|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 299 p4p, 678 weight class) and Baldomir Barbosa (ranked 48 p4p, 105 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Barbosa's choice of entrance music: Unfaithful. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
|
|
|
179 cm 26 181 15 - 6 - 1 |
|
185 cm 26 186 12 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling World class boxer Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler World class MT Good gas tank |
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baldomir Barbosa! The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Matsuzaka lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barbosa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent. Barbosa throws a shot from downtown. Matsuzaka moves away and avoids it. Barbosa throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka moved away. Matsuzaka has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance. Matsuzaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. Baldomir Barbosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Barbosa misses the shot to the body. Matsuzaka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd. Barbosa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent. Barbosa avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barbosa doesn't seem bothered though. Barbosa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion. Matsuzaka misses with a right hand and Barbosa counters with a lovely straight right hand! Matsuzaka throws a shot from downtown. Barbosa moves away and avoids it. This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Barbosa throws out a loose jab but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it. Matsuzaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barbosa.
Matsuzaka appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body. Matsuzaka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Matsuzaka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it. Barbosa clinches up against the cage. Barbosa misses with a body punch.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
That's one minute gone in the round. Matsuzaka misses with a punch to the body.
Barbosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matsuzaka's elbow. Barbosa lands with a right to the head. Matsuzaka manages to break the clinch.
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the strikes. Matsuzaka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection. Matsuzaka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barbosa's head backwards. Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a body shot but no joy. A nice side step and Barbosa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home. Barbosa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout. Matsuzaka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barbosa can pounce on him.
Matsuzaka lands a nice looking body kick. Matsuzaka scores with a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick which misses Barbosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Barbosa tries to avoid it. A jab from Barbosa misses. Matsuzaka misses with a left hand and Barbosa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle. Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd. Matsuzaka lands a right hook to the body.
Matsuzaka misses with a low kick. Barbosa is looking to score with low kicks.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Barbosa avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Barbosa throws a hook but Matsuzaka avoids it easily. Matsuzaka missing with a left hand there. Barbosa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one. Matsuzaka misses the shot to the body. Matsuzaka misses with a kick to the body.
Matsuzaka misses with a low kick.
Barbosa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made. Matsuzaka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard. Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Matsuzaka half committed to a counter leg kick. Barbosa lands a really nice looking cross but Matsuzaka seems unphased.
Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barbosa. Barbosa pushes Matsuzaka up against the cage in a clinch. Matsuzaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat. Matsuzaka avoids a low kick by using good footwork. Matsuzaka went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected. Matsuzaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsuzaka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range. Matsuzaka checks a leg kick nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Matsuzaka throws a shot from downtown. Barbosa moves away and avoids it. Nice jab there from Matsuzaka. Barbosa misses with a straight right. Barbosa throws a lazy uppercut
and Matsuzaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle. Barbosa misses with a jab to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw. Barbosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuzaka is just out of range. A little feinted left hand from Matsuzaka on the counter but he doesn't commit to it. Matsuzaka is looking to land body kicks. That kick from Matsuzaka tenderised Barbosa's leg. Barbosa is trying to keep his angry face on. Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it. Matsuzaka scores with a decent looking hook. Barbosa misses with a right hand and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand. Jab from Matsuzaka. This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Matsuzaka misses the jab. Barbosa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion. Matsuzaka is really peppering his opponent's head with punches. Barbosa throws a looping overhand right but Matsuzaka ducks down to avoid it. Matsuzaka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbosa manages to avoid it. Barbosa digs a good body shot into Matsuzaka's ribs.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target. Matsuzaka walks into a left hand. Matsuzaka misses with a straight right. A little jabbing left from Barbosa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target. Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Barbosa lands with a nice body punch. Barbosa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Matsuzaka is able to avoid easily. Matsuzaka moves out of range of the leg kick from Barbosa. Matsuzaka was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger. Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka with a nice calf kick. Barbosa avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Matsuzaka blocks a jab. Matsuzaka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Matsuzaka keeps the fight on the outside. Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barbosa moves away. Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut. Barbosa saw that one coming. Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range. And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barbosa! But no joy. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Keisuke Matsuzaka dominated that round. OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Matsuzaka misses the shot to the body. Matsuzaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa. Barbosa throws a hook but Matsuzaka avoids it easily. Matsuzaka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Barbosa misses the shot to the body. Barbosa lands a head shot. Keisuke Matsuzaka is winning the standup battle so far. Barbosa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple. Barbosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbosa.
Barbosa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsuzaka's head backwards. Matsuzaka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away. Barbosa throws a big shot that misses. Barbosa throws a jab when Matsuzaka was well out of range. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbosa. Matsuzaka misses with a jab to the body
letting Barbosa counter with a right hand. Matsuzaka connects with a single shot there. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Barbosa throws an off balance right hand
enabling Matsuzaka to counter with a crisp jab. Matsuzaka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd. Barbosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That's one minute gone in the round. Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. Matsuzaka thuds his shin into the meat of Barbosa's side. Matsuzaka throws a low kick, looking for Barbosa's leg but Barbosa calmly moves out of range. Barbosa misses the shot to the body. Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range. Barbosa clinches up with Matsuzaka and pushes him back against the cage. Barbosa tries a body shot but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Barbosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked. Matsuzaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some bone on bone action there as Barbosa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one. Matsuzaka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Matsuzaka misses with a low kick.
Nice uppercut there from Barbosa. Matsuzaka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Barbosa on the side of the head. Barbosa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matsuzaka fires out a quick counter leg kick but Barbosa just manages to avoid it. Barbosa connects with the punch. Barbosa just misses with a punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Barbosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matsuzaka. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Matsuzaka tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him. Barbosa lands a nice shot that snaps Matsuzaka's head back.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbosa.
Barbosa misses with an uppercut
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand! Matsuzaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barbosa throws out the jab. Matsuzaka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Barbosa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down. Barbosa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matsuzaka. That did some damage! Matsuzaka takes a swing at Barbosa's ribcage but misses. Barbosa swings for the body but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight left. Matsuzaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Barbosa slips a straight right by Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka scores with a slapping inside leg kick. Matsuzaka catches Barbosa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong! Matsuzaka lands a jab to Barbosa's midsection. Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Barbosa.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Barbosa lands with a hook. Matsuzaka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head. Matsuzaka throws a lazy head kick and Barbosa counters with a three punch combo that has Matsuzaka backing up. Matsuzaka nods at Barbosa to acknowledge the strikes. Matsuzaka ducks under a wild hook from Barbosa. The fighters circling - Barbosa throws out the jab but it was never going to land. Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbosa. Barbosa connects with an inside leg kick. Matsuzaka jabs Barbosa right on the nose. Barbosa blinks but takes it well. Barbosa ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka. A nice side step and Barbosa releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home. Barbosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Jab by Barbosa. Barbosa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. Matsuzaka misses with a looping left. Matsuzaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice cross by Matsuzaka. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. An inside leg kick from Barbosa misses. Barbosa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsuzaka throws out the jab. Barbosa scores with a jab to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Barbosa misses the shot to the body. Barbosa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Barbosa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. A chopping leg kick lands by Barbosa. Good work by Barbosa as he checks the leg kick. Matsuzaka cracks a nice hook into Barbosa's ribs. Matsuzaka slips under a jab. Matsuzaka digs a good hook to Barbosa's body.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick but Barbosa checks it. Matsuzaka misses with a body punch
and Barbosa counters with a left to the body. Matsuzaka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barbosa. Good leg kick by Matsuzaka. The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end. Matsuzaka scores with a jab. Barbosa acknowledges it with a nod of the head. Matsuzaka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick. Matsuzaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range. Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. Barbosa cracks a nice hook into Matsuzaka's ribs. Matsuzaka is looking to land body kicks. Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Baldomir Barbosa will probably get the nod - 10:9. That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round! Matsuzaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Barbosa is just out of range. Matsuzaka moves out of range of the strikes. Barbosa throws a body punch but Matsuzaka moves out of range. An inside leg kick from Matsuzaka misses. Barbosa slips a jab from Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka backing away here, and Barbosa unleashes a leg kick that just misses. Matsuzaka misses with a looping left. Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. Matsuzaka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it. Matsuzaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbosa.
Barbosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Matsuzaka tried to counter with a leg kick but Barbosa avoided it. Barbosa misses with a looping right. Matsuzaka lands a right hook to the body.
Barbosa needs to keep his hands up - Matsuzaka had a free shot at his head there. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Decent striking displayed by Barbosa there. Barbosa lands a right hook to the body.
Barbosa misses with a looping left. Matsuzaka misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely. Matsuzaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
That's one minute gone in the round. Matsuzaka scores with the left hand. Barbosa knows he should have avoided that one. Good exchange - Matsuzaka coming out on top. Barbosa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh. Barbosa takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses. A clash of legs there as Barbosa blocks the low kick. Barbosa looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. Matsuzaka throws a push kick but Barbosa slaps the foot to one side. Barbosa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land. Matsuzaka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barbosa. A jab from Barbosa misses. Matsuzaka stuns Barbosa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range. Matsuzaka moves out of range as Barbosa strikes. Barbosa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsuzaka. Nice defenses there by Matsuzaka. A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuzaka. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet. Matsuzaka looks to throw the jab but Barbosa is out of range. Barbosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body. We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out! Matsuzaka jabbing away but nothing is landing. A head kick misses from Matsuzaka. Barbosa throws out a leg kick but Matsuzaka moves out of range and Barbosa only half commits. Barbosa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matsuzaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button. Barbosa avoids a low kick by using good footwork. Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Barbosa moves out of range. Barbosa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsuzaka. Barbosa scores with a jab to the head.
Matsuzaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barbosa scores with a punch to the head. Matsuzaka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick. Matsuzaka swings for the body but Barbosa moves out of range.
Barbosa throws a front kick aimed at Matsuzaka's knee but Matsuzaka avoids it well. Matsuzaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barbosa. Nice defenses there by Matsuzaka.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Barbosa blocks a jab. Barbosa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made. Matsuzaka lands an overhand right. Barbosa throws a solid leg kick but Matsuzaka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barbosa. Barbosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuzaka moves away. Matsuzaka misses with a wild body shot. Barbosa throws out a powerful jab. Barbosa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down. Barbosa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here. Matsuzaka blocks an uppercut.
Barbosa misses with a hook from the clinch. Matsuzaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Barbosa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Matsuzaka up against the cage. Matsuzaka tries to work over Barbosa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target. Barbosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuzaka controls his hands.
Barbosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barbosa working aggressively here.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges. Matsuzaka breaks from the clinch.
Matsuzaka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin. Barbosa has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye. The fighters circling - Barbosa throws out the jab but it was never going to land. A nice leg kick lands there from Matsuzaka. A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuzaka. Barbosa does a little dance to reset his feet. 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 wants to land a leg kick but Barbosa is out of range. Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barbosa. A solid body kick from Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka feints and then cracks Barbosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Barbosa down. Matsuzaka misses with a hook. Barbosa ducked under it nicely. Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the head.
Barbosa cracks Matsuzaka with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business. Matsuzaka connects with a crisp jab. Barbosa moves forwards but Matsuzaka connects with a nice, crisp jab. Matsuzaka throws a solid leg kick but Barbosa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matsuzaka.
And that's the end of the fight! Keisuke Matsuzaka showed his dominance in that final round. I think Matsuzaka 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28 Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27 Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keisuke Matsuzaka! Keisuke Matsuzaka bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
76% |
|
|
|
|
|
|