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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 9 p4p, 34 weight class) and Spider Monkey (ranked 2 p4p, 6 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!
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| 179 cm
37
181
45 - 15 - 1 |
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187 cm
32
170
24 - 12 - 1 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 45 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Spider Monkey!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka lands a body shot.
A jab from Monkey misses.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight left.
Monkey closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Monkey misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Monkey.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow that stopped Monkey in his tracks for a moment.
Matsuzaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
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.
Monkey misses with some punches.
A short right from Matsuzaka on the inside.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Monkey.
Monkey tries to work over Matsuzaka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Monkey lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka lands a nice elbow.
Matsuzaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Monkey.
A head punch on the inside from Monkey fails to land.
Monkey lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow that misses.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Monkey connects with a right hand. Matsuzaka shakes it off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka throws a body shot but no joy.
Monkey tries to land a body kick
letting Matsuzaka counter with a right hand.
A left lands for Monkey.
Matsuzaka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Monkey manages to avoid it.
Monkey misses with a looping right.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook. Monkey ducked under it nicely.
Monkey is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
An inside leg kick from Monkey misses.
Matsuzaka missing with a left hand there. Monkey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsuzaka backing away here, and Monkey unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Matsuzaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Monkey.
Monkey throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice body shot.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Monkey moves out of range.
Matsuzaka steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monkey.
Matsuzaka throws out a loose jab but Monkey uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monkey fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Monkey throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Monkey misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matsuzaka is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Monkey's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Matsuzaka lands an overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping right.
Monkey defending well as Matsuzaka loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Matsuzaka.
Monkey throws out a counter right but Matsuzaka avoids it with no problem.
Monkey misses with an uppercut
and Monkey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matsuzaka swings widly with a right hand
letting Monkey counter with a right hand.
Monkey throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsuzaka was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Matsuzaka throws a jab when Monkey was well out of range.
Matsuzaka lands a body shot.
Monkey throws a big shot that misses.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook to the body
and Monkey makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Matsuzaka really felt that one!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuzaka. Monkey does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka throws a solid leg kick but Monkey takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matsuzaka.
Monkey takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Monkey throws a leg kick
and Matsuzaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Monkey walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Matsuzaka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Good leg kick by Monkey.
Monkey walks into a stiff left hand from Matsuzaka.
Monkey misses the jab.
Monkey throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka moved away.
Matsuzaka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Monkey works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matsuzaka misses with a right hand
and Monkey connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Monkey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Monkey - that will leave a mark!
Monkey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monkey thuds a left hand into Matsuzaka's body.
Keisuke Matsuzaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka takes a swing at Monkey's ribcage but misses.
Monkey moves into range and clinches up with Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matsuzaka misses with the head strike.
Matsuzaka blocking some punches.
Monkey lands a body shot.
Matsuzaka tries a body shot but Monkey blocks it.
Monkey is pushing Matsuzaka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Monkey throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Keisuke Matsuzaka will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Monkey is looking to chop away at Matsuzaka's legs.
Monkey uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Matsuzaka has time to react.
Matsuzaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Monkey looks to land a body kick but Matsuzaka moved away.
Monkey moves away from the strike by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka scores with a nice strike.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Monkey moves out of range.
Matsuzaka lands a body shot.
Matsuzaka missing with a left hand there. Monkey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Monkey scoring well with a low kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Monkey. That one must have hurt.
Monkey avoids a kick to the body.
Monkey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Monkey lands the left hand.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Monkey.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Monkey steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsuzaka.
Monkey tries to counter by closing the distance.
Monkey uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka connects with a single shot there.
Nice defenses there by Monkey.
Monkey throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Monkey throws a body kick that misses.
Monkey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Keisuke Matsuzaka is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsuzaka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Monkey tries to clinch but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Matsuzaka throwing a counter right hand but Monkey manages to avoid it.
Monkey throws a jab when Matsuzaka was well out of range.
Monkey staying out of range there.
Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Monkey moves out of range.
Matsuzaka connects with a looping right hand.
A slow jab from Matsuzaka misses its intended target.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka lands a slapping body shot.
Monkey has managed to clinch.
Matsuzaka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Monkey dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monkey tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsuzaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Monkey throws a nice inside leg kick.
Matsuzaka blocks a low kick nicely.
Monkey ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuzaka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuzaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Monkey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Monkey tries to move into range but Matsuzaka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Monkey with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matsuzaka scores with the left hand. Monkey knows he should have avoided that one.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsuzaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuzaka misses the shot to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Monkey! But no joy.
Monkey throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Monkey moves out of range.
Monkey appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Monkey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsuzaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Monkey misses with a looping right.
Monkey takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matsuzaka throws a jab when Monkey was well out of range.
Monkey lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsuzaka off the cage and back into range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Monkey. That's going to slow Matsuzaka down.
Monkey lands a jab to Matsuzaka's midsection.
Monkey misses with a body shot.
Matsuzaka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Monkey.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot
and Monkey cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matsuzaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Monkey slips under a jab from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses the jab.
Monkey throws a looping overhand right but Matsuzaka ducks down to avoid it.
Matsuzaka slips under a jab from Monkey.
Monkey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Monkey tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsuzaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Monkey has managed to clinch.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Monkey can't find room to land a body shot as Matsuzaka controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Monkey fails to land.
Matsuzaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Keisuke Matsuzaka will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Matsuzaka tries to keep at a distance but Monkey has taken the fight into the clinch.
Monkey can't find room to land a body shot as Matsuzaka controls the action.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Monkey misses with a hook from the clinch.
Monkey throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matsuzakas head.
A body shot lands from Monkey.
Monkey lands an uppercut.
Monkey 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 Monkey can turn it around.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matsuzaka.
Spider Monkey seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Monkey misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Monkey.
Matsuzaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Monkey lands a nice uppercut.
Monkey missing with knees to the body.
Monkey struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuzaka controls his hands.
Monkey throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it misses.
Monkey working aggressively here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Monkey.
Matsuzaka blocking some punches.
Monkey pushes Matsuzaka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Monkey blocking some punches.
Monkey lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monkey wants to clinch but Matsuzaka slips to the side
and Matsuzaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Monkey wants to slow Matsuzaka down by chopping away at his legs.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick but Monkey moved away.
Matsuzaka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Monkey connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Matsuzaka lands a leg kick that knocks Monkey off balance momentarily.
Matsuzaka avoids the head kick by Monkey.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Nice body punch from Matsuzaka.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monkey gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Monkey misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsuzaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Monkey's elbow.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow inside.
Matsuzaka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Monkey misses with a punch on the inside.
Monkey lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Monkey tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Monkey.
Monkey doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Monkey swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monkey just leaning against Matsuzaka, taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Monkey.
Monkey misses with a hook from the clinch.
Monkey scores with a shoulder strike.
Monkey lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monkey keeps control of Matsuzaka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Monkey trying to control the position but instead, Matsuzaka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Monkey into the cage.
Monkey tries a body shot but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Monkey misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Monkey softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Monkey tries to land knees in the clinch but Matsuzaka avoids the damage to the body.
Monkey lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Matsuzaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Monkey checks a leg kick.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Monkey.
Monkey tests Matsuzaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Matsuzaka is looking to land body kicks.
Monkey swings for the body but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Monkey looking to land some kicks to the body here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monkey throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Monkey is predictable there
and Matsuzaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matsuzaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Monkey is just out of range.
Monkey motions for Matsuzaka to come forward. Monkey throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Monkey counter with a right hand.
Matsuzaka throws out a loose jab but Monkey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monkey swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsuzaka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monkey throws a lazy body kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
Monkey with a nice calf kick.
Monkey misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Monkey blocks a head kick by Matsuzaka.
Monkey is looking to clinch but Matsuzaka is avoiding it.
Monkey fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Spider Monkey really dominated that round.
That's time! Matsuzaka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut. Monkey saw that one coming.
Monkey closes the distance but Matsuzaka moves to the side
and Matsuzaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Monkey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Monkey moves out of range.
Monkey connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Monkey will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Monkey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuzaka manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuzaka throws a body shot but no joy.
Monkey throws a leg kick which misses Matsuzaka's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsuzaka tries to avoid it.
Matsuzaka needs to keep his hands up - Monkey had a free shot at his head there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Monkey misses the shot to the body.
Matsuzaka missing with a left hand there. Monkey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Monkey 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 is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Matsuzaka works Monkey's body with a nice hook.
Monkey tries to clinch but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
Monkey throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Monkey throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matsuzaka on the side of the head.
Monkey throws a hook but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Monkey with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Monkey throws a shot from downtown. Matsuzaka moves away and avoids it.
Matsuzaka takes a swing at Monkey's ribcage but misses.
Monkey misses with a jab to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Monkey's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matsuzaka connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Monkey scrambles back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monkey misses with an attempted mid kick.
Monkey throws out a powerful jab.
Monkey throws out a powerful 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!
A big right from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsuzaka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Matsuzaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Monkey sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Matsuzaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Monkey moves out of range as Matsuzaka strikes.
Monkey tries to land a front kick but Matsuzaka steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Monkey with a jab.
A cross from Monkey lands.
Monkey tries to clinch but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
Monkey staying out of range there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monkey throws a low kick, looking for Matsuzaka's leg but Matsuzaka calmly moves out of range.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
Monkey misses with a hook to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Monkey misses with a low kick.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick that misses
letting Monkey counter with a right hand.
Monkey has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Monkey scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Monkey attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Monkey is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A low kick from Matsuzaka is predictable there
and Monkey counters with a nice low kick that buckles Matsuzaka's knee momentarily.
A jab from Monkey misses.
A good leg kick by Monkey.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Monkey steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a low kick as Monkey jumps back.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monkey moves away.
Monkey connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A good leg kick by Monkey.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Monkey throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Monkey lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuzaka avoids a kick to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick that misses.
Monkey tries to counter with a clinch but Matsuzaka shakes him off and moves away.
Matsuzaka throws a hook but Monkey avoids it easily.
Monkey swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Monkey has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monkey. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka misses with a double jab.
Matsuzaka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Monkey.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Spider Monkey dominated that fourth 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Monkey tries to clinch up.
Matsuzaka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab to the head.
Matsuzaka misses with a two punch combination.
Monkey scoring well with a low kick there.
Monkey tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Monkey takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Monkey cracks Matsuzaka with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Monkey moves away from the strike by Matsuzaka.
Monkey is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Monkey looks to land a right hand but Matsuzaka moved out of range.
Monkey throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Matsuzaka counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matsuzaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Monkey's corner calls for a 1-2. Monkey obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsuzaka throws a low kick, looking for Monkey's leg but Monkey calmly moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka checks a low kick from Monkey.
Matsuzaka is looking to counter punch.
Monkey fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsuzaka checks it well.
Matsuzaka throws a predictable looking body shot
and Monkey counters with an outside leg kick.
Matsuzaka connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Monkey's hands.
Matsuzaka cracks Monkey with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice uppercut lands for Monkey. That snapped Matsuzaka's head back.
Monkey throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Monkey throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Monkey walks forward, straight into a front kick from Matsuzaka.
Monkey throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka checks it.
Monkey scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A big left from Monkey misses.
Monkey pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monkey connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matsuzaka momentarily.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Monkey appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Monkey releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Monkey throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monkey ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Matsuzaka takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Monkey walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Matsuzaka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Monkey takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Monkey throws a hook but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Monkey misses with a body kick.
Matsuzaka scores with a punch to the head.
Matsuzaka lands a leg kick that knocks Monkey off balance momentarily.
Matsuzaka just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Monkey! But no joy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monkey connects with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Matsuzaka.
Monkey keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsuzaka.
Monkey uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Monkey tries to counter with a clinch but Matsuzaka shakes him off and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Monkey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsuzaka missing with a left hand there. Monkey was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Monkey tries to clinch but Matsuzaka is having none of it.
Matsuzaka lands a head shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Monkey - that will leave a mark!
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the side of Monkey's head but Monkey sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Monkey misses.
It looked like Matsuzaka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monkey chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matsuzaka can pounce on him.
Monkey throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice uppercut.
Monkey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsuzaka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matsuzaka appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Monkey darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Matsuzaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monkey is looking to score with low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Matsuzaka.
Monkey moves out of range as Matsuzaka strikes.
Monkey looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matsuzaka dips to his left and cracks Monkey with an uppercut!
Monkey throws a jab when Matsuzaka was well out of range.
Matsuzaka lands a lovely overhand right.
Monkey tests Matsuzaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Keisuke Matsuzaka.
I think Matsuzaka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 48:47
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 48:47
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keisuke Matsuzaka!
Keisuke Matsuzaka retains his welterweight title!
Keisuke Matsuzaka spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
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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
68% |
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