PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenta Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Mashburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto comes to the cage accompanied by Rusko - Woo Boost. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Matsumoto
vs
Mashburn

167 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kenta Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Barry Mashburn!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mashburn fails with a takedown attempt.
Matsumoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Mashburn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matsumoto, pushing him back against the cage.
Matsumoto prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsumoto is trying to break free.
Matsumoto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A frustrated look appears on Matsumoto's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matsumoto stops a takedown attempt from Mashburn.
Kenta Matsumoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Mashburn.
Matsumoto has had enough of the clinch but Mashburn keeps him there for the moment.
Matsumoto is trying to break free.
Mashburn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mashburn tries to work over Matsumoto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Mashburn jumps guard and drags Matsumoto to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Matsumoto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Mashburn looking for a guillotine here but Matsumoto defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mashburn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Matsumoto is aware though and is defending well.
Mashburn seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mashburn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matsumoto controls the pace.

Mashburn has his feet on Matsumoto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

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.
Matsumoto tries to land a front kick but Mashburn steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mashburn avoids a kick to the body.
Matsumoto clinches but Mashburn breaks the clinch

and Mashburn counters with a takedown into side control.
Matsumoto seems a little lost for a moment, as Mashburn dominates the positioning.
Mashburn trying to control the action but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Matsumoto can't do much from the bottom here.
Mashburn trying to control the position but Matsumoto is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Mashburn trying to control the action but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Mashburn is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Mashburn with good strikes from the mount here!
A nice elbow there by Mashburn.
Matsumoto is squirming around, avoiding Mashburn's attempts to control the action.
Matsumoto is just holding on here. Mashburn manages to take his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn has the hooks in. Matsumoto is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Matsumoto prevents Mashburn from getting a body triangle.
Mashburn misses with punches from the back.

Mashburn has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mashburn looks gassed!
Mashburn lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsumoto cracks a nice hook into Mashburn's ribs.
Matsumoto throws a series of punches but Mashburn moves out of range.
Matsumoto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mashburn.
Matsumoto swinging wildly here.
Matsumoto swings for the body but Mashburn moves out of range.
Matsumoto tries to clinch there but Mashburn circles away.
Matsumoto slaps away a takedown attempt from Mashburn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matsumoto tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mashburn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Matsumoto's guard.
Mashburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mashburn preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mashburn trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mashburn wants to stand but Matsumoto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mashburn pushes down on Matsumoto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Matsumoto is doing well to control the position and prevent Mashburn from advancing to side control.
Mashburn seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mashburn prevents Matsumoto from improving his position.
Mashburn wants to pass to mount but Matsumoto is defending the position.
Mashburn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mashburn scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mashburn working Matsumoto over with strikes here.
Matsumoto tries to reverse the position but Mashburn maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matsumoto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Mashburn controlling from the full mount.

Mashburn stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Matsumoto tries to keep at a distance but Mashburn has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mashburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice shot by Matsumoto.

Mashburn closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matsumoto to the mat! Matsumoto manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mashburn trying to control but Matsumoto is working from the bottom.
Matsumoto is adopting a defensive guard.
Mashburn wants to control from the top but Matsumoto keeps moving.
Matsumoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mashburn controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Mashburn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A left and a right from Matsumoto both land. Nice combination.
Mashburn slips a jab and a cross from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto tries to clinch but Mashburn moves out of range.
Mashburn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matsumoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice shot lands for Matsumoto.
Mashburn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mashburn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mashburn avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto misses with a double jab

and Mashburn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mashburn passes to full mount!
Mashburn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsumoto is looking to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto tries to hold on but Mashburn postures up.
Mashburn takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mashburn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsumoto is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matsumoto is in a horrible position here. Mashburn smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mashburn wants to control the pace but Matsumoto is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mashburn is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Matsumoto can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Mashburn throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Matsumoto wants to control but Mashburn is having none of it.
Matsumoto is working to get back to half guard.
Mashburn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsumoto is looking to escape.
Kenta Matsumoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Mashburn controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsumoto is trying to reverse the position but instead Mashburn has taken his back - oops!

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Mashburn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mashburn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Mashburn!