PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 1635 p4p, 86 weight class) and Nobunaga Tanaka (ranked 797 p4p, 39 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Matsunaga
vs
Tanaka

170 cm
22
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Dauntless
Pit Bull Development

Green Machine Nutritional Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nobunaga Tanaka!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsunaga.
We've been told by Matsunaga's head coaches at Big Bear Fight Factory that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Tanaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matsunaga working hard to break the clinch.
Matsunaga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tanaka backwards.
Tanaka digs a right hand underneath Matsunaga's ribcage. Matsunaga let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Matsunaga misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Matsunaga fails to land.
Matsunaga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Tanaka pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsunaga looking to pass the guard.

Matsunaga decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsunaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tanaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsunaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tanaka manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga jabs Tanaka to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tanaka moves out of range as Matsunaga strikes.

Tanaka has closed the distance and engaged Matsunaga in a clinch.
Matsunaga throws a head punch that misses.
Matsunaga scores with a shoulder strike.
Matsunaga is trying to force a seperation but Tanaka has the dominant position.

Matsunaga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsunaga connects with a body shot.
Matsunaga scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tanaka in his tracks.
Matsunaga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Matsunaga tries to bum rush Tanaka with a series of wild strikes but Tanaka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tanaka is looking to clinch but Matsunaga is avoiding it.
Matsunaga seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tanaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Matsunaga tries to break the clinch but Tanaka is controlling the position.
Tanaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsunaga.
Tanaka is leaning against Matsunaga and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga has had enough of the clinch but Tanaka keeps him there for the moment.
Matsunaga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanaka's elbow.
Matsunaga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Still in the clinch, Tanaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Matsunaga tries to circle away but Tanaka has him pinned against the cage.
Matsunaga lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Matsunaga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tanaka has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tanaka tightens his grip and picks Matsunaga up, before dumping him to the ground. Matsunaga manages to land in guard.

Matsunaga looking for a guillotine here but Tanaka defends easily.
Tanaka stands and throws Matsunaga's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Matsunaga takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Matsunaga is looking to reverse the position.

Tanaka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Matsunaga knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Matsunaga is trying to improve his position.
Tanaka cracks Matsunaga with a big elbow.
Tanaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matsunaga is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Tanaka lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tanaka is hanging on to Matsunaga's back as he tries to escape.
Matsunaga is trying to get back to his feet but Tanaka has full control of the position and if anything, Matsunaga has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Matsunaga is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Matsunaga throws a good cross that connects.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsunaga. Tanaka does a little dance to reset his feet.

Tanaka closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Matsunaga did well to prevent Tanaka getting side control.

Matsunaga makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Matsunaga misses with a hook. Tanaka ducked under it nicely.
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 Futoshi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanaka shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tanaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsunaga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tanaka.
Tanaka wants to counter the offense by Matsunaga and move into the clinch position.
Matsunaga misses with a left hand

and Tanaka counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tanaka.
Tanaka connects with a couple of short punches.
Tanaka lands a couple of digs.

Matsunaga has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tanaka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matsunaga.

Matsunaga is wriggling around trying to escape but Tanaka has hooked up a rear naked choke! Is it over??? Is it... you're damn right it is! Matsunaga taps out and Tanaka picks up the big win! Great work there by Tanaka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nobunaga Tanaka!
An out of breath Nobunaga Tanaka thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.