PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hitoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sato Ibaraki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes into the arena with Otep - Blood Pigs blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matsumoto
vs
Ibaraki

170 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 Tokyo, Hitoshi Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sato Ibaraki!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsumoto moves into the clinch successfully.
Ibaraki tries to break free but Matsumoto pushes him back against the cage.
Matsumoto has Ibaraki pressed against the cage.

Matsumoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Matsumoto closes the distance and clinches.
Matsumoto manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Matsumoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ibaraki looks to land a combination but Matsumoto avoids it well.
Ibaraki misses with a straight left.
Matsumoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Matsumoto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matsumoto trying to control but Ibaraki is working from the bottom.
Ibaraki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaraki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsumoto is one step ahead there.
Ibaraki pulls Matsumoto in to control the position.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibaraki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto stopping the sweep attempt from Ibaraki.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ibaraki gets the takedown into side control.
Matsumoto tries to escape but Ibaraki is in control.
Ibaraki with the ground and pound but Matsumoto regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ibaraki works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ibaraki throwing strikes here but Matsumoto is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ibaraki punching from mount but Matsumoto doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ibaraki avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.
Matsumoto is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ibaraki wants to control the pace but Matsumoto is squirming around nicely.
Matsumoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Matsumoto is breathing heavily.
Ibaraki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matsumoto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ibaraki.
Well, if Ibaraki 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.
Ibaraki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matsumoto keeps working.
Ibaraki wants to free his trapped foot but Matsumoto is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ibaraki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matsumoto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ibaraki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Matsumoto tries to get to full guard but Ibaraki has control of the leg.
Ibaraki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsumoto's head.
Ibaraki throwing shots but Matsumoto is blocking nicely.
Ibaraki controlling the action here.
Matsumoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ibaraki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sato Ibaraki will probably get the nod.
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.

Ibaraki throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Sato Ibaraki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsumoto throws a nice head kick!

Matsumoto moves into the clinch.
Matsumoto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ibaraki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ibaraki jumps guard but Matsumoto stands there with Ibaraki around his waist. Ibaraki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matsumoto tries to throw a body punch but Ibaraki avoids it by throwing Matsumoto back against the cage.
Matsumoto goes for a takedown attempt but Ibaraki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ibaraki tries for a takedown but Matsumoto circles away easily
and Matsumoto counters with a good low kick that Ibaraki was not able to check.
Hitoshi Matsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sato Ibaraki.
Ibaraki shoots and misses

and Matsumoto counters with a shoot takedown. Ibaraki fights it but they end up in guard.
Ibaraki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matsumoto is controlling him.
Ibaraki is pulling down on Matsumoto's head. It's preventing any offense from Matsumoto, at least for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto preventing the sweep.
Ibaraki keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
Ibaraki is pulling down on Matsumoto's head. It's preventing any offense from Matsumoto, at least for the moment.
Let's hope that Ibaraki 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ibaraki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Matsumoto is aware though and is defending well.
Ibaraki is looking to stand up but Matsumoto isn't so interested in that idea.
Ibaraki has control of Matsumoto's left arm, preventing Matsumoto from doing any damage.
Ibaraki looking for a sweep. Not yet Ibaraki, not yet.
Ibaraki has Matsumoto pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ibaraki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ibaraki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ibaraki has his takedown stuffed

and Matsumoto counters with a takedown into side control.
Matsumoto working the ground and pound but Ibaraki is defending the strikes.
Ibaraki can't do much from the bottom here.
Ibaraki sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsumoto seems to be working for a kimura but Ibaraki defends the submission attempt.
Ibaraki moves into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ibaraki is on top in guard.
Ibaraki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hitoshi Matsumoto dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ibaraki misses with a kick to the body.
Matsumoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Matsumoto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Matsumoto won't allow Ibaraki to get back to his feet.
Ibaraki controlling Matsumoto's posture.
Matsumoto stopping the sweep attempt from Ibaraki.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaraki has Matsumoto pulled in close to control his posture.
Ibaraki wants to stand up but Matsumoto is controlling him.
Ibaraki controlling the position.
Ibaraki wants to stand and escape but Matsumoto is having none of it.
Matsumoto preventing the sweep.
Matsumoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Matsumoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ibaraki misses with a takedown

and Matsumoto counters with a shoot takedown. Ibaraki fights it but they end up in guard.
Matsumoto trying to control but Ibaraki is working from the bottom.
Ibaraki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ibaraki is looking to stand up but Matsumoto isn't so interested in that idea.
Ibaraki controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibaraki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibaraki wants to stand but Matsumoto is controlling the position.

Ibaraki wriggles free and stands up.
Ibaraki tries to clinch up but Matsumoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibaraki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matsumoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Matsumoto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ibaraki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hitoshi Matsumoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matsumoto working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Ibaraki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Matsumoto trying to control the position but Ibaraki is working away.
Matsumoto in side control, throwing shots but Ibaraki defends.

Matsumoto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ibaraki has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Matsumoto but great work by Ibaraki.
Matsumoto is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hitoshi Matsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matsumoto 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hitoshi Matsumoto!