PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matsu Shozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Veneracion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shozo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Five Ninety. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Shozo
vs
Veneracion

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matsu Shozo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Karl Veneracion!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shozo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Shozo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Shozo wants the takedown. Veneracion is fighting it off but Shozo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Veneracion's guard against the cage.
Shozo wanted to stand there but Veneracion had control of the position.
Veneracion looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Shozo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Shozo winds up and cracks Veneracion with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Veneracion slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shozo cracks Veneracion with a solid left hand.
Shozo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shozo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Shozo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shozo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Veneracion backs up against the cage.
Veneracion keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shozo lands with a slapping head kick.
Veneracion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shozo.
Veneracion shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shozo pinned against the cage. Shozo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Veneracion looks gassed!
Shozo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Veneracion with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Shozo to score with a decent uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Shozo.
Veneracion dodges the punch combination from Shozo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shozo works over Veneracion's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd cheers as Shozo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Veneracion doesn't seem phased though.
Veneracion misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shozo wants to clinch up but Veneracion keeps it at a distance.
Shozo tries to clinch there but Veneracion circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shozo!
Shozo throws a nice looking combination but Veneracion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veneracion shoots in but Shozo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsu Shozo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Veneracion.
Veneracion takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Shozo.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Shozo. Veneracion shrugs it off though.
Shozo keeps Veneracion at a distance using the push kick.

Shozo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shozo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shozo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Shozo wants to clinch up but Veneracion keeps it at a distance.
Shozo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Shozo.
Shozo works over Veneracion's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shozo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Veneracion takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Veneracion is trying desperately to land a takedown but Shozo is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Veneracion.

Shozo closes the distance and clinches.
Shozo tries to break the clinch but Veneracion is controlling the position.
Shozo has had enough of the clinch but Veneracion keeps him there for the moment.
Shozo is trying to break free.

Shozo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shozo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsu Shozo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shozo connects with a high kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shozo doesn't manage to clinch there - Veneracion circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsu Shozo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shozo lands a body shot.
Shozo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Veneracion tries for a takedown but Shozo circles away easily
and Shozo counters with a body kick.
Matsu Shozo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shozo wants to clinch up but Veneracion keeps it at a distance.
Shozo doesn't manage to clinch there - Veneracion circles away.
Veneracion doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shozo counters with a body kick.
Veneracion is breathing heavily.
Shozo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shozo lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veneracion takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Shozo swinging wilding here.
Shozo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Veneracion circles away quickly and effectively.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shozo.
Shozo scores with a one two! Veneracion had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Veneracion circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shozo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Shozo throws a series of punches but Veneracion avoids them all with ease.
A head kick from Shozo lands but Veneracion takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veneracion with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shozo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsu Shozo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Veneracion.
Some wild striking there from Shozo.
Shozo moves in looking to clinch but Veneracion pushes him off.
Shozo tries to clinch but Veneracion is having none of it.
Shozo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Veneracion tries to move into range but Shozo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shozo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Shozo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shozo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Veneracion circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shozo tries to clinch but Veneracion is having none of it.

Shozo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shozo passes to full mount!
Shozo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Veneracion is squirming around, avoiding Shozo's attempts to control the action.
Veneracion is looking to improve his position but Shozo isn't that keen on the idea.
Shozo controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veneracion is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shozo controlling from the full mount.
Veneracion is in all sorts of trouble here.
Shozo controlling his opponent.
Veneracion really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsu Shozo dominated that second round.
That's time! Shozo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shozo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shozo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shozo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matsu Shozo is winning the standup battle so far.
Shozo is looking to clinch.
Shozo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Shozo there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shozo lands with a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Shozo.
Shozo moves in looking to clinch but Veneracion pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shozo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Veneracion. Veneracion circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shozo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shozo clobbers Veneracion with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Shozo scores with a decent looking hook.

Shozo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shozo working the head and body with strikes.
Veneracion misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Veneracion wants to improve his position but Shozo is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shozo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Veneracion controls his leg.
Shozo lands strikes from half guard.
Veneracion tries to get to full guard but Shozo has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Shozo shoots in and bounces Veneracion off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Veneracion wants to sweep but no luck.
Veneracion is trying to control the position but Shozo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veneracion looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shozo is one step ahead there.
Shozo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shozo won't allow Veneracion to sweep him here.

Veneracion looking for a guillotine here but Shozo defends easily.
Shozo is looking to stand up but Veneracion won't let him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shozo shoots in for a double leg but Veneracion sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four 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.
Shozo throws a nice looking combination but Veneracion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veneracion swats away the attempt to clinch by Shozo.

Veneracion closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Veneracion has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Shozo wants to try and get back to his feet.
Shozo tries to hold on but Veneracion pushes him away.
Shozo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Veneracion is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Shozo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Shozo!
Shozo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Veneracion swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsu Shozo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shozo 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsu Shozo!