PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Greg Rapport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeo Matsukata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rapport
vs
Matsukata

175 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Greg Rapport!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Takeo Matsukata!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsukata gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Matsukata gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rapport.
Rapport has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matsukata avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rapport looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Rapport. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsukata looking for a takedown.
Rapport can't get the takedown.
Matsukata is pressed up against the cage. Rapport has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Matsukata down to the mat. Matsukata avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Matsukata tries to clinch but Rapport is having none of it.

Rapport closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Matsukata avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rapport.
Rapport controlling the position from side mount.
Rapport is looking to take a break and control but Matsukata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matsukata sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsukata works his way to full guard. Good work.
Matsukata looking to control.
Matsukata striking off his back but it's not causing Rapport any problems.
Rapport stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsukata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matsukata bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rapport's guard.
Rapport wants to stand and escape but Matsukata is having none of it.
Matsukata trying to control but Rapport is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Takeo Matsukata.
Rapport checks the leg kick.
Matsukata keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata has a takedown stuffed.
Matsukata displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rapport.
Rapport shoots in looking for a takedown. Matsukata tries to sprawl out of it but Rapport keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matsukata manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rapport closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsukata circles away.
Rapport shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matsukata sprawls well. Matsukata wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rapport gets slowly back to his feet.
Rapport is breathing heavily.
Rapport stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rapport wants it to stay on the feet.
Matsukata tries to clinch up but Rapport circles away and keeps his distance.
Matsukata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsukata tries to close the distance and clinch but Rapport swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsukata shoots in looking for a takedown. Rapport tries to sprawl out of it but Matsukata keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rapport manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rapport looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata missing with punches from the bottom.
Rapport performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rapport knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matsukata on the ground.
Matsukata is refusing to be controlled, as Rapport sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rapport prevents Matsukata from standing back up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matsukata is looking to control Rapport's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matsukata avoid being mounted?
Matsukata is staying active underneath Rapport, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rapport seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Matsukata slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsukata keeping full guard, as Rapport tries to pass.
Matsukata tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rapport lands a couple of digs.
Matsukata trying to control the position.
Matsukata is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rapport is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Matsukata trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Takeo Matsukata hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rapport gets caught flat footed, as Matsukata shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsukata wants to stand but Rapport is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takeo Matsukata will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matsukata wants to slow Rapport down by chopping away at his legs.
Matsukata fails to land the takedown.
Matsukata shoots in but Rapport avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rapport shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Matsukata napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from Rapport seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rapport wants to control but Matsukata is keeping him busy.
Rapport landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rapport scores with punches from side control.

Matsukata throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Rapport fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rapport shoots in and drives through. Matsukata sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsukata fails with the takedown.
Greg Rapport has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeo Matsukata.
Rapport tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsukata swivels and escapes.
No luck for Matsukata with that takedown attempt.
Matsukata shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rapport as he avoids it easily.

Rapport shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matsukata manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Matsukata controls Rapport momentarily but Rapport frees himself.
Greg Rapport overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rapport looking to pass the guard.
Rapport trying to control but Matsukata is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapport controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Rapport closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rapport lands in his opponent's guard.

Matsukata looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rapport throwing strikes but missing.
Rapport throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsukata looking to control.
Matsukata being controlled here, momentarily.
Rapport trying to control but Matsukata is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapport working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matsukata wants to stand and escape but Rapport is having none of it.
Matsukata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matsukata fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rapport looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Matsukata dives in and grabs Rapport's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rapport pushes down on Matsukata's head and hops out.
Matsukata tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rapport swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matsukata.
Matsukata fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matsukata is breathing heavily.

Rapport shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Rapport is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Matsukata has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Rapport is looking to defend but Matsukata has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Rapport! Matsukata pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Rapport taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Takeo Matsukata!
Takeo Matsukata 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.