PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gugu Gaga (ranked 4521 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideki Matsui (ranked 4524 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gaga
vs
Matsui

190 cm
22
209 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gugu Gaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hideki Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsui looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gaga shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Matsui counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsui throws a big shot that misses.
Matsui lands with a nice combination. Gaga backs away looking to recover.
Matsui looks to land a right hand but Gaga moved out of range.

Gaga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matsui lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gaga or not.
Matsui tries to throw a body punch but Gaga avoids it by throwing Matsui back against the cage.

Gaga has Matsui pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gaga pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Matsui tumbling to the mat - Gaga dives into Matsui's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaga throws a big elbow that misses.
Gaga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gaga advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Matsui's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gaga fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gaga taking a breather here.
Matsui is looking to regain half guard here but Gaga keeps moving and retains side control.

Gaga goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Matsui rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Gaga's guard! Nice work there by Matsui!
Matsui tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaga is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaga controls Matsui momentarily but Matsui frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gaga seems keen to control Matsui's posture.

Gaga has his foot on Matsui's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsui works his way back into a safe position though.
Matsui trying to control but Gaga is working from the bottom.
Matsui is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gaga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsui is one step ahead there.
Matsui advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui works his foot free and advances to mount.
Matsui lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Matsui avoids the attempt from Gaga to control.
Gaga is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matsui is looking to work his way around to Gaga's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Matsui lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gaga hang on?
Gaga swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Matsui goes for an armbar but Gaga turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gaga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsui wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsui wants to stand up but Gaga is controlling him.
Matsui is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaga wants to pass the guard but Matsui is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideki Matsui 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.

Gaga gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Matsui's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gaga working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Matsui is looking for a sweep.
Matsui is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsui sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Gaga there.
Matsui tries to roll over but Gaga keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaga is looking to take a break and control but Matsui is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gaga trying to control the pace.
Matsui trying to control but Gaga postures up.
Gaga sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsui defending well though.
Matsui is in trouble now - Gaga has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gaga controlling his opponent.
Matsui gets back to half guard.
Gaga wants to free his trapped foot but Matsui is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gaga is working hard here to advance position.

Gaga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gaga is looking to advance position but Matsui won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matsui manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matsui is on top in guard.

Matsui trying to control but Gaga is working from the bottom.

Gaga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matsui doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matsui manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matsui throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaga works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaga is retaining full guard.
Gaga bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsui's guard.

Gaga is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Matsui being controlled here, momentarily.
Matsui looking for a sweep. Not yet Matsui, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gaga throws a big right hand that misses.
Gaga is looking to pass into half guard but Matsui pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matsui is in guard.

Matsui pushing down on Gaga's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gugu Gaga dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matsui scores with a nice head shot.
A swing and a miss from Matsui.
Gaga blocks a head kick by Matsui.

Gaga scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Matsui has his hands clasped together around Gaga's back. He's all about the action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gaga in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsui has hold of Gaga's hands but Gaga slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gaga thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Gaga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Gaga seems content to control.
Matsui is refusing to be controlled, as Gaga sits in half guard.
Gaga stalling away here and it's allowed Matsui to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gaga is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matsui keeping moving, preventing Gaga from controlling successfully.
Gaga stopping the sweep attempt from Matsui.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsui is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Matsui is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gaga.
Gaga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsui throws an off balance right hand

and Gaga counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matsui won't be happy with that.
Matsui tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gaga wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gaga lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gaga wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Matsui defending against the ground and pound.
Matsui is trying to get back to half guard.
Matsui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matsui is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gaga's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gaga is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Matsui is refusing to be controlled, as Gaga sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matsui wants to get back to full guard but Gaga has passed into side control.
Matsui tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gaga wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gaga tries to stand but Matsui is controlling his head.
Gaga trying to control the position but Matsui is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gaga throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gugu Gaga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gaga 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Gugu Gaga!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Gugu Gaga!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Gugu Gaga!

Gugu Gaga wins by unanimous decision!