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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ispa Perkele (ranked 8 p4p, 52 weight class) and Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 1 p4p, 9 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?
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| 178 cm
30
171
33 - 10 - 0 |
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179 cm
36
181
41 - 15 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Ispa Perkele!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkele lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Perkele lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Perkele throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matsuzaka on the side of the head.
Perkele throws the left hand but Matsuzaka avoids the punch easily.
An inside leg kick from Matsuzaka misses.
Perkele getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ispa Perkele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Matsuzaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Perkele connects with an inside leg kick.
Matsuzaka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Perkele.
Matsuzaka throws a right hand that misses
and Perkele counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsuzaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuzaka feints a counter leg kick.
Perkele gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perkele throws a lazy right hand but Matsuzaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuzaka connects with a body shot.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
A cross from Perkele lands.
Matsuzaka throws a jab when Perkele was well out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele connects with a body shot that sends Matsuzaka's belly button to the back.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the body.
Perkele throws a low kick, looking for Matsuzaka's leg but Matsuzaka calmly moves out of range.
Perkele with a nice calf kick.
Matsuzaka throws a right hand that misses
and Perkele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Perkele throws a lazy body kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Perkele keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick but Perkele checks it.
Matsuzaka lands with an overhand left.
Perkele throws a low kick, looking for Matsuzaka's leg but Matsuzaka calmly moves out of range.
Perkele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsuzaka misses with a wild body shot.
Perkele was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuzaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsuzaka there as he acknowledges the shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matsuzaka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Perkele in his tracks.
Matsuzaka tries to score with a low kick but Perkele moves his leg out of the way.
Perkele lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matsuzaka's sensitive parts.
Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Perkele.
Perkele throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Perkele stuns Matsuzaka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice shot by Perkele.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Perkele moves away.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
Matsuzaka scores with a sloppy right hand. Perkele should have avoided that one.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy right hand but Perkele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Perkele connects with a leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Perkele.
Perkele drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele connects with a looping right hand.
Matsuzaka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Matsuzaka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Perkele lands a lovely overhand right.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws a hook but Perkele blocks it.
Matsuzaka darts in trying to clinch
and Perkele counters with a nice uppercut.
Perkele throws a hook to the side of Matsuzaka's head but Matsuzaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Perkele throws out a loose jab but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele scores with a leg kick.
Perkele staying out of range there.
A jab from Perkele finds it's way through Matsuzaka's defenses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook.
Perkele loads up on a big right hand but Matsuzaka slips the punch.
Matsuzaka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Perkele scores with a head kick. Matsuzaka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A big left from Perkele misses.
Nice shot by Matsuzaka.
Perkele throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
It looks like Perkele has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Matsuzaka connects with a body shot.
Perkele does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matsuzaka! But no joy.
Perkele looks to throw the jab but Matsuzaka is out of range.
Perkele is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Perkele throws an off balance right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
Perkele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuzaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Perkele.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matsuzaka clinches up against the cage.
Perkele misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perkele.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ispa Perkele dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Perkele is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Perkele misses the jab.
Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Perkele moves out of range.
Perkele takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Perkele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matsuzaka can do to turn this around?
Perkele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuzaka moves away.
Perkele takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch but Perkele moves out of range.
Ispa Perkele is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook
and Perkele counters with a stiff right hand.
Matsuzaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Perkele.
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuzaka lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Matsuzaka connects with an inside leg kick.
Perkele slips a straight right by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Perkele throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matsuzaka staying out of range there.
Perkele slips under a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Perkele. Perkele obviously looking to wear him down.
Perkele misses with an uppercut.
Perkele scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Perkele walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Perkele. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Perkele avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Perkele misses the target.
Perkele throws a jab when Matsuzaka was well out of range.
Matsuzaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perkele blocks an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka tries to throw a body punch but Perkele avoids it by throwing Matsuzaka back against the cage.
Perkele blocks an elbow strike.
Matsuzaka lands with a short shot to the head.
Perkele wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Matsuzaka tries to throw a body punch but Perkele avoids it by throwing Matsuzaka back against the cage.
Matsuzaka working aggressively here.
Matsuzaka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short right from Perkele.
Matsuzaka lands with a light punch inside.
Perkele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Perkele controls his hands.
Perkele lands a left hand.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow just above Perkele 's eye.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is trying to push Matsuzaka away but Matsuzaka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Perkele lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Matsuzaka tries to work over Perkele's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka working aggressively here.
Matsuzaka cracks Perkele with a nice body shot.
Matsuzaka lands a left hand.
Perkele pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuzaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Perkele rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Perkele throws a low kick but it's checked well by Matsuzaka.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka.
Perkele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsuzaka.
A shot to the body from Perkele misses
and Perkele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matsuzaka throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Perkele scores with a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perkele takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Matsuzaka lands a really nice looking cross but Perkele seems unphased.
Perkele takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Perkele with the inside leg kick.
Perkele uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Perkele takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
An inside leg kick from Perkele misses.
Perkele chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Perkele.
Matsuzaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Perkele doesn't seem bothered though.
Perkele misses with a body shot.
Perkele lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A slow jab from Perkele misses its intended target.
Matsuzaka throws a counter combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the side of Perkele's head but Perkele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Perkele connects with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Keisuke Matsuzaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Matsuzaka moves into the clinch.
Perkele digs a right hand underneath Matsuzaka's ribcage. Matsuzaka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Perkele's elbow.
Matsuzaka cracks Perkele with a nice body shot.
Matsuzaka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Perkele breaks the clinch.
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Perkele was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Perkele throws the left hand but Matsuzaka avoids the punch easily.
Perkele tests Matsuzaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matsuzaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsuzaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Perkele counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A punch lands to the side of Perkele 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
Matsuzaka is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Perkele misses with a left hand
and Perkele takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Perkele lands a nice shot that snaps Matsuzaka's head back.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Perkele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Perkele lands with a thumping leg kick.
Perkele blocks a leg kick.
Perkele lands a nice leg kick that just misses Matsuzaka's sensitive parts.
Matsuzaka tries a head kick but it misses.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.
Matsuzaka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Perkele throws a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Perkele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice cross by Perkele.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot.
Perkele uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
It looked like Perkele wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Perkele gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matsuzaka walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkele swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Perkele swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Perkele slips under a jab.
Perkele scores with the left hand. Matsuzaka knows he should have avoided that one.
Perkele looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuzaka is just out of range.
Matsuzaka wants to counter the offense by Perkele and move into the clinch position.
Perkele takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Perkele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Perkele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka misses with a body punch
and Perkele counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Perkele lands with a cross.
A telegraphed right hand from Perkele misses the target.
Perkele throws a good cross that connects.
Perkele looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Matsuzaka.
A slow jab from Matsuzaka misses its intended target.
Matsuzaka moves forwards but Perkele connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Perkele attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Perkele slips a jab from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Perkele.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the side of Perkele's head but Perkele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by Perkele.
A big left from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka defending well as Perkele loads up on a big left hand.
Perkele lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Perkele loads up on a big right hand but Matsuzaka slips the punch.
A countering left hand to the body from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka connects with a body shot.
Perkele throws a right hand that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice uppercut.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Perkele misses its intended target.
Nice shot by Perkele.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkele tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuzaka. Perkele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A good leg kick by Matsuzaka.
Perkele throws a hook but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Matsuzaka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Perkele just misses with a punch to the body.
A shot to the liver by Matsuzaka. Beautiful body shot.
Perkele throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Matsuzaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Perkele lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Perkele needs to keep his hands up - Matsuzaka had a free shot at his head there.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Perkele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuzaka takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Ispa Perkele did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Perkele thinks about countering with a body kick.
Perkele throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka sees it coming and moves out of range.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Perkele does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up but Perkele circles away and keeps his distance.
Matsuzaka throws a right and a left that both miss.
That kick from Perkele tenderised Matsuzaka's leg. Matsuzaka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Perkele throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Perkele throws a nice inside leg kick.
Perkele is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuzaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka moves away from the strike by Perkele.
Perkele throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Matsuzaka to counter with a crisp jab.
Perkele looks to land a left hand but Matsuzaka moved out of range nicely.
A little jabbing left from Matsuzaka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Matsuzaka throws an overhand right that lands on Perkele's shoulder, as Perkele tries to avoid the shot.
Perkele throws a leg kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matsuzaka lands an overhand right.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Perkele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Perkele fires out a quick counter leg kick but Matsuzaka just manages to avoid it.
Perkele lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Perkele throws a hook but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Matsuzaka connects with a jab.
Perkele misses with a hook.
Perkele catches Matsuzaka with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Perkele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuzaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Perkele.
Perkele takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Perkele walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsuzaka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matsuzaka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Perkele misses with a low kick.
Matsuzaka thuds a left hand into Perkele's body.
Perkele lands with an overhand left.
Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsuzaka lands a really nice looking cross but Perkele seems unphased.
Crunch! Matsuzaka slams his shin into Perkele's torso.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Perkele.
Perkele is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuzaka.
Perkele ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka.
Perkele wants to slow Matsuzaka down by chopping away at his legs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throws a looping overhand right but Matsuzaka ducks down to avoid it.
Perkele takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Perkele throws a low kick but Matsuzaka moves out of range easily.
Matsuzaka misses the jab.
Matsuzaka walks into a left hand.
Perkele misses with a looping left.
Nice cross by Perkele.
Matsuzaka connects with a crisp jab.
Perkele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Perkele does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsuzaka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Perkele.
Perkele throws a leg kick which misses Matsuzaka's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsuzaka tries to avoid it.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matsuzaka attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Matsuzaka ducks under a wild hook from Perkele.
Matsuzaka wants to counter with a clinch but Perkele pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perkele was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsuzaka.
The fighters circling - Perkele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsuzaka throws a big counter head kick but Perkele avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Matsuzaka.
An attempted straight right counter from Perkele misses the target.
Perkele misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuzaka gets a clinch.
Perkele scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Perkele lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matsuzaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Perkele struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuzaka controls his hands.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow just above Perkele 's eye.
Perkele misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Perkele wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close fourth round but Keisuke Matsuzaka 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!
Perkele connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Matsuzaka throws a front kick aimed at Perkele's knee but Perkele avoids it well.
A jab lands there for Perkele.
Matsuzaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
Perkele avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Perkele fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka is out of range.
Matsuzaka wants to counter the offense by Perkele and move into the clinch position.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Perkele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Perkele shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Perkele moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Perkele misses with a hook. Matsuzaka ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkele shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matsuzaka instigates a clinch.
Matsuzaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Matsuzaka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Perkele's brow.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow just above Perkele 's eye.
It looks like Ispa Perkele has been cut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Perkele blocking some punches.
Perkele tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matsuzaka's elbow.
Keisuke Matsuzaka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Perkele fails to land.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Matsuzaka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matsuzaka can't find room to land a body shot as Perkele controls the action.
Perkele breaks the clinch.
Matsuzaka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Perkele swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An attempted straight right counter from Perkele misses the target.
Perkele fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matsuzaka on the side of the head.
Perkele throws a wild body kick that Matsuzaka sees coming a mile off.
Matsuzaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsuzaka throws an overhand right that lands on Perkele's shoulder, as Perkele tries to avoid the shot.
Matsuzaka tries to score with a low kick but Perkele moves his leg out of the way.
Matsuzaka gets a clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka has Perkele pressed against the cage, preventing Perkele from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matsuzaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Matsuzaka fails to land.
A bit of stalling here from Perkele.
Matsuzaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Perkele backwards.
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!
Nice body punch from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Perkele's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Perkele.
Perkele lands a left hand.
Perkele is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Perkele stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short uppercut from Matsuzaka.
Perkele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up.
Perkele misses with a looping left.
Perkele fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka lands with a good body shot.
Perkele takes a jab right on the kisser.
Perkele wants to slow Matsuzaka down by chopping away at his legs.
Perkele misses with a left hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice leg kick.
Matsuzaka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Perkele moves away.
Matsuzaka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matsuzaka throws a hook but Perkele blocks it.
Perkele throws a body shot but no joy.
Perkele misses with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Perkele.
Perkele lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matsuzaka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkele manages to avoid it.
Perkele lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Perkele connects with a jab.
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!
Perkele looks to land a left hand but Matsuzaka moved out of range nicely.
Nice shot lands for Matsuzaka.
Perkele throws out a loose jab but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsuzaka looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A big left from Perkele misses.
Matsuzaka throws the left hand but Perkele avoids the punch easily.
Perkele misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsuzaka checks the leg kick.
Perkele throws out a loose jab but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsuzaka wants to clinch.
Matsuzaka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keisuke Matsuzaka.
I think Matsuzaka 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 47:49
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 46:49
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 48:48
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Keisuke Matsuzaka!
Keisuke Matsuzaka is the new welterweight champion!
Keisuke Matsuzaka decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
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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
79% |
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