PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryuu Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Makuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matsumoto
vs
Makuto

175 cm
24
159 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryuu Matsumoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Makuto!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Makuto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Makuto tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Matsumoto working away.

Matsumoto tries for a kimura but Makuto is defending well.
Makuto is trying to improve his position.

Matsumoto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Matsumoto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Makuto has escaped the position, nice work there.
Makuto is looking for a sweep.
Matsumoto cracks Makuto with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Matsumoto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Makuto, who protects the arm well.

Matsumoto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Matsumoto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto moves into full mount!
Makuto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matsumoto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Makuto is looking to escape.
Matsumoto is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Makuto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Matsumoto mounts Makuto! Really nice guard pass there!
Matsumoto working Makuto over with strikes here.
Matsumoto lands a heavy elbow.
Matsumoto scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Makuto?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Makuto is wriggling around trying to escape.

Matsumoto is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Makuto is surviving well by controlling Matsumoto's body position as best he can.

Matsumoto has control of Makuto's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Makuto regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Matsumoto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Matsumoto is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Makuto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matsumoto breaks from Makuto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makuto wants to hold on but Matsumoto pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makuto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Matsumoto kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Matsumoto lands a heavy elbow.
Matsumoto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Makuto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Matsumoto moves to take his opponent's back.
Matsumoto lands strikes to the head.
Matsumoto has Makuto flattened out and is raining down punches.
Matsumoto is looking to control Makuto but Makuto is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Matsumoto really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Makuto.
Matsumoto lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Makuto hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto controlling well, preventing Makuto from escaping the position.
Matsumoto gets his hands free as Makuto looks to control.
Matsumoto tries to keep control of the position but Makuto is staying busy.

Matsumoto looking for the RNC.

Matsumoto working for the choke.
Matsumoto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Makuto defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Matsumoto's arms.

Makuto fending off the submission attempt from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto avoiding Makuto 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsumoto slips under a jab.
Makuto looks to land a combination but Matsumoto avoids it well.
Makuto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A combination from Makuto does no damage.
Makuto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsumoto moves away.
Kenji Makuto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matsumoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Makuto jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Matsumoto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matsumoto pushes down on Makuto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ground and pound from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Makuto has given up his back. Will we see Matsumoto going for some submissions?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto scores with punches to the body.
Matsumoto trying to control.
Matsumoto scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Makuto is looking for a way out.
Makuto is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Matsumoto working for a choke but Makuto is defending well.

Matsumoto is persistently looking for the submission but Makuto is defending it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matsumoto looking to break Makuto's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Makuto remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Matsumoto will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Matsumoto keeps control of the position as Makuto tries to break free.
Can Makuto hold on?! Matsumoto is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makuto grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Ryuu Matsumoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Matsumoto is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Makuto is defending well though. Matsumoto let's go of the attempt for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsumoto is working the ground and pound. Can Makuto escape?
Matsumoto struggling to keep hold of the position.
Matsumoto lands a shot to the body.
Matsumoto controlling well, preventing Makuto from escaping the position.

Makuto showing good submission defense here.

Matsumoto is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Matsumoto looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Makuto tries to roll but Matsumoto sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Matsumoto is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Makuto. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Makuto defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Makuto trying to control the position but Matsumoto manages to sink in the hooks.
Matsumoto lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
A lull in the action here.
Makuto is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Matsumoto looking for the RNC.
Matsumoto gets his hands free as Makuto looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makuto is really stuck here.

Matsumoto is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Makuto defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Matsumoto is hanging on to Makuto's back as he tries to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsumoto tries to get the hooks in deep but Makuto pushed the leg off.
Makuto covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Matsumoto has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuu Matsumoto dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Makuto throws a looping overhand right but Matsumoto ducks down to avoid it.

Matsumoto scores with a takedown into Makuto's guard.

Matsumoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Matsumoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matsumoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Makuto's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsumoto passes into half guard.
Matsumoto wants to free his trapped foot but Makuto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Makuto is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makuto punching from the bottom.
Matsumoto prevents Makuto from improving his position.
Makuto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Matsumoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Matsumoto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Makuto!
Matsumoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Makuto can do to turn this around?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Matsumoto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Matsumoto breaks from Makuto's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Matsumoto throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Makuto has his hands clasped together but Matsumoto breaks the hold and Makuto is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Matsumoto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryuu Matsumoto!
Ryuu Matsumoto retains his lightweight title!