PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Rivear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matsui
vs
Rivear

170 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Matsui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jay Rivear!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivear decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Matsui is trying to control but can't.
Rivear perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rivear wants to pass the guard but Matsui is defending well.
Rivear is thwarting Matsui's attempts to control the position.
Rivear is taking a breather. Matsui says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Let's hope that Rivear has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui trying to control here.

Rivear is working for a submission of some sort.
Matsui tries to get to full guard but Rivear has control of the leg.
Rivear with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Matsui trying to control here.
Rivear is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Matsui wants to control but Rivear is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Rivear seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivear works his way into full mount!
Rivear tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rivear trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rivear looks gassed!

Despite being in the dominant position, Jay Rivear just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivear fails to land the takedown.
Matsui throws a right and a left that Rivear avoids nicely.
Matsui throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jay Rivear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivear closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsui circles away.
Matsui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsui tries to bum rush Rivear with a series of wild strikes but Rivear uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Matsui lands a slapping body shot.

Rivear darts in and clinches Matsui up against the cage.

Rivear pulls guard.
Rivear preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsui thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsui pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivear is keeping the position for now.
Rivear seems keen to control Matsui's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Rivear dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivear shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matsui but Matsui pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matsui lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivear circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivear misses with a combination
and Matsui counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsui fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice takedown defense from Matsui. No joy for Rivear on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsui tries for a takedown but Rivear circles away easily

so Rivear counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivear slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rivear slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matsui keeping full guard, as Rivear tries to pass.
Rivear wanted to stand there but Matsui had control of the position.
Rivear wants to control from the top but Matsui keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch combination from Matsui misses.

Rivear shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Matsui is trying to keep Rivear in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivear showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Matsui not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rivear's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rivear stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsui swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matsui is trying to control the position but Rivear postures up.
Rivear wants to pass the guard but Matsui is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsui controls Rivear momentarily but Rivear frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Rivear showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivear closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivear lands in his opponent's guard.
Rivear is looking to stand up but Matsui won't let him.
Matsui trying to keep a closed guard but Rivear is proving a slippery customer.
Matsui looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivear is one step ahead there.
Rivear works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivear is controlling the pace.
Matsui wants to get back to full guard.
Rivear trying to control the pace.

Rivear is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matsui tries to roll over but Rivear keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rivear content to control rather than advance.
Matsui trying to control but Rivear postures up.
Rivear looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsui is defending against the submission attempts here by Rivear.

Rivear is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matsui sees it coming and defends easily.
Rivear tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rivear wants to control but Matsui is keeping him busy.
Well, if Rivear is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Rivear seems to be working for a kimura but Matsui defends the submission attempt.
Matsui is trying to maintain the position but Rivear is very close to passing his half guard.
Jack Matsui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jay Rivear is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivear clobbers Matsui with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Rivear comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rivear 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Rivear!