PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 83 p4p, 137 weight class) and Matrix Man (ranked 11 p4p, 18 weight class). 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.

Matsuzaka
vs
Man

179 cm
34
181
34 - 13 - 1

181 cm
32
169
27 - 12 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 34 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matrix Man!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man checks a low kick from Matsuzaka.
Man is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a head kick.
Man scores with a nice strike.
Matsuzaka moves away from the strike by Man.
Man throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice body shot.
Man takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the body.
Man walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Man connects with an inside leg kick.
Matsuzaka misses with a lunging right hand
and Man counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Man feints and then cracks Matsuzaka's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsuzaka down.
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!
Man throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice leg kick.
Matsuzaka scores with a punch to the head.
A jab from Matsuzaka does it's job there.
Matsuzaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Man.

Matsuzaka moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Man backwards.
Man goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matsuzaka can't find room to land a body shot as Man controls the action.
Matsuzaka lands with a light punch inside.
Nice body punch from Man.
Matsuzaka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Matsuzaka misses with the head strike.
Man tries to break free but Matsuzaka pushes him back against the cage.
Man struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuzaka controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Man.
Matsuzaka stalling against the cage.
Man prevents a body shot from Matsuzaka.
Man dodges an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Man working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Man lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Man can't find room to land a body shot as Matsuzaka controls the action.
Matsuzaka letting Man take a breather here.
Matsuzaka lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Man.
I was talking to Matsuzaka's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Man has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Matsuzaka seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Man can turn it around.
Matsuzaka throws a head punch that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Man.
Good body shot from Man.
Matsuzaka is breathing heavily.
Matsuzaka scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Man creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Man can't find room to land a body shot as Matsuzaka controls the action.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Man's elbow.
Matsuzaka can't find room to land a body shot as Man controls the action.
Man lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow that stopped Man in his tracks for a moment.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Man fails to land.
Matsuzaka stalling in the clinch.
Matsuzaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Man controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Man.
Man blocking some punches.
Man misses with a punch on the inside.
Man blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Man doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matsuzaka looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Man.
Matsuzaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Man.
Man throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.
Man lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Matsuzaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Man backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Matsuzaka fails to land.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Man avoids a wild elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Man throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.
Man lands a shot to the body.

Man breaks the clinch.
Man darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Man misses with a looping left.
Man thuds a left hand into Matsuzaka's body.
Matsuzaka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Man fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuzaka manages to avoid it.
Man throws a series of strikes that have Matsuzaka backpedaling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Man misses with a right hand
letting Matsuzaka counter with a right hand.
Matrix Man seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Man throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuzaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man swings widly with a right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a low kick, right behind Man 's knee.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Man is predictable there
enabling Matsuzaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Matsuzaka is looking to clinch but Man is avoiding it.
Matsuzaka takes one to the side of the head.
Man misses the shot to the body.
As Man tries to get set, Matsuzaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Man manages to avoid the attempt.
A lazy left from Man finds it's target.
A slow jab from Man misses its intended target.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsuzaka cracks Man with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Man throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka moved away.
Matsuzaka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Man.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice defenses there by Man.
Matsuzaka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Man bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Man misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matrix Man will probably get the nod.
That's time! Matsuzaka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Man throws a poor cross that misses
and Man takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Man throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuzaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping left.
Man misses with a double jab.
Man misses with a leg kick
and Man takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Man lands a really nice looking cross but Matsuzaka seems unphased.
Man cracks Matsuzaka with an open hand slap.

Matsuzaka forces Man back against the cage and clinches.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Man's elbow.
Matsuzaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Man.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Man misses with a punch on the inside.

Man escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Matsuzaka takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Man breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuzaka is just out of range.
Matsuzaka throws a looping overhand right but Man ducks down to avoid it.
Matsuzaka throws an overhand right that lands on Man's shoulder, as Man tries to avoid the shot.
Matsuzaka has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Man finds it's way round the side to connect with Matsuzaka's head.
Man dips to his left and cracks Matsuzaka with an uppercut!
Man avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Man misses.
Man fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuzaka manages to avoid it.
A good leg kick by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka avoids the head kick by Man.
Man lands with a hook. Matsuzaka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Man with a nice cross.
The fighters circling - Man throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Man throws a leg kick that misses.
Man tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuzaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Man.
Man throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up.
Man misses with an uppercut. Matsuzaka saw that one coming.
Matsuzaka lands a nice looking kick to the body. Man takes a step back to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Man swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Man ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuzaka moves away.
Man slips a jab from Matsuzaka.
Man takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses.
Man throws an off balance right hand
and Man takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Man misses with a hook.
Matsuzaka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Man momentarily.
Matsuzaka ducks under a wild hook from Man.
It looked like Matsuzaka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A swing and a miss from Matsuzaka.
Man misses with a looping right.
Matsuzaka throws a predictable looking body shot
and Man counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Man throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuzaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Man throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Matsuzaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Matsuzaka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Man.

Matsuzaka rushes Man and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Man tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Man.
Matsuzaka misses with some punches.
Man scores with a shot to the side of Matsuzaka's head.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Man blocks an uppercut.
Man fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Matsuzaka.
Man takes a shot to the head.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Man struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuzaka controls his hands.
Man lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Man misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matsuzaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Man fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Man lands a right hand that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
A right hand to the body from Man.
Matsuzaka tries to throw a body punch but Man avoids it by throwing Matsuzaka back against the cage.
Matsuzaka can't find room to land a body shot as Man controls the action.
Matsuzaka blocking some punches.

Man pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Man moves out of range as Matsuzaka strikes.
Man lands a slapping body shot.
Matsuzaka misses the shot to the body.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook. Man ducked under it nicely.
Man throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matsuzaka counters with a thumping low kick.
Man cracks Matsuzaka with an open hand slap.
Man throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Man throws a good cross that connects.
Matsuzaka misses with a body punch
and Man makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matrix Man will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Man looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd cheers as Man lands an impressive looking overhand right. Matsuzaka doesn't seem phased though.
Man ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Man throws a body kick that misses.
Man misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Man.
Man moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up.
Man slips under a jab.
Man connects with a solid leg kick.
Matsuzaka walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man throws a low kick, looking for Matsuzaka's leg but Matsuzaka calmly moves out of range.
As Man tries to get set, Matsuzaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Man manages to avoid the attempt.
Man throws a chopping leg kick but Matsuzaka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Man moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Man is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Man attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man tries a low kick but Matsuzaka avoids it.
It looked like Matsuzaka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsuzaka checks a low kick from Man.
A counter left hand to the body from Matsuzaka misses its target.
Matsuzaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the head.
Matsuzaka throws out a leg kick but Man moves out of range and Matsuzaka only half commits.
Matsuzaka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Man.
Man keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsuzaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matsuzaka darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Matsuzaka moves out of range as Man strikes.
Matsuzaka is looking to counter punch.
A jab from Man misses.
Man lands a body shot.
Matsuzaka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka with a nice calf kick.
Matsuzaka slips a jab from Man.
Matsuzaka fakes a head shot and lands one 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!
Man avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka 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.
Matsuzaka misses with a body kick.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping right.
Man throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Matsuzaka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Man misses with a combination
and Matsuzaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Man. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsuzaka slips a jab from Man.
Matsuzaka misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsuzaka takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook
and Man cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Man cracks Matsuzaka with a good jab.
Man throws a low kick but Matsuzaka avoids it.
Man changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab by Man.
Man bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Man throws a lazy right hand but Matsuzaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Man fakes the leg kick and cracks Matsuzaka in the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsuzaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Man.
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!
Man thumps Matsuzaka with a low kick.
Matsuzaka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Man.
Man thumps Matsuzaka with a low kick.
Matsuzaka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Man keeps the fight on the outside.
Man rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsuzaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matsuzaka wants to clinch.
Matsuzaka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A punch lands to the side of Matsuzaka 's head but he takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matrix Man comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Man winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

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