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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 32 p4p, 252 weight class) and Kareem Johnson (ranked 5 p4p, 31 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Matsuda might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Gojira - Another World. 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.
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| 190 cm
33
200
31 - 11 - 0 |
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186 cm
30
191
20 - 9 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast |
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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 31 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kareem Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
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 throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Matsuda misses the jab.
Johnson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuda gets a double leg takedown into Johnson's guard.
Matsuda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matsuda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda is in close to Johnson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Matsuda stopping the sweep attempt from Johnson.
Matsuda looking to sit in guard and control but Johnson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Matsuda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsuda throws his legs up looking for a submission but Johnson uses it to pass to side control.
Johnson working away.
Matsuda is trying to improve his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda trying his best to control but Johnson has mounted him.
Matsuda has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson prevents Matsuda from getting the reversal.
Matsuda looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Johnson keeps control of the position as Matsuda tries to break free.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Matsuda rolls, trying to escape but Johnson keeps control of the position.
Johnson gets his hands free as Matsuda looks to control.
Matsuda tries to escape the position.
Johnson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda wants to control his opponent's hands but Johnson gets his hands free.
Matsuda is trying to break free.
I would not like to be Matsuda right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson is hanging on to Matsuda's back as he tries to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Kareem Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Matsuda scores with a decent looking hook.
Matsuda swings for the body but Johnson moves out of range.
Matsuda misses the body punch
and Johnson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Matsuda.
Matsuda is looking to wear down Johnson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matsuda fails to land the takedown.
Matsuda backing away here, and Johnson unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Tanaka Matsuda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda jabs at Johnson's body.
Johnson swings for the body but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda tries to counter with a takedown but Johnson is quick to defend against it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnson walks into a jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Johnson. Matsuda shrugs it off though.
A shot to the liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsuda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsuda takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johnson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matsuda throws the left hand but Johnson avoids the punch easily.
Johnson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson throws a sloppy head kick and Matsuda moves out of range easily.
Matsuda scores with a hook to the body. Johnson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Johnson walks into a left hand.
Johnson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Matsuda misses with a straight right.
Johnson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuda. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsuda misses with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a straight right hand.
Johnson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matsuda doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Matsuda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuda. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuda closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Johnson tries to roll over but Matsuda keeps him under control.
Johnson trying to control here.
Johnson is looking for a sweep. Matsuda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to hold on to Matsuda's head to control him but Matsuda postures up.
Tanaka Matsuda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matsuda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Johnson is defending against the submission attempts here by Matsuda.
Matsuda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Matsuda works his way into full mount!
Matsuda punching from mount but Johnson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tanaka Matsuda dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Johnson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsuda.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Matsuda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good exchange - Johnson coming out on top.
Matsuda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kareem Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson tries to sprawl but Matsuda drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Johnson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Matsuda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matsuda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matsuda throws a strike but Johnson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Matsuda is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Johnson is aware though and is defending well.
Johnson passes into half guard.
Matsuda is looking to get back to full guard here but Johnson has managed to pass to side control instead.
Matsuda looking for a sweep but Johnson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Matsuda regains half guard.
Matsuda looking for a kimura from the bottom but Johnson passes into side control!
Johnson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matsuda's shoulder. That is not cool.
Matsuda tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Johnson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matsuda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsuda wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matsuda working to try and regain half guard.
Matsuda regains half guard.
Matsuda trying to control but Johnson postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsuda actively working from the bottom here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Johnson 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem Johnson!
An out of breath Kareem Johnson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
34% |
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