PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leon Solis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuhito Matsuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Solis
vs
Matsuda

162 cm
22
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leon Solis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kazuhito Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsuda moves into range and clinches up with Solis.
Solis is working for takedown but Matsuda is calmly controlling the position for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Solis is looking for a takedown.
Solis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matsuda walks away with a smile on his face. Solis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Solis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solis gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Matsuda counters with a good low kick that Solis was not able to check.
Matsuda leaves Solis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Solis clinches up against the cage.

Matsuda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsuda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Solis.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Solis!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Solis.
Matsuda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Solis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matsuda avoids it really well and circles away.
Matsuda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Matsuda moves into the clinch successfully.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Solis fails with the takedown.
Matsuda throws a sloppy head kick and Solis moves out of range easily.
Matsuda cracks Solis with a good jab.
Solis fails with a takedown attempt.
Solis circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solis throws a head kick but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Solis.

Matsuda gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Solis has had enough of the clinch but Matsuda keeps him there for the moment.
The referee calls for Matsuda to work.

Matsuda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsuda throws a shot from downtown. Solis moves away and avoids it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Solis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matsuda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A combination from Matsuda does no damage.
Solis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matsuda avoids it really well and circles away.
Solis is breathing heavily.
Matsuda bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Solis's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matsuda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Solis throws a right and a left that Matsuda avoids nicely.

Solis rushes Matsuda and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Solis goes for a double leg but Matsuda avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Matsuda continues to drive forward.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Matsuda has Solis pressed against the cage, preventing Solis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Matsuda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Matsuda crunches a lovely knee into Solis's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda leaning his opponent against the cage.
Solis is trying to drag Matsuda to the mat but Matsuda just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Matsuda scores with a knee to the head.
Matsuda's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Solis is trying to pull guard but Matsuda has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Solis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matsuda as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuhito Matsuda dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Matsuda moves into the clinch successfully.

Matsuda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Matsuda has managed to clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matsuda throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Leon Solis has been cut.
Solis throws a series of punches but Matsuda avoids them all with ease.
Solis shoots for a takedown but Matsuda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matsuda tries to clinch up but Solis circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Solis with that takedown attempt.
Solis swats away the attempt to clinch by Matsuda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solis tries to clinch up.

Solis tries to keep at a distance but Matsuda has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matsuda avoiding damage as Solis throws knees to the body.

Matsuda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsuda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matsuda tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda throws a series of punches but Solis moves out of range.
Matsuda motions for Solis to come forward. Matsuda throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Solis tries to clinch but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda tries to clinch but Solis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a combination that misses

and Solis counters by moving into the clinch.
Solis is trying to break free.
Solis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matsuda just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Solis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solis is trying to pull guard but Matsuda has him pressed against the cage.
Solis jumps guard but Matsuda turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Solis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matsuda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Solis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Solis prevents a body shot from Matsuda.

Solis lands a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsuda is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda trying to control the position here.
Solis tries to stand but Matsuda is controlling from the bottom.
Matsuda wants to get back to his feet but Solis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Matsuda wriggles free and stands up.
Solis misses with a leg kick
and Matsuda counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solis dives in and grabs Matsuda's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matsuda pushes down on Solis's head and hops out.
Matsuda lands with a kick to the temple. Solis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Matsuda tries to close the distance and clinch but Solis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Solis tries a head kick but it misses.
Solis darts in looking for a takedown but Matsuda gets double underhooks and turns Solis into the cage.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda doesn't manage to clinch there - Solis circles away.

Solis clinches.
Matsuda missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Matsuda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsuda moves in looking to clinch but Solis pushes him off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Solis walks into a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuhito Matsuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Leon Solis's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Solis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuda.
Solis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsuda as he jumps to the side.
Matsuda moves in looking to clinch but Solis pushes him off.
Solis avoids the head kick by Matsuda.
Solis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matsuda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Solis counters with a two punch combo.
Matsuda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Solis fails with a takedown attempt.
Solis misses with a takedown attempt - Matsuda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Solis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matsuda moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matsuda breaks the clinch.
Matsuda is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Solis keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsuda tries to clinch but Solis is having none of it.
Solis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsuda goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Solis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuda.

Matsuda moves into the clinch.

Matsuda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsuda misses with a wild combination.
Kazuhito Matsuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matsuda instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda lands an elbow inside.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Matsuda in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Matsuda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Solis shoots in for a takedown but Matsuda shows good takedown defense.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matsuda. That's going to slow Solis down.
Matsuda throws a nice head kick!
Matsuda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsuda digs a good body shot into Solis's ribs.
Matsuda slaps away a takedown attempt from Solis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Solis avoids the head kick by Matsuda.
Matsuda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solis tries a low kick but Matsuda avoids it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Solis breaks the clinch.
Matsuda moves in looking to clinch but Solis pushes him off.
Solis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuda circles away.
Matsuda fails to land with a series of punches.
Matsuda is looking to land body kicks.
Solis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A combination from Matsuda does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda connects with a high kick.
Matsuda avoids the head kick by Solis.
Sloppy strikes from Solis. Those never looked like landing.
Solis walks into a straight right hand from Matsuda.
Matsuda takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matsuda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Solis circles away quickly and effectively.
Solis misses with a takedown attempt
and Matsuda makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matsuda is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solis tries to clinch up but Matsuda circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Solis or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsuda which made him look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuhito Matsuda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matsuda has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuhito Matsuda!
Kazuhito Matsuda decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.