PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Holden Gracie (ranked 698 p4p, 440 weight class) and Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 85 p4p, 53 weight class). Matsuda is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Gojira - Another World. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Matsuda

190 cm
38
196
27 - 16 - 0

190 cm
36
200
38 - 18 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
HELL'S BALLS NUTRITION

Brooklyn Threads
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Holden Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie closes the distance but Matsuda moves to the side
enabling Matsuda to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie thuds his right hand into Matsuda's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jab from Matsuda.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsuda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Gracie throws a sloppy head kick and Matsuda moves out of range easily.
Gracie works Matsuda's body with a nice hook.

Matsuda looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Matsuda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gracie is just riding it out for now. Matsuda eventually gives up the hold.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in half guard, Matsuda seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Matsuda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Matsuda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
Matsuda working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie trying to hold on to Matsuda's head to control him but Matsuda postures up.
Matsuda wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Matsuda is in close to Gracie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Matsuda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Matsuda passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie wants to control but Matsuda is keeping busy.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Matsuda has control of the leg.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Matsuda has control of the leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Matsuda lands a nice short elbow.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Matsuda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gracie tries to roll over but Matsuda keeps him under control.
Matsuda is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Matsuda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Matsuda is controlling well.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Matsuda sits in half guard.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matsuda controls the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gracie looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuda is just out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Gracie looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Matsuda closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheers as Gracie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Matsuda doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie tries to clinch up

and Matsuda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Matsuda drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Matsuda off! Matsuda jumps back into Gracie's guard.

Gracie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Matsuda escapes and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Matsuda is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control but Matsuda postures up.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Matsuda trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Gracie has hold of Matsuda's hands but Matsuda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Matsuda is controlling well.
Matsuda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matsuda connects with a couple of short punches.
Matsuda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie is trying to keep Matsuda in close.
Matsuda lands a couple of digs.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Matsuda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matsuda on the ground.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Matsuda is proving a slippery customer.
Matsuda trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Matsuda landing some decent shots from guard.
Matsuda distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Matsuda advances position into side control!
Gracie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Matsuda connects with a decent elbow.
Matsuda scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matsuda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Tanaka Matsuda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matsuda working the ground and pound.
Matsuda looks up at the clock and then as Gracie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matsuda smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda working the ground and pound.
Matsuda in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matsuda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gracie tries to control but Matsuda manages to take his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuda controlling from the back.
Gracie tries to escape the position.
Matsuda softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Gracie is trapped and Matsuda is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Gracie is having to fend off submission attempts from Matsuda, who is looking to sink in the choke. Matsuda doesn't have the hooks in though and Gracie manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matsuda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuda.
Holden Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Matsuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Holden Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuda avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big right from Matsuda misses.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsuda circles away quickly and effectively.
Gracie tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsuda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsuda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda misses the shot to the body.
Gracie goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Matsuda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie throws a head kick but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda feints the counter takedown.
Gracie throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Matsuda stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gracie is looking to clinch.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuda manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Matsuda tries to keep at a distance but Gracie has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matsuda lands with a left to the head.
A short uppercut from Gracie.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Matsuda.
Gracie lands with a left to the head.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.

Matsuda has clasped his hands together around Gracie's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gracie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Matsuda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Matsuda working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Gracie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie trying his best to control but Matsuda has mounted him.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsuda has a good base and remains in mount.
Matsuda fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Matsuda is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gracie can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Matsuda lands a nice shot to the head.
Holden Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie is looking to improve his position but Matsuda isn't that keen on the idea.
Matsuda landing strikes from the mount.
Matsuda landing strikes from the mount and Gracie is in trouble!
Gracie can't escape the position.
Matsuda avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsuda has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gracie's face.
Matsuda lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gracie hang on?

Gracie is rocked!
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Matsuda trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda working the ground and pound effectively.
Gracie is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsuda has a good base and remains in mount.
Matsuda takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gracie working to try and regain half guard.

Matsuda is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gracie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gracie shrugs it off.
Tanaka Matsuda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matsuda trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanaka Matsuda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matsuda 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanaka Matsuda!
Tanaka Matsuda seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.