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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 295 p4p, 461 weight class) and Crush Bandicoot (ranked 43 p4p, 57 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.
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| 170 cm
38
145
38 - 20 - 2 |
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173 cm
35
159
20 - 12 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 38 - 20 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Crush Bandicoot!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the head.
Bandicoot loads up on a big right hand but Matsunaga slips the punch.
Matsunaga lands a really nice looking cross but Bandicoot seems unphased.
Bandicoot walks into a stiff left hand from Matsunaga.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matsunaga darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bandicoot or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsunaga, which made it look bad.
Matsunaga has closed the distance and engaged Bandicoot in a clinch.
Bandicoot misses with the head strike.
Bandicoot throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsunaga.
Bandicoot lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bandicoot swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga jumps guard.
Matsunaga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bandicoot avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bandicoot's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bandicoot throwing strikes but missing.
Matsunaga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bandicoot doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bandicoot manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matsunaga being controlled here, momentarily.
Matsunaga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bandicoot works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Matsunaga is refusing to be controlled, as Bandicoot sits in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bandicoot scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bandicoot looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Matsunaga tries to get to full guard but Bandicoot has control of the leg.
Matsunaga is not content to let Bandicoot control the position.
Matsunaga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Matsunaga actively working from the bottom here.
Bandicoot drops an elbow to the side of Matsunaga's head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga looking for submissions off his back.
Matsunaga wants to get back to full guard but Bandicoot has mounted him!
Matsunaga reaches up and holds on to Bandicoot to control the position.
Matsunaga regains half guard.
Matsunaga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsunaga on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bandicoot working Matsunaga over with strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandicoot is thwarting Matsunaga's attempts to control the position.
Bandicoot scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Matsunaga is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bandicoot's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bandicoot's back!
Bandicoot fending off the submission attempt from Matsunaga.
Bandicoot showing good submission defense here.
Matsunaga tightening his grip on Bandicoot, looking for the choke.
Bandicoot wants to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Futoshi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
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.
A jab from Matsunaga finds it's way through Bandicoot's defenses.
Matsunaga takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Matsunaga scores with a decent looking hook.
Bandicoot shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matsunaga but Matsunaga pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matsunaga seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsunaga throws an overhand right that lands on Bandicoot's shoulder, as Bandicoot tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Matsunaga does it's job there.
Bandicoot fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsunaga manages to avoid it.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bandicoot throws a jab when Matsunaga was well out of range.
Matsunaga moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga pulls guard effortlessly.
Futoshi Matsunaga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bandicoot preventing the sweep.
Matsunaga is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bandicoot defends well.
Matsunaga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bandicoot is aware though and is defending well.
Matsunaga keeping moving, preventing Bandicoot from controlling successfully.
Bandicoot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Matsunaga looking for a guillotine here but Bandicoot defends easily.
Bandicoot cracks Matsunaga with a solid left hand.
Matsunaga had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bandicoot defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bandicoot trying to control but Matsunaga is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bandicoot is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bandicoot's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Matsunaga is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bandicoot is aware though and is defending well.
Bandicoot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bandicoot stands and throws Matsunaga's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bandicoot trying to control the action but Matsunaga is working from the bottom.
Matsunaga takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Bandicoot scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bandicoot working the head with strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bandicoot is working Matsunaga over with some ground and pound from side control.
Matsunaga is looking to regain half guard here but Bandicoot keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bandicoot scores with a couple of short elbows.
Matsunaga is looking to reverse the position.
Bandicoot working the body and head with strikes.
Matsunaga can't do much from the bottom here.
Bandicoot working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Matsunaga is looking to reverse the position.
Bandicoot trying to control the position but Matsunaga is working away.
Bandicoot lands a nice forearm strike.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandicoot working the ground and pound.
Bandicoot working the head and body with strikes.
Matsunaga is rocked!
Bandicoot is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matsunaga has escaped the position, nice work there.
Oh Matsunaga is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matsunaga tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bandicoot presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bandicoot working Matsunaga over with strikes here.
Matsunaga seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsunaga tries to hold on but Bandicoot postures up.
Bandicoot looking to control but Matsunaga is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Matsunaga is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bandicoot landing punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Crush Bandicoot showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Matsunaga is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
It looks like Futoshi Matsunaga has been cut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matsunaga.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
Bandicoot is looking for the big counter here.
Futoshi Matsunaga is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsunaga scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bandicoot shoots in for a takedown but Matsunaga shows good takedown defense.
A quick step to the side and Matsunaga tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsunaga displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Matsunaga thows a body kick. Bandicoot tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Matsunaga moves out of range as Bandicoot strikes.
Bandicoot on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A swing and a miss from Matsunaga.
Bandicoot lands a right hook to the body.
Bandicoot defending well as Matsunaga loads up on a big left hand.
Bandicoot takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
Matsunaga swings for the body but Bandicoot moves out of range.
Matsunaga uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Matsunaga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsunaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bandicoot was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga cracks Bandicoot with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice uppercut there from Bandicoot.
Bandicoot misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga loads up on a big right hand but Bandicoot slips the punch.
Matsunaga lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bandicoot at a distance.
Matsunaga tries to bum rush Bandicoot with a series of wild strikes but Bandicoot uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bandicoot looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
Matsunaga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bandicoot counters with a big uppercut that knocks Matsunaga off his feet! Bandicoot dives into side control looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bandicoot is looking to take a break and control but Matsunaga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsunaga is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga regains half guard.
Bandicoot is trying to control. Matsunaga wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matsunaga trying to control here.
Bandicoot lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bandicoot prevents Matsunaga from improving his position.
Bandicoot lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bandicoot takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga wants to get back to full guard.
Bandicoot looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bandicoot is keen to just control but Matsunaga is a slippery customer.
Nice strikes from Bandicoot there.
Bandicoot is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bandicoot performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bandicoot lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matsunaga is looking for a sweep. Bandicoot is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matsunaga has his hands clasped together around Bandicoot's back. He's all about the action.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bandicoot not doing much here.
Bandicoot looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Matsunaga looking for submissions off his back.
Matsunaga tries to roll over but Bandicoot keeps him under control.
Matsunaga on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bandicoot is controlling the pace.
Matsunaga taking some punishment here, with Bandicoot in his half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Crush Bandicoot comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bandicoot has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Crush Bandicoot!
Crush Bandicoot seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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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
47% |
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