PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeo Matsukata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velazquez comes to the cage accompanied by Young, Wild and Free. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Velazquez
vs
Matsukata

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

TITAN
Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dante Velazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Takeo Matsukata!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velazquez clinches up with Matsukata and pushes him back against the cage.
Matsukata wants to break the clinch but can't.

Matsukata jumps into guard, dragging Velazquez to the mat.
Matsukata keeping moving, preventing Velazquez from controlling successfully.
Matsukata pulls Velazquez in close to prevent any damage.
Matsukata wants to sweep here but Velazquez controlling him for the moment.
Velazquez is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dante Velazquez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Matsukata shoots in and drives through. Velazquez sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Matsukata circles away.

Velazquez moves into the clinch successfully.

Matsukata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Matsukata circles away.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velazquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Matsukata tries to keep at a distance but Velazquez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Velazquez connects with a knee to the head.
Matsukata fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Velazquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Matsukata.
Dante Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeo Matsukata.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata working Velazquez over with knees to the body.
Velazquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Matsukata displaying some good clinch control by pressing Velazquez up against the cage.
Matsukata drops down looking for an ankle pick but Velazquez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Matsukata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dante Velazquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Velazquez closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Velazquez misses with a knee strike.
Velazquez keeps control of Matsukata as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsukata has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velazquez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Velazquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Matsukata misses with an elbow strike.
Matsukata can't break the clinch.
Velazquez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matsukata has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matsukata is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velazquez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez misses with a knee to the head.
Velazquez tries a knee to the head but Matsukata blocks it.
Velazquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Matsukata fails to pull guard.
Matsukata working aggressively here.
Velazquez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matsukata blocks it with crossed arms.
Velazquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velazquez looking to throw knees to the head but Matsukata is blocking nicely.
Velazquez keeps control of Matsukata as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsukata wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Velazquez dominated that 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.

Matsukata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matsukata is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matsukata looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Velazquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Matsukata circles away.
Velazquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matsukata is looking to clinch but Velazquez is avoiding it.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Matsukata moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Matsukata there.
Velazquez wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Matsukata or perhaps it was just good defense by Velazquez which made him look bad.
Velazquez tries to clinch up.

Velazquez closes the distance and clinches.
Velazquez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez stops a takedown attempt from Matsukata.
Dante Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeo Matsukata.
Velazquez tries to land a knee to the head but Matsukata blocks with his arms.
Velazquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Matsukata stalling in the clinch but Velazquez improves position.
Velazquez has Matsukata pressed against the cage, preventing Matsukata from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matsukata is looking to break free of the clinch but Velazquez has double underhooks.
Velazquez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matsukata has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matsukata is trying to drag Velazquez to the mat but Velazquez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Velazquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez misses with a knee to the head.
Matsukata drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velazquez misses with a knee strike.
Velazquez prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsukata wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsukata has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velazquez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velazquez wants to clinch.

Velazquez has closed the distance and engaged Matsukata in a clinch.
Velazquez looking to throw knees to the head but Matsukata is blocking nicely.
Velazquez misses with a knee strike.
Velazquez keeps control of Matsukata as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsukata is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Velazquez is defending well.
Matsukata can't get the takedown.
Velazquez tries to land a knee to the head but Matsukata blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Matsukata's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Velazquez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matsukata tries to break free but Velazquez pushes him back against the cage.
Velazquez misses with a knee strike.
Velazquez prevents a takedown attempt there.
Velazquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velazquez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matsukata blocks it with crossed arms.
Matsukata wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Velazquez dominated that second round.
That's time! Velazquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsukata paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Velazquez has closed the distance and engaged Matsukata in a clinch.
Dante Velazquez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Matsukata has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Velazquez uses from the top position.
Velazquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsukata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velazquez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matsukata working a defensive guard but Velazquez passes into half guard.
Matsukata is staying active underneath Velazquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velazquez prevents Matsukata from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsukata is refusing to be controlled, as Velazquez sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Velazquez is really struggling to control Matsukata but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Velazquez wants to free his trapped foot but Matsukata is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Dante Velazquez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Matsukata shoots in and drives through. Velazquez sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dante Velazquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matsukata pivots, looking for a leg kick but Velazquez is out of range and Matsukata settles back down.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsukata swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velazquez wants to clinch up but Matsukata keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Matsukata is having none of it.

Velazquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matsukata fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Matsukata ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Matsukata no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Matsukata being controlled here, momentarily.
Matsukata keeping moving, preventing Velazquez from controlling successfully.
Velazquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dante Velazquez.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsukata paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsukata paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matsukata looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Velazquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dante Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeo Matsukata.
Matsukata scores with a spinning back kick!
Matsukata shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Velazquez but Velazquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Matsukata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velazquez moves in looking to clinch but Matsukata pushes him off.
Matsukata circles away from the clinch attempt.

Velazquez clinches up with Matsukata and pushes him back against the cage.
Matsukata tries to stall but Velazquez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Matsukata changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Velazquez fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Velazquez moves into range and clinches up with Matsukata.
Velazquez tries a knee to the head but Matsukata blocks it.
Matsukata is trying to pull guard but Velazquez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Velazquez is pressed up against the cage. Matsukata has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Velazquez down to the mat. Velazquez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Matsukata or perhaps it was just good defense by Velazquez which made him look bad.
Takeo Matsukata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsukata circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Velazquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velazquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Velazquez!
Dante Velazquez made sure to mention his sponsor, TITAN in his post fight interview.