PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Suzume Yamaguchi (ranked 4528 p4p, 3975 weight class) and George Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Matthews has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yamaguchi
vs
Matthews

170 cm
25
151
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Suzume Yamaguchi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi throws a poor cross that misses
and Yamaguchi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Matthews has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matthews there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yamaguchi misses the body punch
and Matthews counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Yamaguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Matthews lands with a kick to the ribs.
Yamaguchi is looking to wear down Matthews with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yamaguchi , as that shot connected.
Yamaguchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matthews takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the side of Matthews's head but Matthews sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matthews walks into a left hand.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews works the jab nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi . Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi works the jab nicely.
Nice cross by Matthews.
Matthews scoring well with a low kick there.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews slips under a jab from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matthews throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yamaguchi on the side of the head.
Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamaguchi .
The fighters circling - Yamaguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matthews takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matthews throws the kick towards the body but Yamaguchi avoids it.
Matthews walks into a stiff left hand from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yamaguchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matthews throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Yamaguchi checks a leg kick.
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi .
Matthews moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
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!
Matthews scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick from Matthews.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Matthews thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Yamaguchi if he has to take too many more of those.
Matthews throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthews slips under a jab.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
A big right from Yamaguchi misses.
Matthews scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamaguchi should have avoided that one.
Yamaguchi misses the body punch
and Matthews counters with a lovely straight right hand!
An inside leg kick from Matthews misses.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matthews.
Matthews uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matthews avoids the body shot from Yamaguchi .
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matthews! But no joy.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthews misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matthews with a jab.
Matthews slips under a jab from Yamaguchi .
Matthews throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthews.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Suzume Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamaguchi throws a poor cross that misses
and Matthews counters with a nice kick to the body.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi .
Matthews ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Matthews shapes to counter with a head kick.
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Matthews avoids it easily.
A shot to the liver by Yamaguchi . Beautiful body shot.
Matthews uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi .
Matthews lands a glancing blow to the side of Yamaguchi 's head.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick.
Matthews cracks Yamaguchi with an open hand slap.
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matthews staying out of range there.
Matthews is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yamaguchi .
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Matthews lands a lovely overhand right.
Matthews throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Matthews uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yamaguchi has time to react.
Yamaguchi lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi misses with a double jab
and Matthews counters with a stiff right hand.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a sloppy body shot
and Matthews counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yamaguchi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matthews connects with a solid leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Matthews slips a jab and a cross from Yamaguchi .
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matthews appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a looping right.
Yamaguchi throws a shot from downtown. Matthews moves away and avoids it.
Yamaguchi misses with a left hand
and Matthews counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi .
Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Suzume Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Matthews swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Matthews is looking to score with low kicks.
Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamaguchi misses the target.
Yamaguchi blocks a low kick nicely.
An inside leg kick from Matthews misses.
Yamaguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matthews misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi throws out a loose jab but Matthews uses good head movement to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi lands a jab to Matthews's midsection.
Matthews lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Matthews coming out on top.
Yamaguchi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Matthews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matthews darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Yamaguchi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jab, jab by Matthews - just one landing.
Matthews lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Matthews avoids it easily.
Matthews on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Matthews blocks it.
Yamaguchi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yamaguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Matthews's shoulder, as Matthews tries to avoid the shot.
Matthews uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick misses from Matthews.
Yamaguchi looks to land a right hand but Matthews moved out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamaguchi moves forwards but Matthews connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yamaguchi throws a series of punches but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice straight punches there by Matthews. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matthews.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook
and Matthews counters with a good low kick that Yamaguchi was not able to check.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight right.
Matthews tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yamaguchi is able to avoid easily.
Matthews avoids the body shot from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Matthews throws a push kick but Yamaguchi slaps the foot to one side.
Matthews digs a good hook to Yamaguchi 's body.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook. Matthews ducked under it nicely.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Matthews's ribcage but misses.
Matthews looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matthews throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Matthews slips a straight right by Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matthews.
Matthews keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi misses with a looping left.
Matthews appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi needs to keep his hands up - Matthews had a free shot at his head there.
Matthews fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Yamaguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Matthews.
Matthews staying out of range there.
Yamaguchi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yamaguchi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Matthews connects with a right hand. Yamaguchi shakes it off.
Yamaguchi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Matthews cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matthews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matthews manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi lands a jab.
Yamaguchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matthews feints and then cracks Yamaguchi 's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yamaguchi down.
Matthews lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Matthews. That's going to slow Yamaguchi down.
Yamaguchi 's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Yamaguchi duly obliges.
Yamaguchi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matthews at a distance.
Yamaguchi takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Yamaguchi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Yamaguchi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matthews lands a lovely overhand right.
Matthews wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yamaguchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
A swing and a miss from Yamaguchi .
Matthews throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Yamaguchi throws a nice looking combination but Matthews bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Matthews cracks Yamaguchi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Matthews moves out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook. Matthews ducked under it nicely.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Matthews is trying to counter with his kicks.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthews throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamaguchi .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Matthews will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Matthews uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamaguchi .
Matthews tries a low kick but Yamaguchi avoids it.
Matthews staying out of range there.
Matthews feints a counter leg kick.
Yamaguchi swinging wildly here.
Yamaguchi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yamaguchi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Matthews counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
George Matthews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matthews lands with a hook. Yamaguchi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Matthews throws a wild body kick that Yamaguchi sees coming a mile off.
Yamaguchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matthews moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Matthews scores with the left hand. Yamaguchi knows he should have avoided that one.
Yamaguchi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matthews.
Matthews looks to land a body kick but Yamaguchi moved away.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Matthews moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A countering left hand to the body from Matthews misses.
Matthews lands a nice looking body kick.
Matthews takes a swing at Yamaguchi 's ribcage but misses.
Matthews fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
Matthews's corner calls for a 1-2. Matthews obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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!
Matthews takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matthews.
Yamaguchi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A big left from Yamaguchi misses.
Matthews throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matthews lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Matthews throws a combination. Yamaguchi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Yamaguchi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Matthews makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matthews keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi misses with a looping right.
A right-left combo lands from Yamaguchi .
Matthews looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matthews slips under a jab.
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Matthews moved out of range nicely.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Matthews, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matthews swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Matthews.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthews was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi missing with a left hand there. Matthews was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matthews! But no joy.
Yamaguchi throws a jab when Matthews was well out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Matthews.
Yamaguchi misses with a double jab.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Matthews looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Matthews throws a low kick but Yamaguchi avoids it.
Yamaguchi throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matthews. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matthews moves into range and connects with a jab.
Matthews throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yamaguchi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Matthews manages to circle out of the way.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick from Matthews.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matthews moves away.
Yamaguchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yamaguchi slips under a jab.
Yamaguchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matthews lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matthews scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Matthews tries to work over Yamaguchi 's front leg with a kick but Yamaguchi checks it.
Matthews moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matthews moves away from the strike by Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matthews sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matthews ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Matthews thinks about the counter body kick.
A low kick lands for Matthews.
Yamaguchi throws a poor cross that misses
and Matthews counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
Matthews moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matthews avoids the body shot from Yamaguchi .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matthews with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yamaguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matthews counters with a thumping low kick.
Matthews staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Matthews on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Matthews is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi . Matthews does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yamaguchi 's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matthews.
Yamaguchi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Yamaguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Matthews avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi scores with a hook to the body. Matthews takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Yamaguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matthews.
Matthews throws a shot to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaguchi takes one on the button.
Yamaguchi 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Matthews connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaguchi scrambles back to his feet.
Matthews scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matthews jabs Yamaguchi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matthews.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Matthews.
Matthews throws the kick towards the body but Yamaguchi avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matthews has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... George Matthews!