PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chinzo Matsuzaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arnold Metzger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matsuzaka
vs
Metzger

180 cm
21
178 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chinzo Matsuzaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arnold Metzger!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka shoots in but Metzger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsuzaka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsuzaka is looking to clinch.
Metzger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chinzo Matsuzaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Metzger shoots in and bounces Matsuzaka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Metzger gets to his feet - Matsuzaka follows without any prompting.
Matsuzaka wants to clinch up but Metzger keeps it at a distance.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Metzger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsuzaka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Metzger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Metzger throws a head kick but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Metzger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matsuzaka is fending him off so far but Metzger persists. Nope, Matsuzaka circles away and we're back to standing.

Metzger gets the takedown into side control.
Matsuzaka is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Matsuzaka is not content to let Metzger control the position.
Metzger content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Metzger is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matsuzaka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two 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.

Metzger thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Matsuzaka is trying to control Metzger's posture but Metzger avoids it.
Metzger throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsuzaka tries to bench press Metzger off him but Metzger keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metzger is working Matsuzaka over with some ground and pound from side control.

Metzger decides to stand back up. Metzger steps back and let's Matsuzaka get back to his feet.
Matsuzaka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Metzger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuzaka circles away.
Metzger misses with a body shot.
Metzger keeps the fight on the outside.

Matsuzaka moves into range and clinches up with Metzger.
Metzger tries to break the clinch but Matsuzaka is controlling the position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Metzger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Metzger blocks the elbow strike.
Matsuzaka being controlled against the cage.
Matsuzaka landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metzger can't break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Matsuzaka.
Metzger jumps guard but Matsuzaka stands there with Metzger around his waist. Metzger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Chinzo Matsuzaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arnold Metzger.
Metzger goes for a takedown attempt but Matsuzaka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Metzger wants to clinch.

Matsuzaka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Metzger sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Metzger dominated that 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.

Metzger takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses.
Metzger fails with the takedown.
Matsuzaka wants to clinch

and Metzger counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Matsuzaka is looking for a sweep. Metzger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Metzger wants to stand up but Matsuzaka has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Metzger trying to control the action but Matsuzaka is working from the bottom.
Matsuzaka wants to control but Metzger is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka tries to get to full guard but Metzger has control of the leg.

Metzger stands up from half guard.
Metzger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsuzaka swivels and escapes.
Matsuzaka stuffs the takedown.
Chinzo Matsuzaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arnold Metzger.
Matsuzaka wants to clinch
and Metzger counters with an outside leg kick.

Metzger pushes Matsuzaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Metzger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matsuzaka smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka fails with an attempt to clinch.

Metzger rushes Matsuzaka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Metzger tries to stall but Matsuzaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matsuzaka looking to throw knees to the head but Metzger is blocking nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Metzger.
Matsuzaka with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Metzger pulls Matsuzaka into guard.
Metzger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsuzaka's guard.
Metzger forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Metzger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metzger is tying to control. Matsuzaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Matsuzaka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Metzger is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Matsuzaka is trying to get back to full guard.
Matsuzaka gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Metzger wants to get up but he can't break Matsuzaka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Metzger trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsuzaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Metzger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Matsuzaka looking for a guillotine here but Metzger defends easily.
Metzger wants to control from the top but Matsuzaka keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnold Metzger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsuzaka tries to clinch up

so Metzger counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Metzger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Metzger lands a couple of digs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Matsuzaka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Metzger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Metzger wants to control from the top but Matsuzaka keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metzger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Metzger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsuzaka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Metzger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Metzger controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Matsuzaka is looking for a triangle but Metzger pushes his legs off easily.
Matsuzaka keeping moving, preventing Metzger from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matsuzaka blocks a leg kick.
Chinzo Matsuzaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matsuzaka closes the distance but Metzger moves to the side

and Metzger counters with a takedown into side control.
Matsuzaka manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Metzger controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metzger gets full guard.
Metzger trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Matsuzaka throws a big right hand that misses.
Metzger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matsuzaka is controlling him.
Metzger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Metzger wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch there but Metzger circles away.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up.
Metzger misses with a double jab.
Chinzo Matsuzaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Metzger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick but Metzger moves out of range.

Matsuzaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matsuzaka misses with a knee strike.
Matsuzaka is pressed up against the cage. Metzger has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Matsuzaka down to the mat. Matsuzaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Metzger throws a series of punches but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Arnold Metzger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Metzger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnold Metzger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Metzger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnold Metzger!