PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 98 p4p, 180 weight class) and Kiryu Kazuma (ranked 16 p4p, 23 weight class). Matsuda's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Gojira - Another World. Kazuma has chosen Uroko by Dir En Grey as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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
Kazuma

190 cm
34
200
32 - 12 - 0

182 cm
33
198
29 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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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 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kiryu Kazuma!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kazuma misses with a wild body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matsuda, as that shot connected.

Matsuda bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda scores with punches from side control.
Matsuda trying to control the action but Kazuma is working from the bottom.
Matsuda lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kazuma down.
Matsuda landing strikes.
Matsuda scoring with punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kazuma pushes Matsuda away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Matsuda gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matsuda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Matsuda wants to control but Kazuma is keeping him busy.
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.
Kazuma is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Matsuda is working Kazuma over with some ground and pound from side control.
Matsuda cracks Kazuma with a big right hand but Kazuma just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Matsuda scoring with punches from side control.
Matsuda throws a strike aimed at the side of Kazuma's head but Kazuma avoids it well.
Kazuma parries the strikes from Matsuda easily there. Matsuda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kazuma to escape.
Matsuda throws an elbow but Kazuma slips to the side and avoids it well.
Matsuda creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Matsuda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kazuma keeps working.
Kazuma is working to avoid the ground and pound but Matsuda connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Matsuda lands a decent elbow from side control.
Matsuda landing a few strikes.
Matsuda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kazuma keeps working.
Kazuma prevents Matsuda from moving into mount.
Check out the look on Matsuda's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Matsuda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kazuma is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Matsuda has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Matsuda lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Matsuda lands a decent elbow from side control.

Matsuda tries for a kimura but Kazuma is defending well.
Matsuda cracks Kazuma with a big elbow.
Matsuda trying to control the action but Kazuma is working from the bottom.
Matsuda lands a few punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuda lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kazuma down.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda dominated that round.
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.

Kazuma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsuda lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kazuma misses with a looping left.
Kazuma misses with a hook.
Matsuda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsuda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kazuma can do to turn this around?
Matsuda punishes Kazuma's body with a nice straight punch.
Matsuda lands a jab.
Matsuda jabs Kazuma to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Matsuda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kazuma misses with a right hand

and Matsuda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuda prevents Kazuma from getting back to his feet.
Matsuda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Matsuda lands a couple of elbows.
Matsuda's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda trying to control but Kazuma is working from the bottom.
Matsuda passes Kazuma's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Matsuda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matsuda stops Kazuma from getting back to his feet.

Matsuda seems to be working for a kimura but Kazuma defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Matsuda moves into full mount! Kazuma won't be happy about that!
Kazuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matsuda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Matsuda is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kazuma is surviving well by controlling Matsuda's body position as best he can.
Matsuda putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Matsuda landing shots from mount.
Matsuda landing punches.

Kazuma bucks Matsuda off and manages to get back to his feet!
Kazuma tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda connects with a body shot.
Kazuma throws a shot from downtown. Matsuda moves away and avoids it.
A quick step to the side and Matsuda tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuda throws out a powerful jab.
Matsuda looks for a takedown but Kazuma sprawls well.
Kiryu Kazuma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsuda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kazuma misses the shot to the body.
Matsuda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kazuma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsuda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsuda scores with a hook.
Kiryu Kazuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuda cracks a nice hook into Kazuma's ribs.
Kazuma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kazuma throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsuda.
Matsuda slips under a jab.
Matsuda attempts a counter takedown but Kazuma avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsuda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kazuma gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matsuda scores with a jab.
Kazuma misses with a left hand

and Matsuda counters with a takedown into side control.

Kazuma explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kazuma is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Matsuda avoids the head kick by Kazuma.
Matsuda is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice cross by Kazuma.

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Matsuda with a hook.
A head kick by Kazuma misses

and Matsuda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matsuda working Kazuma over with strikes.
Matsuda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matsuda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazuma looks like he's trying to stand up.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Matsuda doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuda dodges the punch combination from Kazuma.
Matsuda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kazuma.
Kazuma loads up on a big right hand but Matsuda slips the punch.
Kazuma moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsuda slips under a jab.
Matsuda avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazuma uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kazuma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kazuma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kazuma takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws out a powerful jab.
Matsuda slips a jab from Kazuma.
Matsuda jabs Kazuma to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kazuma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuda misses the shot to the body.

Kazuma drops Matsuda with a beautiful combination! Matsuda stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kazuma is looking for the KO!

Matsuda is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuda slips a straight right by Kazuma.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuda misses the target.
A big left from Kazuma misses.
Kazuma takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Matsuda just misses with a punch to the body.
It seemed like Kazuma was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kazuma lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Tanaka Matsuda's cut is getting worse.
Kazuma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kazuma works the jab nicely.
Oh Matsuda is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matsuda throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kazuma stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Matsuda seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma misses with a double jab
and Matsuda counters with a straight right hand.
Kazuma misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsuda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kazuma throws out a loose jab but Matsuda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsuda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kazuma pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kazuma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kazuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kazuma takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matsuda checks a leg kick.
Nice body punch from Matsuda.
Matsuda takes a swing at Kazuma's ribcage but misses.
Matsuda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kazuma.
Nice body punch from Matsuda.
Kazuma misses the body punch

and Matsuda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kazuma's guard.
Kazuma wants to get back to his feet but Matsuda passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsuda is taking a breather. Kazuma says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Matsuda slips a nice elbow through Kazuma's hands, connecting with Kazuma's forehead.
Matsuda trying to control the action but Kazuma is working from the bottom.
Kazuma taking some punishment here, with Matsuda in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kazuma pushes Matsuda off looking to stand but Matsuda dives back in and keeps control.
Matsuda lands with a punch from half guard.
Kazuma is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Matsuda scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kazuma pushes Matsuda off looking to stand but Matsuda dives back in and keeps control.
Matsuda scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tanaka Matsuda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Matsuda seems to be looking for submissions.
Matsuda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kiryu Kazuma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsuda scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kazuma?

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kiryu Kazuma.
Well Matsuda has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanaka Matsuda!
A victorious Tanaka Matsuda thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.