino counters with a two punch combo.
Cannabino throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsuda.
Matsuda fails with the takedown.
Cannabino looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cannabino is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuda.
Cannabino wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a looping overhand right but Cannabino ducks down to avoid it.
Cannabino unleashes a big counter combination but Matsuda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsuda.
We've been hearing reports that Matsuda has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Matsuda misses with a right hand
letting Cannabino counter with a right hand.

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Matsuda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cannabino as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Matsuda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuda takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cannabino tries to clinch but Matsuda moves out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsuda.
Matsuda shoots for a takedown but Cannabino saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matsuda shoots and misses
and Cannabino connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Emporio Cannabino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cannabino tries to bum rush Matsuda with a series of wild strikes but Matsuda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matsuda attempts a counter takedown but Cannabino avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannabino ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cannabino looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuda is just out of range.
Cannabino throws a right hand that misses

and Matsuda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Cannabino!

Cannabino sneaks out the side door and pushes Matsuda away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cannabino has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cannabino tries to break free but Matsuda pushes him back against the cage.
Cannabino has had enough of the clinch but Matsuda keeps him there for the moment.

Cannabino breaks from the clinch.
Cannabino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matsuda tries to counter with a takedown but Cannabino is quick to defend against it.
Matsuda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cannabino unleashes a big counter combination but Matsuda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matsuda is defended easily by Cannabino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cannabino closes the distance and clinches.

Cannabino escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanaka Matsuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuda throws a body punch but Cannabino moves out of range.
Cannabino throws a right and a left that Matsuda avoids nicely.
Matsuda takes one to the side of the head.
Cannabino wants to clinch.
Good shot there by Cannabino.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannabino uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsuda.
Cannabino wants to clinch.
Cannabino pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsuda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cannabino as he avoids it easily.

Matsuda looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cannabino scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Matsuda throws a looping overhand right but Cannabino ducks down to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emporio Cannabino dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cannabino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Cannabino bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsuda's head backwards.
Cannabino throws a nice head kick!
Cannabino walks into a left hand.
Matsuda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cannabino sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matsuda swats away the attempt to clinch by Cannabino.
Cannabino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cannabino looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cannabino throws a sloppy head kick and Matsuda moves out of range easily.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A big right from Cannabino misses.

Matsuda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cannabino is trying to control Matsuda's posture but Matsuda avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda working the ground and pound but Cannabino is defending the strikes.
Matsuda working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Cannabino holding on.
Matsuda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Cannabino is avoiding damage well.
Matsuda advances to full mount.
Matsuda tries to control but Cannabino wriggling away.

Matsuda jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Cannabino is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Cannabino and Matsuda has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Matsuda working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannabino is not content to let Matsuda control the position.
Cannabino has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Matsuda tries for a kimura but Cannabino is defending well.
Matsuda prevents Cannabino from escaping the position.
Cannabino has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cannabino throws Matsuda to one side and escapes!
Nice cross by Matsuda.
Cannabino misses with a wild combination.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Matsuda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cannabino has one foot on Matsuda's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cannabino throws a series of punches but Matsuda avoids them all with ease.
Matsuda staying out of range there.
Matsuda slips a jab from Cannabino.
Matsuda attempts a counter takedown but Cannabino avoids it well and moves away.

Matsuda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cannabino wants to get back to his feet.

Matsuda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cannabino sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannabino moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cannabino wants to stand up but Matsuda is controlling him.
Matsuda postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cannabino wants to stand and escape but Matsuda is having none of it.
Matsuda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Cannabino keeps moving.
Matsuda lands a couple of digs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Emporio Cannabino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsuda lands a glancing blow to the side of Cannabino's head.

Matsuda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Matsuda lands in his opponent's guard.
Cannabino wants to get back to his feet but Matsuda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matsuda throws a big elbow that misses.

Cannabino scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Cannabino stalks Matsuda and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Matsuda's face. Matsuda staggers backwards, shaken.
Nice defenses there by Cannabino.
Cannabino throws a combination. Matsuda tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Tanaka Matsuda's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matsuda shoots in looking for a takedown but Cannabino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Matsuda's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Matsuda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cannabino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsuda.
A slow jab from Matsuda misses its intended target.
Matsuda blocks the body kick.
Cannabino throws a nice looking combination but Matsuda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matsuda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matsuda fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Matsuda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuda misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannabino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cannabino throws a combination that misses

and Matsuda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cannabino is trying to stand back up but Matsuda is controlling him

Cannabino kicks off Matsuda and gets to his feet.
Matsuda will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matsuda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cannabino pinned against the cage. Cannabino gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cannabino shapes to counter with a head kick.
Cannabino throws a hook but Matsuda avoids it easily.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cannabino blocks a jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cannabino.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cannabino.
Cannabino lands the left hand.
Matsuda throws a lazy uppercut
and Cannabino cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Emporio Cannabino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cannabino throws a looping overhand right but Matsuda ducks down to avoid it.
Cannabino stuffs the takedown attempt from Matsuda. Matsuda gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanaka Matsuda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cannabino jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Cannabino rushes Matsuda and presses him up against the cage.

Cannabino breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda misses with a hook. Cannabino ducked under it nicely.
Matsuda is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cannabino!
Emporio Cannabino seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsuda lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab by Matsuda.
Emporio Cannabino is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matsuda slips a straight right by Cannabino.
Matsuda looks for a takedown but Cannabino sprawls well.
Matsuda throws a body punch but Cannabino moves out of range.
Cannabino is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Matsuda slips under a jab from Cannabino.
Nice defenses there by Cannabino.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emporio Cannabino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cannabino 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emporio Cannabino!
Emporio Cannabino decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.