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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 2306 p4p, 2490 weight class) and Pocket Rocket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 170 cm
47
145
49 - 29 - 2 |
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163 cm
26
141
7 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 49 - 29 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pocket Rocket!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocket avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rocket has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Rocket lands a lovely overhand right.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rocket connects with a body shot that sends Matsunaga's belly button to the back.
Matsunaga takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rocket connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rocket rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsunaga moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matsunaga uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rocket.
Rocket ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rocket throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Matsunaga stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Matsunaga misses with a hook to the body
and Rocket connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matsunaga is looking to chop away at Rocket's legs.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rocket swings for the body but Matsunaga moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga misses with a low kick as Rocket jumps back.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Rocket avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rocket looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rocket showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matsunaga.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matsunaga can pounce on him.
Rocket cracks Matsunaga with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matsunaga swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rocket tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsunaga was well out of range. Poor timing from Rocket.
Rocket 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.
Rocket slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
Rocket lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsunaga off the cage and back into range.
Rocket takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matsunaga tries to keep at a distance but Rocket has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matsunaga tries to circle away but Rocket has him pinned against the cage.
Matsunaga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rocket keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rocket looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Matsunaga moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Futoshi Matsunaga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsunaga scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rocket blocks a low kick nicely.
Matsunaga takes a body punch but keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket sizes up Matsunaga with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rocket fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matsunaga takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rocket cracks Matsunaga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rocket moves out of range as Matsunaga strikes.
Jab from Rocket.
Rocket checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Matsunaga scores with a nice body kick.
Rocket pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsunaga misses with a lunging right hand
and Rocket counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rocket closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsunaga circles away.
Matsunaga slips a straight right by Rocket.
Rocket scores with the left hand. Matsunaga knows he should have avoided that one.
Rocket blocks a head kick by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rocket.
Rocket looks to throw the jab but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga looks to land a left hand but Rocket moved out of range nicely.
Rocket swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga misses with a hook
and Rocket counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice uppercut lands for Rocket. That snapped Matsunaga's head back.
A head kick by Matsunaga misses
and Rocket counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rocket lands a nice hook to Matsunaga's body. Matsunaga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice shot lands for Rocket.
Matsunaga tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rocket.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick but Rocket sees it coming and moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rocket! But no joy.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the strikes.
Rocket gets a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga wants to get back to striking at distance but Rocket won't allow it.
Matsunaga wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rocket lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matsunaga backwards.
Rocket scores with a hook to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rocket has him pressed against the cage.
Rocket keeps control of Matsunaga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short right from Rocket on the inside.
Matsunaga is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocket has double underhooks.
Rocket lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matsunaga working hard to break the clinch.
Matsunaga is trying to force a seperation but Rocket has the dominant position.
Rocket tries to work over Matsunaga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Matsunaga is trying to break the clinch but Rocket has him pressed against the cage.
Rocket lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Matsunaga or not.
Matsunaga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rocket smiles and moves away.
Rocket looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Matsunaga!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rocket tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocket is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matsunaga is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pocket Rocket dominated that round.
That's time! Matsunaga's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Rocket takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
Rocket clobbers Matsunaga with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rocket lands a body shot.
Matsunaga throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rocket makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matsunaga has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Rocket ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Rocket bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsunaga misses the body punch
and Rocket counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rocket takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A punch combination from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga tests Rocket's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rocket scores with a crisp jab that stopped Matsunaga in his tracks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rocket with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rocket keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rocket looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rocket has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Matsunaga misses with a hook to the body
and Rocket counters with a nice uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rocket.
Rocket stuns Matsunaga with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rocket tests Matsunaga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice uppercut there from Rocket.
A swing and a miss from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga misses with a looping right.
Rocket with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsunaga cracks Rocket with a good jab.
Rocket darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
Rocket closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Matsunaga quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matsunaga manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matsunaga keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.
Rocket postures up.
Matsunaga keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.
Matsunaga looking to control.
Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsunaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocket seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rocket avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket wants to control from the top but Matsunaga keeps moving.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rocket scores with a sloppy right hand. Matsunaga should have avoided that one.
Rocket avoids the body shot from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Rocket blocks it.
Matsunaga misses with a shot to the body
and Rocket counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rocket darts in and clinches Matsunaga up against the cage.
Rocket lands a body shot in the clinch.
Matsunaga breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsunaga has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsunaga there as he acknowledges the shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rocket.
Rocket fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matsunaga looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocket lands with a shot to the body.
Matsunaga misses the shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga throws the left hand but Rocket avoids the punch easily.
Rocket lands a jab.
Rocket scores with a crisp jab that stopped Matsunaga in his tracks.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick but Rocket checks it.
Rocket catches Matsunaga with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Matsunaga bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Matsunaga swings widly with a right hand
and Matsunaga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matsunaga with the inside leg kick.
Rocket moves into the clinch.
Matsunaga is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rocket to keep the fight standing.
Rocket lands a shot to the body.
Rocket lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matsunaga backwards.
Rocket lands a shot to the body.
Matsunaga is trying to push Rocket away but Rocket has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rocket stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Pocket Rocket showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!
Rocket lands with a shot to the body.
Matsunaga throws the left hand but Rocket avoids the punch easily.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rocket counters with a left to the body.
Rocket scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rocket dodges the punch combination from Matsunaga.
Rocket fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A cross from Rocket lands.
Rocket connects with a body shot that sends Matsunaga's belly button to the back.
Rocket lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Matsunaga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rocket.
Rocket rushes Matsunaga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rocket scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Rocket.
Rocket scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsunaga misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Rocket as the two fighters clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Rocket.
Rocket breaks the clinch.
Rocket moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsunaga needs to keep his hands up - Rocket had a free shot at his head there.
Matsunaga on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rocket throws a right and a left that Matsunaga avoids nicely.
Rocket moves into the clinch.
Matsunaga tries to circle away but Rocket has him pinned against the cage.
Rocket is working Matsunaga over against the cage.
Matsunaga looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rocket tries a body shot but Matsunaga blocks it.
Matsunaga tries to break the clinch but Rocket is controlling the position.
Matsunaga is trying to break the clinch but Rocket is controlling him.
A short right from Rocket.
Matsunaga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rocket has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Rocket.
Rocket lands a body punch.
Rocket lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rocket throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matsunagas head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short left from Rocket.
Rocket lands with a right to the head.
Rocket lands a shot to the body.
Rocket is working Matsunaga over against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Rocket.
Rocket lands a shot to the body.
Matsunaga jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rocket walks away with a smile on his face. Matsunaga gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rocket lands with a good body shot.
Rocket looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rocket passes the guard and advances to mount!
Matsunaga is looking to improve his position but Rocket isn't that keen on the idea.
Rocket has hold of Matsunaga's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Matsunaga manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rocket wants to finish this one by submission but Matsunaga is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rocket.
Rocket is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Matsunaga is surviving well by controlling Rocket's body position as best he can.
Matsunaga is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rocket takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Matsunaga is looking to get to half guard.
Futoshi Matsunaga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocket can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsunaga is looking to escape.
Rocket goes for an armbar but Matsunaga turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rocket is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Matsunaga, into his guard.
Pocket Rocket is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rocket showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pocket Rocket comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rocket has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 26:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pocket Rocket!
Pocket Rocket really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Urban Fighter logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
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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
74% |
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