PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luca Raynier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hisashi Matsuoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Raynier
vs
Matsuoka

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luca Raynier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hisashi Matsuoka!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuoka shoots in for a takedown but Raynier shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Matsuoka misses.
Matsuoka fails to land the takedown.
Raynier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsuoka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Raynier. No joy for Matsuoka on that attempt.
Luca Raynier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hisashi Matsuoka.
Matsuoka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raynier tries to avoid it but Matsuoka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raynier to the ground. Raynier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matsuoka keeps the fight on the outside.

Raynier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matsuoka has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Raynier pulls Matsuoka into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Matsuoka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raynier is keeping the position for now.

Raynier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matsuoka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Matsuoka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuoka trying to control the position from guard on top but Raynier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsuoka passes into half guard.
Matsuoka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raynier knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Raynier is looking to improve his position.

Matsuoka is working for a kimura but Raynier is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuoka works his way into full mount!
Raynier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Matsuoka avoids the attempt from Raynier to control.
Raynier holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Matsuoka tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matsuoka jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Raynier manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsuoka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Matsuoka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Raynier knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Matsuoka in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Matsuoka moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Matsuoka throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Matsuoka crashes against the mat.

Matsuoka is trying to get an arm triangle but Raynier is defending well.
Raynier parries the strikes from Matsuoka easily there. Matsuoka is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Raynier to escape.
Matsuoka working the ground and pound.
Raynier is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuoka moves into full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raynier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hisashi Matsuoka dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Raynier slaps away a takedown attempt from Matsuoka, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raynier tries for a takedown but Matsuoka circles away easily

and Matsuoka counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Matsuoka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Raynier manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matsuoka manages to get himself to full guard.
Raynier is working Matsuoka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuoka keeping moving, preventing Raynier from controlling successfully.
Raynier tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsuoka is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuoka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Raynier!

Matsuoka is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Raynier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Matsuoka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raynier wants to clinch up but Matsuoka keeps it at a distance.
Matsuoka shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Raynier gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Matsuoka to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Raynier wants to get back to his feet but Matsuoka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsuoka is pushing down on Raynier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Raynier is fighting to maintain full guard but Matsuoka has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raynier tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Raynier wants to get back to his feet.
Raynier trying to control but Matsuoka postures up.
Hisashi Matsuoka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matsuoka moves into full mount! Raynier won't be happy about that!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Matsuoka working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Raynier looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Matsuoka! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Hisashi Matsuoka!
In his post fight interview, Hisashi Matsuoka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.