PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oskar Friman (ranked 482 p4p, 23 weight class) and Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 356 p4p, 18 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.

Friman
vs
Matsunaga

170 cm
27
139 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oskar Friman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsunaga throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matsunaga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Futoshi Matsunaga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Friman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Friman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga 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.
Matsunaga loads up on a big right hand but Friman slips the punch.
Matsunaga takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matsunaga missing with a left hand there. Friman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
A lazy left from Matsunaga finds it's target.
Matsunaga wants to clinch.
Matsunaga tries to close the distance and clinch but Friman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsunaga throws a jab when Friman was well out of range.
A quick step to the side and Friman tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Friman blocks the body kick.
Friman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Friman loads up on a big right hand but Matsunaga slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Matsunaga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Friman.
Friman attempts a counter takedown but Matsunaga avoids it well and moves away.
Friman misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
The fighters circling - Matsunaga throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Friman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Matsunaga sprawls and moves away.
Matsunaga ducks under a wild hook from Friman.

Friman shoots in and bounces Matsunaga off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Friman 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.
Friman trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsunaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matsunaga working a defensive guard but Friman passes into half guard.
Friman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman trying to control the pace.
Friman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Matsunaga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Friman is working away from the top position though.
Friman thows a huge punch but Matsunaga dodges it nicely.

Matsunaga actively working from the bottom here.

Matsunaga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Friman pulls his head out easily.
Friman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsunaga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Friman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Matsunaga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Friman pulls his head out easily.
Friman content to control rather than advance.
Friman uses his free foot to push down on Matsunaga's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Matsunaga.
Friman looking to control but Matsunaga is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Matsunaga tries to lock up and control but Friman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matsunaga is trying to escape the mount.
Friman trying to control but Matsunaga is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Friman controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Friman working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Friman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsunaga is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oskar Friman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Friman shoots in looking for a takedown but Matsunaga manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Friman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Friman stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Friman.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut
letting Friman counter with a right hand.
Friman swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Matsunaga.
Friman misses with a few strikes there.
Matsunaga misses with a right hand
and Friman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Friman defending well as Matsunaga loads up on a big left hand.
Friman checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Matsunaga. No joy for Friman on that attempt.
Friman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matsunaga can do to turn this around?
A jab from Friman misses.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses

and Friman counters with a single leg into guard. Matsunaga didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsunaga trying to control the position.

Matsunaga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Matsunaga is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matsunaga holds on and takes a little breather.

Matsunaga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Matsunaga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Friman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Friman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matsunaga trying to keep a closed guard but Friman is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Friman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Friman landing with the ground and pound.
Friman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Matsunaga working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Friman has passed into half guard!
Friman wants to control but Matsunaga is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga is looking to escape.
Friman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Friman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Matsunaga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Matsunaga looking for submissions off his back.
Matsunaga is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Friman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Friman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Friman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman is thwarting Matsunaga's attempts to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Friman passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Matsunaga!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Friman controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oskar Friman dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Matsunaga doesn't manage to clinch there - Friman circles away.
Matsunaga bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Friman's head backwards.
Friman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsunaga circles away quickly and effectively.
Matsunaga throws a jab when Friman was well out of range.
Friman misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
Matsunaga let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Friman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsunaga swivels and escapes.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Friman moves out of range.
Matsunaga throws a hook but Friman avoids it easily.
Matsunaga stuffs the takedown.
Matsunaga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsunaga throws a right hand that Friman ducks under and follows up with a left that Friman also avoids with ease.
Matsunaga scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsunaga tries to clinch but Friman is having none of it.
Matsunaga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Friman misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the jaw.
Matsunaga throws a sloppy head kick
and Friman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matsunaga throws a head kick but Friman moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman checks the leg kick nicely there.
Friman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Matsunaga lands a nice looking body kick.
Matsunaga misses with a looping right.
Matsunaga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Futoshi Matsunaga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Friman.
A left lands for Matsunaga.
Matsunaga dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Friman. That did some damage!
Matsunaga misses with a right hand
and Friman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsunaga staying out of range there.
Friman lands with a nice body punch.
Friman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsunaga.
Friman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Matsunaga just misses with a punch to the body.
Friman fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oskar Friman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Friman.
Matsunaga thows a leg kick but Friman checks it

and Friman counters with a shoot takedown. Matsunaga fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Friman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Matsunaga is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Friman trying to control but Matsunaga is working from the bottom.

Matsunaga is looking for a triangle but Friman pushes his legs off easily.
Friman is stalling in the full guard.

Matsunaga is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Friman defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsunaga is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Friman wants to control from the top but Matsunaga keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Friman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Friman lands a couple of elbows.
Friman trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsunaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matsunaga is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Friman defends well.
Futoshi Matsunaga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Matsunaga looking for a guillotine here but Friman defends easily.
Friman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Oskar Friman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Matsunaga is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Friman defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Futoshi Matsunaga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Friman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oskar Friman!
Oskar Friman decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.