PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 878 p4p, 41 weight class) and Cahal Jefferson (ranked 1135 p4p, 54 weight class). Futoshi Matsunaga is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Matsunaga
vs
Jefferson

170 cm
27
145 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

150 cm
26
142 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Cahal Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Matsunaga darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Matsunaga lands a slapping body shot.
Matsunaga has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Jefferson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsunaga takes a swing at Jefferson's ribcage but misses.
Jefferson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jefferson throws the left hand but Matsunaga avoids the punch easily.
Nice defenses there by Matsunaga.
Jefferson cracks the inside of Matsunaga's front leg.
Matsunaga lands a nice looking body kick.
Jefferson misses with a double jab
and Matsunaga counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jefferson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
Jefferson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Matsunaga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab, jab by Jefferson - just one landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jefferson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsunaga misses with a hook. Jefferson ducked under it nicely.
Jefferson blocks a jab.
Jefferson ducks right into an uppercut from Matsunaga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jefferson.
Matsunaga lands a right hook to the body.
A left lands for Matsunaga.
Jefferson looks to throw the jab but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jefferson.
It seemed like Jefferson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matsunaga misses with a wild body shot.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Jefferson blocks it.
Matsunaga blocks a head kick by Jefferson.
Jefferson's corner calls for a 1-2. Jefferson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Jefferson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jefferson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jefferson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsunaga.
A good leg kick by Matsunaga.
Jefferson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jefferson lands with a shot to the body.
Jefferson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsunaga.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsunaga scores with a decent looking hook.
Jefferson misses with a straight right.
Jefferson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsunaga appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jefferson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matsunaga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jefferson throws a low kick, looking for Matsunaga's leg but Matsunaga calmly moves out of range.
Jefferson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jefferson keeps Matsunaga at a distance using the push kick.
Matsunaga clobbers Jefferson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Matsunaga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matsunaga throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jefferson.
Matsunaga lands a nice looking body shot.
Matsunaga attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jefferson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Matsunaga lands a jab.
Jefferson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jefferson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsunaga finds it's way round the side to connect with Jefferson's head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matsunaga, as that shot connected.
Matsunaga connects with a leg kick. Jefferson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Matsunaga keeps Jefferson at a distance using the push kick.
Jefferson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matsunaga tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jefferson throws a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head but Matsunaga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jefferson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsunaga.
Donk. Matsunaga catches Jefferson right on the button with a cross.
A head kick misses from Matsunaga.
Jefferson wants to land a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Jefferson is out of range.
Jefferson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matsunaga looks to land a combination but Jefferson avoids it well.
Jefferson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsunaga finds it's way round the side to connect with Jefferson's head.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsunaga tried to score with a low kick but Jefferson checks it.
Matsunaga is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jefferson misses with a straight left.
Jefferson misses with an uppercut.
Jefferson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jefferson throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws a lazy right hand but Jefferson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jefferson is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Jefferson misses with a looping right.
Jefferson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Matsunaga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jefferson walks into a left hand.
A big left from Jefferson misses.
Matsunaga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Matsunaga scores with a jab. Jefferson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jefferson throws a nice head kick!
Matsunaga scores with a hook.
Jefferson lands the left hand.
Jefferson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Matsunaga momentarily.
Matsunaga connects with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jefferson throws a low kick but Matsunaga moves out of range easily.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Jefferson.
Jefferson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Matsunaga with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Matsunaga. That snapped Jefferson's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
A slow jab from Matsunaga misses its intended target.
Jefferson throws a hook but Matsunaga avoids it easily.
Matsunaga lands with a shot to the body.
Jefferson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jefferson moves away from the strike by Matsunaga.
Jefferson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jefferson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Jefferson might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Matsunaga has got the better of the exchanges.
Matsunaga moves out of range as Jefferson throws a body kick.
Jefferson scores with a punch to the head.
Matsunaga throws a jab when Jefferson was well out of range.
Matsunaga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jefferson can do to turn this around?
Jefferson slips a jab and a cross from Matsunaga.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jefferson misses with a head kick.
Futoshi Matsunaga is winning the standup battle so far.
Jefferson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good shot there by Matsunaga.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Matsunaga throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Matsunaga catches Jefferson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jefferson missing with a left hand there. Matsunaga was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jefferson misses with a looping left.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Jefferson.
Jefferson ducks right into an uppercut from Matsunaga.
Jefferson throws the left hand but Matsunaga avoids the punch easily.
Matsunaga scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jefferson doesn't seem bothered though.
Matsunaga is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slow jab from Jefferson misses its intended target.
A big right from Matsunaga misses.
Jefferson slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
Jefferson throws a fast counter high kick but Matsunaga manages to duck under it in time.
Matsunaga connects with a body shot.
Jefferson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Matsunaga dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Jefferson.
It looked like Matsunaga wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Jefferson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jefferson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsunaga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga lands a body shot.
Jefferson throws a jab when Matsunaga was well out of range.
Matsunaga's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jefferson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Matsunaga scrambles back to his feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Matsunaga as he connects with a hook.
Matsunaga lands a jab to the nose.
Matsunaga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A solid body kick from Jefferson.
Matsunaga slips under a jab.
Matsunaga staying out of range there.
Matsunaga throws a chopping leg kick but Jefferson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The fighters circling - Jefferson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jefferson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matsunaga lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matsunaga.
Jefferson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jefferson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Jefferson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Jefferson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jefferson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little feinted left hand from Matsunaga on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jefferson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Jefferson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jefferson ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsunaga scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Matsunaga.
Jefferson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jefferson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matsunaga can pounce on him.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick that misses.
Jefferson takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Jefferson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but Jefferson uses good head movement to avoid it.
It seemed like Jefferson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Matsunaga.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Jefferson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Matsunaga misses its intended target.
It seemed like Jefferson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Donk. Jefferson catches Matsunaga right on the button with a cross.
Jefferson thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Matsunaga finds it's way through Jefferson's defenses.
Jefferson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jefferson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matsunaga.
Jefferson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matsunaga throws the left hand but Jefferson avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Matsunaga does no damage.
Matsunaga keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big right from Jefferson misses.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jefferson.
Jefferson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jefferson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Futoshi Matsunaga dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Jefferson ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
A jab from Matsunaga misses.
Jefferson throws a head kick but Matsunaga moves out of range.
Jefferson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the body kick from Jefferson.
Matsunaga scores with a hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matsunaga.
Matsunaga lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jefferson throws a leg kick
and Matsunaga counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsunaga getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Jefferson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jefferson moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsunaga scores with the left hand. Jefferson knows he should have avoided that one.
Matsunaga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jefferson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsunaga scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsunaga lands a nice hook to Jefferson's body. Jefferson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jefferson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga scores with a decent looking hook.
Matsunaga throws a head kick but Jefferson moves out of range.
Jefferson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
Matsunaga cracks Jefferson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A head kick misses from Jefferson.
Matsunaga feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Jefferson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matsunaga slips under a jab from Jefferson.
Jefferson cracks Matsunaga with a good jab.
Jefferson slips a jab from Matsunaga.
Jefferson misses with a hook.
Matsunaga jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jefferson replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Matsunaga blocks it well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Jefferson. That's going to slow Matsunaga down.
Jefferson misses with a few strikes there.
Jefferson on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matsunaga lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jefferson tries to move into range but Matsunaga moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matsunaga connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson throws a big shot that misses.
Jefferson works the jab nicely.
Jefferson drops his hands momentarily and Matsunaga takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Jefferson is rocked!
Matsunaga fakes the body blow, causing Jefferson to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Jefferson goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Futoshi Matsunaga!
Futoshi Matsunaga decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Cahal Jefferson was interviewed post fight and said 'WHY YOU GOTTA BEAT UP ON A MIDGET?!'.