PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between William Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hachiro Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is TEARS FOR FEARS - SHOUT. Matsui has chosen Solvent by Skinny Puppy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Joseph
vs
Matsui

175 cm
36
169 lbs
26 - 14 - 0

173 cm
32
163 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hachiro Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph misses with a low kick.
Joseph shoots in but no luck this time.

Joseph fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matsui sprawls well initially but Joseph persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Joseph is trying to control the action in half guard but Matsui is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Joseph is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matsui defends it well.
Matsui tries to get to full guard but Joseph has control of the leg.
Joseph is looking to advance position but Matsui won't allow it.
Matsui tries to roll over but Joseph keeps him under control.
Joseph content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joseph not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph tries to pass to full mount but Matsui defends it.
Joseph slips a nice elbow through Matsui's hands, connecting with Matsui's forehead.

Joseph is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Matsui has managed to free his arm - good work.
Matsui is trying to get back to full guard.
Matsui trying to hold on to Joseph's head to control him but Joseph postures up.
Matsui blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joseph.
Matsui is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matsui is staying active underneath Joseph, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Joseph is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matsui trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joseph prevents Matsui from improving his position.
Joseph winds up and cracks Matsui with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Joseph works his way into full mount!
Joseph looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph scoring with strikes but Matsui is staying in there.
Joseph tries to control but Matsui wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph lands a couple of good shots and Matsui has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Matsui turns into Joseph and is now in his guard.
Joseph tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.
Matsui preventing the sweep.
Joseph seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Matsui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Matsui from controlling successfully.
Joseph looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joseph is on top in guard.
Matsui keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Matsui avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joseph throws a big elbow that misses.
Joseph looking to pass the guard.
Matsui trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsui is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Joseph is aware though and is defending well.
Joseph loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joseph is looking to work some ground and pound but Matsui has wrist control.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joseph scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matsui is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Matsui wants to free his trapped foot but Joseph is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joseph trying to control but Matsui postures up.
Joseph wants to improve his position but Matsui is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Joseph closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsui circles away.
Joseph blocks a leg kick.
Joseph with a lazy takedown attempt

and Matsui counters with a takedown into side control.
Matsui trying to control the action but Joseph is working from the bottom.
Joseph tries to bench press Matsui off him but Matsui keeps the position.

Matsui is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Joseph is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joseph tries to buck Matsui off but Matsui is having none of it.

Matsui is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Joseph is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joseph is not content to let Matsui control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsui's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Matsui wants to free his trapped foot but Joseph is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Matsui wants to take a breather but Joseph is having none of it.
Joseph is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matsui's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matsui's back!

Joseph has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Matsui has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
A lull in the action here.
Joseph misses with an elbow to the head.
Matsui turns into Joseph and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Joseph bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsui's guard.
Joseph connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Matsui keeps moving.
Matsui lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Matsui is fighting to break Joseph's control of his arms but Joseph is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Joseph looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joseph trying to control the position.
Matsui trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsui being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui forces his way into half guard.
Joseph is staying active underneath Matsui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joseph manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Joseph wants to sweep here but Matsui controlling him for the moment.
Joseph manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matsui manages to get himself to full guard.
Joseph wants to pass the guard but Matsui is keeping the position.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Matsui.
Joseph is pushing down on Matsui's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matsui is fighting to maintain full guard but Joseph has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Matsui taking some punishment here, with Joseph in his half guard.

Joseph is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matsui sees it coming and defends easily.
Matsui is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Joseph is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Joseph trying to control from half guard but Matsui is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsui wants to get back to full guard.
Matsui is staying active underneath Joseph, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph 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. This is the final round!

Joseph lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsui circles away quickly and effectively.
Matsui showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Joseph.
Matsui explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Joseph fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matsui avoids it really well and circles away.
Joseph gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Joseph takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joseph takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Joseph walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Matsui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Joseph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsui scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Joseph doesn't seem bothered though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A right-left combo lands from Matsui.
Matsui throws a leg kick
and Joseph counters with a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Matsui to counter with a crisp jab.
Matsui scores with a hook to the body. Joseph takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matsui fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Joseph on the side of the head.
That kick from Matsui tenderised Joseph's leg. Joseph is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matsui avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matsui is looking to land body kicks.
Joseph tries to move into range but Matsui moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Matsui. No joy for Joseph on that attempt.
Matsui changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsui shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joseph pinned against the cage. Joseph gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matsui jabs Joseph to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hachiro Matsui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
William Joseph is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph misses with a takedown attempt
and Matsui counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joseph checks a leg kick nicely.
Matsui scores with a shot to the body.
Joseph fails with the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joseph swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
William Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Joseph gets caught flat footed, as Matsui shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matsui passes Joseph's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Matsui is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Joseph is not content to let Matsui control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Matsui trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Joseph is looking to improve his position but Matsui isn't that keen on the idea.
Matsui throwing strikes here but Joseph is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Matsui is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Joseph to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Joseph shrugs it off.
Matsui prevents Joseph from getting the reversal.
William Joseph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui content just to control the position here.
Joseph slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Matsui looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Joseph is looking to control Matsui's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Joseph avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joseph manages to get to full guard.
Matsui stopping the sweep attempt from Joseph.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hachiro Matsui comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Joseph 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Joseph!
A relieved looking William Joseph thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Hachiro Matsui was interviewed post fight and said 'That was a great fight, I gotta give props to my opponent. He did what he had to do. But I'm not done and I'll be back stronger next time! Thank you to my fans and sponsors. '.