PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 216 p4p, 441 weight class) and Abdul Rahman (ranked 43 p4p, 70 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Matsuzaka
vs
Rahman

179 cm
28
181
19 - 8 - 1

182 cm
31
184
20 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Rahman!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahman misses with a hook. Matsuzaka ducked under it nicely.
Matsuzaka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rahman connects with a single shot there.
Rahman moves in looking to clinch but Matsuzaka pushes him off.
It looked like Matsuzaka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big left from Rahman misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Matsuzaka misses its target.
Rahman wants to clinch.
It looked like Matsuzaka was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rahman throws a right hand that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rahman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahman takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rahman misses with a left hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a leg kick.
Rahman takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses.
Rahman tries to clinch but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
It looked like Matsuzaka was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rahman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Some wild striking there from Rahman.
Matsuzaka has been working on his boxing with his coaches at GWad's Playpen in the buildup to the fight.
Rahman misses with a hook to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
Rahman throws a front kick aimed at Matsuzaka's knee but Matsuzaka avoids it well.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rahman moves away.
Matsuzaka is looking to chop away at Rahman's legs.
Rahman fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka is out of range.
Rahman throws a leg kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Abdul Rahman has been cut.

Rahman moves into the clinch successfully.
Matsuzaka blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rahman.
Matsuzaka presses Rahman against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Matsuzaka lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rahman misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Matsuzaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsuzaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuzaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rahman swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matsuzaka quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Rahman connects with a crisp jab.
A good leg kick by Matsuzaka.

Rahman drives through and clinches with Matsuzaka against the cage.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rahman's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rahman.
Rahman blocks an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Rahman has a couple of punches blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rahman misses with a punch on the inside.
Rahman working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Matsuzaka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rahman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matsuzaka on the side of the head.
Rahman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuzaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Rahman.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Rahman throws a right hand that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a leg kick.
Matsuzaka lands a slapping body shot.
Rahman throws a shot from downtown. Matsuzaka moves away and avoids it.
Matsuzaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping left.
Rahman tried to score with a low kick but Matsuzaka checks it.
Rahman connects with a solid leg kick.
Abdul Rahman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuzaka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rahman momentarily.
Rahman misses with an uppercut. Matsuzaka saw that one coming.
Matsuzaka slips a jab from Rahman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rahman misses.
Matsuzaka swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rahman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Matsuzaka cracks Rahman with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Matsuzaka has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Rahman to stand back up!
Rahman throws a low kick but Matsuzaka moves out of range easily.
Matsuzaka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Matsuzaka.
Rahman misses with a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Matsuzaka steps in with a hook that catches Rahman right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Matsuzaka follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Rahman looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keisuke Matsuzaka!
Keisuke Matsuzaka was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.