PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Nick Johnson (ranked 2575 p4p, 248 weight class) and Matsuda Taro (ranked 1008 p4p, 108 weight class). Johnson comes into the arena with On March The Saints blaring out of the sound system. Matsuda Taro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Johnson
vs
Taro

170 cm
30
159 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

164 cm
28
145 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson staying out of range there.
Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Taro.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taro throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Johnson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Taro. That did some damage!
Johnson throws a low kick but Taro moves out of range easily.
Johnson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Taro misses the jab.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson throws a wild body kick that Taro sees coming a mile off.
Johnson works Taro's body with a nice hook.
Taro pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Johnson back to the ropes. Taro follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson misses with a low kick.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taro.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Taro does it's job there.
Taro throws a leg kick
and Johnson counters with an outside leg kick.
Taro looks for the body kick but Johnson saw that one coming.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro jabs at Johnson's body.
Taro thuds a left hand into Johnson's body.
Johnson walks into a stiff left hand from Taro.
Taro avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A punch combination from Taro misses.
Johnson scores with a jab to the head.
Taro looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson blocks a jab.
Johnson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Johnson misses with a straight right.
Johnson with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Taro misses the target.
Johnson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Johnson is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johnson.
Taro throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson avoids the body shot from Taro.
As Taro backs away, Johnson returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Taro lands a slapping body shot.
Good exchange - Taro coming out on top.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Taro's head but Taro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A leg kick checked by Taro.
Johnson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johnson feints and then cracks Taro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taro down.
Taro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Johnson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Taro moves out of range of the strikes.
Taro throws a counter combo.
Johnson moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson feints and then cracks Taro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taro down.
Good shot there by Johnson.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Johnson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Johnson misses with an uppercut.
Taro missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taro's sensitive parts.
Johnson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Johnson throws a hook but Taro avoids it easily.
Taro feints a counter leg kick.
A jab from Taro does it's job there.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taro stuns Johnson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taro throws out the jab.
Johnson misses with an uppercut. Taro saw that one coming.
Taro throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Johnson scores with a nice head shot.
Taro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taro thumps Johnson with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro swings away with a body shot that misses
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Taro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taro throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Johnson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Taro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Taro takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Taro throws a hook but Johnson avoids it easily.
Johnson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Taro.
Johnson throws a hook but Taro avoids it easily.
Taro wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
Taro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Taro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson scores with a head kick. Taro tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Taro on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Taro misses with a low kick as Johnson jumps back.
Taro takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Taro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnson. That snapped Taro's head back.
Johnson wants to land a leg kick but Taro is out of range.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Johnson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taro.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Taro's head but Taro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Taro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A head kick misses from Johnson.
Taro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johnson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taro's sensitive parts.
Taro misses with a combination
and Johnson counters with a nice leg kick.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
Johnson tries to work over Taro's front leg with a kick but Taro checks it.
Taro throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Taro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Taro checks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Johnson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Taro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Matsuda Taro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taro throws an off balance right hand
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Nick Johnson is winning the standup battle so far.
Johnson connects with a leg kick. Taro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Johnson throws a hook to the side of Taro's head but Taro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johnson scores with a jab.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taro manages to avoid it.
Taro looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.
Johnson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Johnson there as he acknowledges the shot.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there
and Taro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taro takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Johnson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taro throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Taro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Johnson. That did some damage!
Johnson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Taro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Johnson scrambles back to his feet.
Taro slips a jab from Johnson.
Taro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taro throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro throws a leg kick but Johnson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Johnson throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Taro.
Taro misses the body punch
enabling Johnson to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Johnson. That's going to slow Taro down.
Johnson throws an overhand right that lands on Taro's shoulder, as Taro tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson misses with a hook.
Taro walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Johnson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Taro lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Taro cracks Johnson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Taro throws a shot to the body.
A jab from Johnson finds it's way through Taro's defenses.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson tries a low kick but Taro avoids it.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taro swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Johnson feints and then cracks Taro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taro down.
Johnson connects with a looping right hand.
Johnson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
Nice cross by Johnson.
Taro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Johnson. Johnson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Taro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
Taro tries to score with a low kick but Johnson moves his leg out of the way.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like Taro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johnson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
Taro misses with a body shot.
Johnson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Taro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johnson 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Johnson!
Nick Johnson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.