PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Agenor Apolinario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Matsuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apolinario comes to the ring accompanied by Northeast Strawberry. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Apolinario
vs
Matsuo

179 cm
20
181 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
182 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Agenor Apolinario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damian Matsuo!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuo works Apolinario's body with a nice hook.
Apolinario is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matsuo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Apolinario has a takedown stuffed.
Matsuo wants to counter with a clinch but Apolinario pushes him away.
Apolinario takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Apolinario.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agenor Apolinario. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Apolinario closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Matsuo did well to prevent Apolinario getting side control.
Matsuo wants to get back to his feet.
Matsuo tries to kick Apolinario off in order to stand up. Apolinario Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Apolinario goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Matsuo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Apolinario but great work by Matsuo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Apolinario gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Apolinario is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Apolinario tries to get to full guard but Matsuo has control of the leg.
Apolinario has a hand on Matsuo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Matsuo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Apolinario is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Apolinario is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Matsuo wants to control the pace but Apolinario is squirming around nicely.

Matsuo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Apolinario regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apolinario is trying to control but can't.
Apolinario is trying to get back to full guard.

Apolinario is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matsuo pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matsuo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Apolinario really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apolinario tries to lock up and control but Matsuo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Apolinario blocking the ground and pound.
Apolinario tries to hold on but Matsuo postures up.
Matsuo wants to control the pace but Apolinario is squirming around nicely.
Apolinario tries to reverse the position but Matsuo maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsuo looking for a guillotine from mount but Apolinario is having none of it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Apolinario wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Matsuo looking to break Apolinario's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Apolinario remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Matsuo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Matsuo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Apolinario. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Matsuo goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Apolinario escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Apolinario seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matsuo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matsuo trying to control from the bottom.

Apolinario is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Apolinario is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Matsuo dominated that round.
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.

Apolinario shoots in for a takedown but Matsuo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Apolinario shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matsuo is trying to defend but Apolinario finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Apolinario is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matsuo defends it well.
Apolinario is trying to control the action in half guard but Matsuo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Matsuo tries to roll over but Apolinario keeps him under control.
Apolinario wants to control but Matsuo is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Apolinario 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.
Apolinario is stalling here. Matsuo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Apolinario seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Matsuo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apolinario struggling a bit here.
Apolinario tries to improve position but can't.
Apolinario can't do much from the bottom here.
Apolinario tries to buck Matsuo off but Matsuo is having none of it.
Matsuo is looking to take a break and control but Apolinario is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Apolinario regains half guard.
Apolinario is trying to maintain the position but Matsuo is very close to passing his half guard.

Apolinario looking for submissions off his back.
Apolinario trying to control from the bottom.

Apolinario looking for subs from the bottom but Matsuo mounts him!
Apolinario can't escape the position.
Apolinario is squirming around, avoiding Matsuo's attempts to control the action.

Matsuo has control of Apolinario's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Apolinario regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apolinario is looking to get to half guard.
Matsuo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Apolinario is trying to escape the mount.
Matsuo controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Apolinario wants to hold on but Matsuo pushes him away.
Matsuo moves to the back position.
Apolinario is in bad spot here.
Apolinario covering up well under a series of strikes from Matsuo.
Apolinario trying to control the hands but Matsuo won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Matsuo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matsuo lands with a kick to the temple. Apolinario shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Matsuo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Matsuo wants it to stay on the feet.
Matsuo throws a looping overhand right but Apolinario ducks down to avoid it.
Apolinario has a takedown stuffed.
Apolinario shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsuo as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Agenor Apolinario. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Apolinario walks into a straight right hand from Matsuo.
Apolinario keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsuo moves into range and connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Apolinario gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuo struggling a bit here.
Matsuo is looking for a sweep.
Apolinario works to advance to full mount. Matsuo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuo is trying desperately to improve position.
Apolinario tries to control but Matsuo wriggling away.
Apolinario is looking to work his way around to Matsuo's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Matsuo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Apolinario blocks Matsuo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Matsuo tries to hold on but Apolinario postures up.
Apolinario looking to land elbow strikes but Matsuo uses the position to regain half guard.
Apolinario trying to mount his opponent but Matsuo defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuo wants to get back to full guard.

Apolinario seems to be working for a kimura but Matsuo defends the submission attempt.
Apolinario trying to pass the guard but Matsuo defending well.

Apolinario is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Apolinario is trying to work for a kimura but Matsuo is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuo is trying to control but can't.

Apolinario is working for a submission of some sort.
Matsuo gets back to full guard.
Apolinario passes Matsuo's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Apolinario tries to pass to full mount but Matsuo defends it.

Apolinario is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matsuo wants to improve his position but Apolinario is controlling well.
Matsuo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apolinario.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsuo keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Apolinario is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damian Matsuo.
Well Matsuo 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Matsuo!
Agenor Apolinario spoke after the fight, saying 'Porque Homem não Chora'.