PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rowan Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hachiro Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atkinson comes into the arena with Set to Fail blaring out of the sound system. Matsui is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Solvent by Skinny Puppy. This should be a great matchup!

Atkinson
vs
Matsui

180 cm
33
171 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

173 cm
30
163 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rowan Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hachiro Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Matsui tries to sprawl out of it but Atkinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Matsui manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Atkinson stuffs the takedown.
Atkinson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsui swivels and escapes.
Atkinson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsui circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Atkinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsui slaps away a takedown attempt from Atkinson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Atkinson 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 Atkinson off to one side.
Atkinson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Matsui shoots in and gets a takedown into Atkinson's guard.
Matsui slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matsui slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui trying to mount his opponent but Atkinson defends it.
Atkinson trying to control from the bottom.
Matsui is pressing down on Atkinson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Atkinson is holding on for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Matsui is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Atkinson defends it well.
Matsui with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson gets full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Matsui prevents Atkinson from getting back to his feet.
Matsui advances to half guard.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet.
Atkinson is trying to get back to full guard.
Matsui wants to pass to mount but Atkinson is defending the position.
Matsui with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Atkinson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Matsui keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the ropes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matsui has hold of one of Atkinson's legs. Atkinson is fighting the takedown attempt but Matsui gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsui trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsui advances to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Atkinson's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Atkinson is concentrating on defense, preventing Matsui from advancing position.
Atkinson is refusing to be controlled, as Matsui sits in half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matsui is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Atkinson is staying active underneath Matsui, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Atkinson wants to control but Matsui is keeping busy.
Atkinson trying to get back to full guard but Matsui takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Atkinson is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsui has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson is trying to stand.
Matsui trying to control but Atkinson is having none of it.
Atkinson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matsui fails to advance to Atkinson's back.
Atkinson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Matsui moves to back control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Matsui working for the choke.
Matsui is hanging on to Atkinson's back as he tries to escape.
Atkinson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Matsui avoiding Atkinson 's attempts to control his hands.
Our spies down at at Monsterous MMA - PIT Inc. inform us that Matsui has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Matsui's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Matsui has got one arm under Atkinson's chin. This could be trouble... Atkinson trying to control the other hand but Matsui gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Atkinson has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). 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.