PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matsuda Taro (ranked 1379 p4p, 80 weight class) and Tom Thomas (ranked 1411 p4p, 83 weight class). Matsuda Taro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taro
vs
Thomas

164 cm
37
145 lbs
20 - 16 - 1

160 cm
34
140 lbs
22 - 15 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matsuda Taro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Tom Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thomas misses with a hook.
A left lands for Taro.

Taro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas scores with a shoulder strike.
Thomas prevents a body shot from Taro.
Taro blocking some punches.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Taro lands a body shot.
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thomas scores with a shot to the side of Taro's head.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
A big right from Thomas misses.

Taro instigates a clinch.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Taro looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Taro scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Taro misses with a low kick.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Taro avoids nicely.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Taro.
Taro jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A big right from Taro misses.
Taro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
A good leg kick by Taro.
Taro throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Taro circles away quickly and effectively.
Thomas scores with a jab.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taro scores with a jab to the head.
Taro is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thomas might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taro.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Taro.

Taro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Taro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Taro backwards.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a hook. Taro ducked under it nicely.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Taro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Taro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Taro appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taro cracks Thomas with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Taro lands with a hook. Thomas tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Taro cracks Thomas with a right hand to the side of the head.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Taro circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
As Taro backs off Thomas throws a huge counter combo but Taro manages to avoid it all.
Taro misses with a low kick.
Taro digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
Taro looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Taro connects with the punch.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Taro tries to clinch
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thomas.
A big left from Taro misses.
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!
Taro takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Taro misses.
Taro lands an overhand right.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Taro.
Taro slips a straight right by Thomas.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Taro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thomas's head.
Taro ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Taro.
A nice inside leg kick there by Taro. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Taro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Taro half committed to a counter leg kick.
Taro is looking to slow Thomas down with leg kicks.
Thomas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Taro takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Thomas throws the left hand but Taro avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thomas takes a swing at Taro's ribcage but misses.
Thomas misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thomas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Taro tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Thomas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taro.
Some bone on bone action there as Taro checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
It looked like Taro wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Taro drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
Taro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Taro.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas takes a shot to the head.
Taro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Taro swings wildly with an uppercut but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro misses with some punches.
Taro lands a shot to the body.
Thomas lands a nice uppercut.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Thomas.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thomas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taro has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Taro.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taro lands a shoulder strike.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thomas lands with a left to the head.
Thomas lands with a left to the head.
Taro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.
Taro misses with a body punch.
Matsuda Taro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taro misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
A left hand lands to the body for Taro.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Taro digs a right hand into Thomas's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thomas's gas tank.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Thomas wants to get back to striking at distance but Taro won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Taro fails to land.
Taro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice left hand lands by Taro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Taro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
Taro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Taro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Taro misses with the head strike.
A short right from Taro.
Thomas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Taro blocks a body shot from Thomas.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Taro scores with a hook to the body.
Taro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Thomas trying to control the position but instead, Taro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Thomas into the cage.
Taro blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Thomas.
Taro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Taro's shoulder, as Taro tries to avoid the shot.
Taro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Taro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taro lands a jab to the nose.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taro.
Thomas missing with a left hand there. Taro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Thomas backs away, Taro returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Taro throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.
Thomas throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Taro on the side of the head.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Taro moved out of range nicely.
Taro misses with a wild body shot.
Taro tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Taro slips a straight right by Thomas.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Taro's front leg but catches the back leg as Taro tries to avoid it.
Thomas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matsuda Taro is winning the standup battle so far.
A good leg kick by Taro.
Taro looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Taro scores with a leg kick.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Taro is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Taro tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taro avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Taro ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Taro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas throws the left hand but Taro avoids the punch easily.
A punch lands to the side of Thomas 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro 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 clinches.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
Taro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Taro tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Taro back against the cage.
Taro lands with a right to the head.
A right hand to the body from Taro.
Taro misses with some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thomas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Taro misses with the head strike.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thomas just leaning against Taro, taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taro lands with a right to the head.
Taro takes a shot to the head.
Taro lands a body shot.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Taro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taro tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taro tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short uppercut from Taro.
Taro tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Taro tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Taro.
Taro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taro.
A head punch on the inside from Thomas fails to land.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Taro scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Taro lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.
Thomas misses with a punch to the body.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thomas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taro throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro wants to clinch.
Taro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Taro throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thomas on the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Taro.
The fighters circle momentarily. Taro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Taro misses with the body kick
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Taro wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Thomas misses.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Taro checks it.
Taro lands a jab to the nose.
Taro tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab from Taro misses.
Taro wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
Thomas takes a swing at Taro's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Taro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
Thomas throws a hook but Taro blocks it.
Taro lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Taro throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taro swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Taro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Taro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Thomas takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Tom Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Taro staying out of range there.

Taro drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
Taro prevents Thomas from breaking the clinch.
Thomas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
Thomas blocks a body shot from Taro.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Taro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taro lands a right hand.
Taro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas lands an uppercut.
Taro misses with a punch to the body.
Taro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thomass head.
Thomas tries to throw a body punch but Taro avoids it by throwing Thomas back against the cage.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thomas tries to throw a body punch but Taro avoids it by throwing Thomas back against the cage.
Thomas misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsuda Taro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taro 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsuda Taro!
Matsuda Taro spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.