PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hachiro Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pohjanala comes into the arena with AC/DC - Hard as a Rock blaring out of the sound system. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pohjanala
vs
Matsui

168 cm
33
157 lbs
22 - 19 - 0

173 cm
23
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 22 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
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, Hachiro Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsui dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pohjanala takes a swing at Matsui's ribcage but misses.
Matsui's corner calls for a 1-2. Matsui obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsui scores with a body shot.
Pohjanala looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Matsui is fending him off so far but Pohjanala persists. Nope, Matsui circles away and we're back to standing.
Pohjanala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsui.
Pohjanala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsui.
Hachiro Matsui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsui takes a swing at Pohjanala's ribcage but misses.
Pohjanala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matsui lands a jab-cross combination.
Pohjanala throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pohjanala connects with a good right hand that stumbles Matsui. Matsui circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Matsui thows a body shot but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pohjanala fails with the takedown.
Nice jab there from Matsui.
A shot to the body from Pohjanala misses
and Matsui counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Matsui finds it's target.
Pohjanala throws a hook but Matsui blocks it.
Matsui avoids the body shot from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pohjanala was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsui.
Pohjanala avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matsui swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick misses from Pohjanala.
Matsui dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsui just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsui throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pohjanala swings for the body but Matsui moves out of range.
A lazy left from Matsui finds it's target.
Matsui swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsui cracks a nice hook into Pohjanala's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsui scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pohjanala looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsui is just out of range.
Matsui swings for the body but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Matsui lands with a good body shot.
Matsui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pohjanala was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsui.
Pohjanala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pohjanala throws out a leg kick but Matsui moves out of range and Pohjanala only half commits.
Pohjanala looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matsui lands with a right hand.
Matsui connects with a single shot there.
Matsui cracks Pohjanala with an open hand slap.
Matsui keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kustaa Pohjanala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pohjanala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsui moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matsui.
Matsui looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Pohjanala closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Matsui to the mat! Matsui manages to get full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Matsui looking for a guillotine here but Pohjanala defends easily.

Matsui escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pohjanala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pohjanala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Matsui looking for a sweep. Not yet Matsui, not yet.
Pohjanala trying to control but Matsui is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Matsui is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Matsui tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pohjanala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsui keeping moving, preventing Pohjanala from controlling successfully.
Matsui is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pohjanala won't allow Matsui to pass to mount.

Pohjanala looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pohjanala trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hachiro Matsui dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A jab from Matsui finds it's way through Pohjanala's defenses.
Hachiro Matsui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matsui swinging wildly here.
Matsui throws the left hand but Pohjanala avoids the punch easily.
Pohjanala fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matsui looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matsui misses with a series of wild punches.
Matsui throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matsui lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Pohjanala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matsui misses with a combination
and Pohjanala counters with a straight right hand.
Matsui wants to slow Pohjanala down by chopping away at his legs.
Matsui changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pohjanala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pohjanala misses with a head kick.

Pohjanala gets a clinch.
Matsui is trying to push Pohjanala away but Pohjanala has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Matsui is leaning against Pohjanala and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pohjanala tries to pull guard but Matsui forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Pohjanala breaks the clinch.
Matsui moves out of range as Pohjanala strikes.
Matsui showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pohjanala.
Matsui cracks Pohjanala with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hachiro Matsui seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsui misses with a straight left.
Matsui lands with a right hand.
Matsui ducks under a wild hook from Pohjanala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsui throws a body punch but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Matsui keeps the fight on the outside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsui digs a good hook to Pohjanala's body.
Pohjanala misses the shot to the body.
Pohjanala moves forwards but Matsui connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matsui connects with a looping right hand.
Matsui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pohjanala.
Matsui connects with a body shot.
Matsui fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pohjanala on the side of the head.
A slow jab from Pohjanala misses its intended target.
Pohjanala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Matsui lands a nice looking body shot.
Pohjanala throws a leg kick but Matsui sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pohjanala is looking to wear down Matsui with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matsui cracks Pohjanala with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matsui connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui misses with a wild body shot.
Pohjanala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsui was well out of range. Poor timing from Pohjanala.
Matsui lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fighters circling - Pohjanala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsui lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matsui throws a good cross that connects.
Nice shot by Matsui.
Hachiro Matsui is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsui scores with a jab.
Matsui ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsui lands a jab to Pohjanala's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pohjanala misses with a wild body shot.
Pohjanala misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsui.
Pohjanala throws a big shot that misses.
Matsui thuds a left hand into Pohjanala's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pohjanala.
Matsui looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pohjanala looks to land a right hand but Matsui moved out of range.
Pohjanala waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsui.
Matsui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsui stuns Pohjanala with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matsui thows a body shot but no joy.
Matsui throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pohjanala makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Matsui throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsui moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matsui has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pohjanala.
Matsui moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Matsui lands with a good body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hachiro Matsui showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matsui getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pohjanala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matsui.
Pohjanala blocks a jab.
Matsui takes a swing at Pohjanala's ribcage but misses.
Matsui moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Matsui swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pohjanala shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsui as he jumps to the side.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Matsui is having none of it.
Matsui fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pohjanala lands with a nice body kick.
Matsui thuds a left hand into Pohjanala's body.
Matsui misses with a body shot.
Pohjanala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsui was well out of range. Poor timing from Pohjanala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohjanala on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matsui scores with a nice head shot.
Pohjanala scores with a head kick. Matsui tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Matsui connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice body kick from Matsui.
Left hook, right uppercut from Matsui.
Pohjanala slips under a jab.
Pohjanala throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matsui's waist but Matsui gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pohjanala off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsui lands a jab.
Matsui cracks a nice hook into Pohjanala's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsui defending well as Pohjanala loads up on a big left hand.
Pohjanala moves out of range as Matsui throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala tries to move into range but Matsui moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matsui ducks under a wild hook from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pohjanala on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pohjanala misses the jab.
Matsui swings for the body but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Pohjanala avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matsui ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pohjanala moves away.
Matsui thuds a left hand into Pohjanala's body.
Matsui bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Matsui cracks a nice hook into Pohjanala's ribs.
Pohjanala walks into a jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matsui!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Matsui.
Pohjanala dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matsui. That did some damage!
Matsui lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matsui loads up on a big right hand but Pohjanala slips the punch.
Nice body kick from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala throws a leg kick but Matsui sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matsui ducks under a wild hook from Pohjanala.
Matsui takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matsui lands a jab.
Matsui avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pohjanala will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui takes a swing at Pohjanala's ribcage but misses.
Pohjanala looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Matsui scores with a shot to the body.
Pohjanala misses with an uppercut.
Pohjanala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsui manages to avoid it.
Matsui has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matsui connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pohjanala. Pohjanala circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Matsui.
Matsui works Pohjanala's body with a nice hook.
Hachiro Matsui is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Matsui moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsui avoids the body shot from Pohjanala.
Matsui lands a nice shot that snaps Pohjanala's head back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pohjanala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pohjanala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pohjanala thows a body shot but no joy.
Matsui looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hachiro Matsui comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matsui 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hachiro Matsui!
Hachiro Matsui seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.