PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kiyoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rush Syckes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes to the cage accompanied by Carl Douglas - Kung fu fighting. Kiyoshi Matsumoto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matsumoto
vs
Syckes

178 cm
27
168 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

192 cm
26
164 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

MADE IN GERMANY

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rush Syckes!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Syckes throws a series of punches but Matsumoto avoids them all with ease.

Matsumoto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Matsumoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Syckes has momentary wrist control but Matsumoto slips an elbow through the middle.
Matsumoto lands a couple of digs.
Matsumoto with a nice head shot there.
Matsumoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsumoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matsumoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Syckes 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 prevents Syckes from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matsumoto drops back looking for a leg! Syckes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Syckes manages to kick Matsumoto off! Matsumoto jumps back into Syckes's guard.
Syckes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsumoto is one step ahead there.
Syckes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matsumoto is working Syckes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Matsumoto is working Syckes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Syckes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Matsumoto is working Syckes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto advances to half guard.
Matsumoto is keen to just control but Syckes is a slippery customer.
Matsumoto working Syckes over with strikes.

Matsumoto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Syckes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsumoto is keen to just control but Syckes is a slippery customer.
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.
Syckes missing with punches from the bottom.
Syckes is pressing down on Matsumoto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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 content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Matsumoto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Syckes's head.
Matsumoto advances to half guard.
Syckes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matsumoto working Syckes over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syckes misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matsumoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matsumoto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Matsumoto connects with a nice short shot to Syckes's temple.
Matsumoto is looking to take a break and control but Syckes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsumoto lands strikes from half guard.
Matsumoto landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matsumoto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Syckes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsumoto has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Syckes's face.
Matsumoto with shots to the head and body - Syckes looks very uncomfortable down there.
Matsumoto punishing his opponent with strikes.

Syckes is rocked!
Matsumoto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Syckes is still in real trouble! Can Matsumoto finish him?
Syckes is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto with shots to the head and body - Syckes looks very uncomfortable down there.
Matsumoto raining down hammerfists from mount.
Matsumoto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Matsumoto connects with a bit shot that sees Syckes covering up! More strikes from Matsumoto and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Matsumoto is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
Kiyoshi Matsumoto retains his lightweight title!