PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bariga Kodeinich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Matsushita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kodeinich comes to the cage accompanied by izraelskiy kodeinshik. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kodeinich
vs
Matsushita

167 cm
30
143 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

167 cm
25
141 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bariga Kodeinich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Matsushita!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kodeinich lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kodeinich.
Kodeinich blocks a jab.
Matsushita plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kodeinich lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kodeinich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've been told by Kodeinich's head coaches at United Gym (PM for invitation) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kodeinich throws out a loose jab but Matsushita uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kodeinich checks a leg kick.
Kodeinich swats away the attempt to clinch by Matsushita.
Kodeinich lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kodeinich cracks Matsushita with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matsushita dives in for a single leg takedown but Kodeinich sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kodeinich gets through Matsushita's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kodeinich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kodeinich lands with a left to the head.
Kodeinich is trying to break free.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsushita blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kodeinich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Matsushita blocks a body shot from Kodeinich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsushita doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kodeinich trying to control the position but instead, Matsushita has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kodeinich into the cage.
Matsushita fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Matsushita wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsushita lands an uppercut.
Matsushita misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kodeinich doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matsushita pushes Kodeinich back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Matsushita lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kodeinich lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Matsushita throws a punch but it's blocked by Kodeinich.
Kodeinich tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matsushita's elbow.
Kodeinich tries to land knees in the clinch but Matsushita avoids the damage to the body.
Matsushita is leaning against Kodeinich and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kodeinich takes a shot to the head.

Kodeinich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matsushita dodges the punch combination from Kodeinich.
Matsushita showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kodeinich.

Matsushita closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kodeinich to the mat! Kodeinich manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kodeinich lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Matsushita!
Matsushita really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Matsushita blocking the ground and pound.
Matsushita wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kodeinich.
Kodeinich can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matsushita is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kodeinich sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Matsushita sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Matsushita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kodeinich wants to take a breather but Matsushita is having none of it.
Kodeinich lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kodeinich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsushita's head.
Kodeinich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matsushita felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kodeinich is looking to stall here but Matsushita recovers full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kodeinich trying to control but Matsushita is working from the bottom.
Kodeinich scoring with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kodeinich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kodeinich lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kodeinich throws a strike but Matsushita rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bariga Kodeinich dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matsushita takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matsushita scoring well with a low kick there.
Kodeinich avoids a kick to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Kodeinich misses the target.
Matsushita misses with a body kick.
Matsushita has a takedown stuffed.
A head kick misses from Matsushita.
Kodeinich throws a nice looking combination but Matsushita bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kodeinich tries to bum rush Matsushita with a series of wild strikes but Matsushita uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kodeinich fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kodeinich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsushita.
A telegraphed right hand from Kodeinich misses the target.
Kodeinich fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A left and a right from Kodeinich both land. Nice combination.
Matsushita attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matsushita tries to close the distance and clinch but Kodeinich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kodeinich fails to land with a series of punches.
Matsushita tries to work over Kodeinich's front leg with a kick but Kodeinich checks it.
Matsushita looks to land a body kick but Kodeinich moved away.
Matsushita steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kodeinich.
Matsushita defending well as Kodeinich loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Kodeinich misses.
Bariga Kodeinich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matsushita keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kodeinich misses with a body shot.
Kodeinich goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kodeinich throws a right and a left that Matsushita avoids nicely.
Matsushita scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matsushita tries to work over Kodeinich's front leg with a kick but Kodeinich checks it.
Matsushita tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kodeinich is able to avoid easily.
Kodeinich misses with a body shot.
Bariga Kodeinich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Kodeinich does no damage.
Kodeinich dips to his left and cracks Matsushita with an uppercut!
Kodeinich avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kodeinich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kodeinich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matsushita.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Kodeinich misses.
Matsushita throws a nice outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matsushita.
Kodeinich misses with a double jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsushita with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Matsushita moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kodeinich lands with a shot to the body.
Kodeinich throws a big shot that misses.
Kodeinich misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matsushita throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
No joy there for Kodeinich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matsushita throws a leg kick which misses Kodeinich's front leg but catches the back leg as Kodeinich tries to avoid it.
Matsushita avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsushita dodges the punch combination from Kodeinich.
Matsushita ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsushita tries a low kick but Kodeinich avoids it.
Kodeinich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Matsushita, right into the meat.
Matsushita lands a lovely overhand right.
Kodeinich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matsushita circles away quickly and effectively.
Kodeinich has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matsushita.
Matsushita misses with a low kick.
Matsushita ducks under a wild hook from Kodeinich.
Matsushita throws a low kick, looking for Kodeinich's leg but Kodeinich calmly moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Matsushita.
Kodeinich throws a lazy uppercut
and Matsushita makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matsushita steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kodeinich.
Some bone on bone action there as Matsushita checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Matsushita defending well as Kodeinich loads up on a big left hand.
Kodeinich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsushita manages to avoid it.
Kodeinich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsushita manages to avoid it.
Matsushita misses with a wild body shot.
Matsushita throws a leg kick but Kodeinich checks it.

Matsushita shoots in and bounces Kodeinich off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsushita wants to control from the top but Kodeinich keeps moving.
Matsushita with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsushita looking to pass the guard.
Matsushita lands a couple of elbows.
Matsushita is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsushita trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsushita throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Matsushita 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. This is the final round!

A left lands for Matsushita.
Kodeinich lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kodeinich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good leg kick by Matsushita there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bariga Kodeinich is winning the standup battle so far.
Kodeinich looks to land a combination but Matsushita avoids it well.
Kodeinich stuffs the takedown attempt from Matsushita. Matsushita gets slowly back to his feet.
Kodeinich has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matsushita.
Kodeinich is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kodeinich ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Matsushita throws a nice looking combination but Kodeinich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A combination from Kodeinich does no damage.
Matsushita just misses with a punch to the body.
Kodeinich throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsushita.
Kodeinich misses with a series of wild punches.
Kodeinich keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matsushita misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kodeinich fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Matsushita looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kodeinich checks a low kick from Matsushita.
Matsushita throws a head kick but Kodeinich moves out of range.
Kodeinich misses with a series of wild punches.
Matsushita lands a leg kick that knocks Kodeinich off balance momentarily.
Kodeinich misses with an uppercut. Matsushita saw that one coming.
Danga de danga de dang - Kodeinich scores with a four punch combination!
Kodeinich scores with the left hand. Matsushita knows he should have avoided that one.
Kodeinich misses with a wild combination.
Matsushita avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice defenses there by Matsushita.
Matsushita throws a leg kick but Kodeinich checks it.
Kodeinich scores with a jab to the body.
Matsushita pushes Kodeinich away with a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kodeinich scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kodeinich lands a jab-cross combination.
Matsushita connects with an inside leg kick.
Matsushita lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsushita is looking to land body kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Kodeinich. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kodeinich misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsushita dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kodeinich fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsushita manages to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kodeinich checks a leg kick.
Matsushita uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kodeinich.
Matsushita misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matsushita moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsushita is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kodeinich rather than just go for the knockout.
Kodeinich takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kodeinich keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matsushita tries a head kick but it misses.
Kodeinich throws a hook to the side of Matsushita's head but Matsushita sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsushita lands a nice hook to Kodeinich's body. Kodeinich takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kodeinich misses with a wild body shot.
Matsushita will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kodeinich throws a series of punches but Matsushita moves out of range.
Matsushita throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kodeinich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsushita moves away.
Matsushita throws a sloppy head kick
and Kodeinich counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kodeinich scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Matsushita doesn't seem bothered though.
Kodeinich lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kodeinich throws a body punch but Matsushita moves out of range.
Kodeinich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kodeinich throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Matsushita feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Matsushita postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Matsushita trying to control the position from guard on top but Kodeinich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsushita is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Matsushita won't allow Kodeinich to sweep him here.
Matsushita with a nice head shot there.
Matsushita wants to control from the top but Kodeinich keeps moving.
Kodeinich wants to sweep here but Matsushita controlling him for the moment.
Kodeinich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matsushita working some strikes from top position.
Matsushita in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Matsushita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matsushita 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Matsushita!
After winning the bout, Kenji Matsushita thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.