PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Matsushita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Torello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matsushita
vs
Torello

167 cm
23
141 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
138 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

DJs Locker

DJs Locker
Syndicate Nutrition

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Matsushita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Torello!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Torello fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Matsushita takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick misses from Matsushita.
Torello throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Torello pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Torello moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Torello avoids the head kick by Matsushita.
Kenji Matsushita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Torello crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Matsushita - the referee stops the clock and Torello gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Matsushita. Torello manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Matsushita looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Torello scores with the left hand. Matsushita knows he should have avoided that one.
Torello looks to throw the jab but Matsushita is out of range.
Torello pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matsushita is out of range and Torello settles back down.
Torello dives in and grabs Matsushita's left leg, looking for a takedown. Matsushita pushes down on Torello's head and hops out.
Matsushita checks the leg kick nicely there.
Torello fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsushita is out of range.
Torello scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsushita throws a hook but Torello blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torello waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsushita.
Matsushita scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Matsushita throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Torello's head.
Matsushita checks a low kick from Torello.
Matsushita swings for the body but Torello moves out of range.
Matsushita throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Torello's waist but Torello gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matsushita off to one side.
Torello misses with a jab to the body
and Matsushita counters with a slapping leg kick.
Matsushita throws a head kick that Torello semi-blocks.
Matsushita avoids the body shot from Torello.
Matsushita misses with an uppercut. Torello saw that one coming.
A big left from Matsushita misses.
Torello misses with a hook. Matsushita ducked under it nicely.
Matsushita looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Matsushita swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita throws a hook but Torello blocks it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Matsushita is defended easily by Torello.
Torello scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Torello lands with a slapping head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torello takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Matsushita swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Torello counters with a lovely shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Torello.
Matsushita buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matsushita tries for a takedown but Torello circles away easily
and Torello counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Matsushita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Torello darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Torello is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Torello.
Torello lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsushita off the cage and back into range.
Torello throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsushita throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Torello on the side of the head.
Matsushita ducks under a wild hook from Torello.
Torello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsushita.
Matsushita cracks Torello with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Torello just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsushita goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Matsushita goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matsushita avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Torello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsushita.
Torello avoids the body shot from Matsushita.
Torello misses with a low kick as Matsushita jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita throws a solid leg kick but Torello takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matsushita.
Torello throws a poor cross that misses
and Torello takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Torello throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matsushita counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsushita scores with a kick to the midsection.
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!
Matsushita throws a hook but Torello blocks it.
Matsushita misses with a takedown attempt - Torello sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matsushita has his takedown stuffed
and Torello counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Torello tries to move into range but Matsushita moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Matsushita is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Matsushita throws a sloppy head kick and Torello moves out of range easily.
Torello is looking to score with low kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Torello lands with a good body shot.
Matsushita with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Torello to score with a decent uppercut.
Matsushita misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Torello will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Matsushita walks forward, straight into a front kick from Torello.
Matsushita lands a nice leg kick that just misses Torello's sensitive parts.
Torello lands a right hook to the body.
Torello fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Matsushita on the side of the head.
Matsushita looks to score with a jab to the body but Torello is just out of range.
Matsushita misses the shot to the body.
Torello cracks Matsushita with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A nice leg kick lands there from Torello.
Torello lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torello cracks Matsushita with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matsushita swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsushita keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Torello throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsushita misses with a body shot.
Torello throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsushita counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsushita walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Torello checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Matsushita misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Torello.
James Torello seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsushita looks to land a left hand but Torello moved out of range nicely.
Torello stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Torello wants it to stay on the feet.
Torello misses with a body kick.
Matsushita will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Matsushita ducks under a wild hook from Torello.
Matsushita thows a leg kick but Torello checks it
and Torello counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Torello throws the left hand but Matsushita avoids the punch easily.
Matsushita misses with a jab to the body
letting Torello counter with a right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Torello.
Torello feints and then cracks Matsushita's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsushita down.
Matsushita tries to land a front kick but Torello steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Torello can pounce on him.
Matsushita throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Torello uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsushita.
Torello swings for the body but Matsushita moves out of range.
Matsushita goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Torello lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Matsushita connects with a leg kick. Torello looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Matsushita swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsushita walks forward, straight into a front kick from Torello.
Torello leaves Matsushita with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Matsushita 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Matsushita checks a leg kick.
Torello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsushita just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick by Matsushita misses
and Torello connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Torello throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Torello scores with a jab to the body.
Torello takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Matsushita throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Torello sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsushita takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsushita misses with a lunging right hand
and Torello counters with a nice uppercut.
Torello tries a low kick but Matsushita avoids it.
Matsushita moves out of range of the body kick from Torello.
Torello throws a solid leg kick but Matsushita takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Torello.
Torello just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matsushita.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torello uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsushita.
Torello's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Matsushita scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matsushita does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsushita throws a leg kick but Torello sees it coming and checks it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Torello.
Torello misses with a head kick.
Torello fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsushita checks it well.
Torello slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Torello moves out of range of the leg kick from Matsushita.
Matsushita throws a leg kick
and Torello counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Torello avoids the head kick by Matsushita.
Torello has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matsushita.
Torello lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Torello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice cross by Torello.
Matsushita scores with a nice right hand.
Some wild striking there from Matsushita.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Torello.
Nice sprawl there from Torello as Matsushita shoots in.
Matsushita moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Torello scores with a head kick.
Matsushita misses with a body kick.
Torello tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Matsushita throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Torello, as that shot connected.
Torello throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torello tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Torello stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsushita.
Matsushita pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Torello loads up on a big right hand but Matsushita slips the punch.
Matsushita throws a jab but it's blocked by Torello.
A head kick from Matsushita lands but Torello takes it in his stride.
Torello cracks Matsushita with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Torello blocks a low kick nicely.
Torello tries to land a front kick but Matsushita steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Torello avoids the head kick by Matsushita.
Torello pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Matsushita back to the cage. Torello follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Matsushita ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torello moves away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Torello enables Matsushita to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Torello manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Torello working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matsushita doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matsushita manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Torello escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matsushita gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Torello tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Torello is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Torello drops an elbow to the side of Matsushita's head.

Matsushita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Torello.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita is pressing down on Torello's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Torello is pushing down on Matsushita's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matsushita is fighting to maintain full guard but Torello has managed to sneak the leg through.
Torello seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Matsushita won't allow Torello to pass to mount.
Matsushita taking some punishment here, with Torello in his half guard.
Torello is keen to just control but Matsushita is a slippery customer.
James Torello is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Torello perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Torello tries to pass to full mount but Matsushita defends it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Torello in particular looking to stall.
Torello has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita tries to roll over but Torello keeps him under control.
Well, if Torello is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Torello's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
This has been an exciting period of action!
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. James Torello hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Torello uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsushita.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Torello comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Torello 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Torello!
Our winner, James Torello, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.