PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Payne Stewart Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hachiro Matsui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsui is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Solvent by Skinny Puppy. Hachiro Matsui looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Stewart Jr
vs
Matsui

178 cm
34
166 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

173 cm
32
163 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Payne Stewart Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hachiro Matsui!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart Jr throws a left and a right that both miss
and Matsui cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Stewart Jr clinches.
Stewart Jr avoiding damage.
Stewart Jr gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Matsui.

Matsui has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Stewart Jr is trying to keep an underhook but Matsui manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Stewart Jr wants to improve his position but Matsui is controlling well.
Stewart Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stewart Jr is looking for a sweep. Matsui is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsui looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stewart Jr trying to control here.
Matsui trying to control from half guard but Stewart Jr is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Matsui tries to sprawl but Stewart Jr drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Matsui is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stewart Jr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Matsui wants to improve his position but Stewart Jr is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart Jr perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stewart Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Matsui does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stewart Jr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Matsui slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matsui is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsui wants to pass the guard but Stewart Jr is keeping the position.
Matsui trying to control but Stewart Jr is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Stewart Jr, not yet.
Matsui trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stewart Jr controlling Matsui's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hachiro Matsui was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stewart Jr plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Stewart Jr walks into a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stewart Jr is defended easily by Matsui.
Stewart Jr ducks under a wild hook from Matsui.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart Jr buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stewart Jr's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stewart Jr duly obliges.
Matsui defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stewart Jr.

Stewart Jr shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stewart Jr was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart Jr trying to control the action but Matsui is working from the bottom.
Stewart Jr lands some shots froms side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stewart Jr is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Matsui's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stewart Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stewart Jr shoots in but Matsui avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsui cracks Stewart Jr with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matsui throws a head kick that misses.
Matsui goes for a double leg but Stewart Jr avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stewart Jr continues to drive forward.

Stewart Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsui shoots in for a takedown but Stewart Jr shows good takedown defense.
Matsui sizes up Stewart Jr with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Stewart Jr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Stewart Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Matsui defends well and Stewart Jr ends up having to push Matsui into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Payne Stewart Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stewart Jr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matsui is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stewart Jr fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stewart Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Matsui avoids it really well and circles away.
Stewart Jr wants to clinch.

Matsui clinches up with Stewart Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Matsui has Stewart Jr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stewart Jr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Matsui drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stewart Jr pulls his leg out and moves away.
Stewart Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Matsui sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stewart Jr has Matsui up against the cage in a clinch.
Matsui has Stewart Jr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stewart Jr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Stewart Jr tries for a takedown but Matsui manages to get underhooks.
Matsui looking for a takedown.
Stewart Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matsui goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stewart Jr prevents it.
Stewart Jr prevents the takedown attempt.
Matsui is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart Jr stalling.
Matsui tries to score a body lock takedown but Stewart Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Matsui goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stewart Jr prevents it.

Stewart Jr pulls guard successfully.
Matsui wants to control from the top but Stewart Jr keeps moving.
Stewart Jr pulls Matsui in to control the position.
Stewart Jr keeping moving, preventing Matsui from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stewart Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsui walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Stewart Jr checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Stewart Jr displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stewart Jr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsui swivels and escapes.
Stewart Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Payne Stewart Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsui lands a nice looking body shot.
Stewart Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matsui swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matsui scores with a punch to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stewart Jr.
Matsui circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice defenses there by Matsui.
Matsui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stewart Jr.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Payne Stewart Jr will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Matsui throws a push kick but Stewart Jr slaps the foot to one side.
Stewart Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Stewart Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Payne Stewart Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stewart Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matsui is looking to chop away at Stewart Jr's legs.
Matsui throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stewart Jr buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Matsui slaps away a takedown attempt from Stewart Jr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stewart Jr misses with a takedown attempt
and Matsui counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Payne Stewart Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stewart Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsui sprawls well. He's pushed Stewart Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matsui scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsui pushes Stewart Jr away with a front kick.
Matsui swats away the attempt to clinch by Stewart Jr.
Matsui scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stewart Jr in his tracks.
Stewart Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.
Matsui misses the shot to the body.
Matsui is looking to clinch but Stewart Jr is avoiding it.
Stewart Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Stewart Jr tries to close the distance and clinch but Matsui swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stewart Jr takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hachiro Matsui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stewart Jr has managed to clinch.
Matsui can't get the takedown.
Matsui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matsui goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stewart Jr prevents it.
Stewart Jr landing knees to the head.
Matsui drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stewart Jr pulls his leg out and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stewart Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsui, which made it look bad.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matsui enables Stewart Jr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matsui manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsui keeping moving, preventing Stewart Jr from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsui is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matsui wants to sweep here but Stewart Jr controlling him for the moment.
Stewart Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsui swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stewart Jr content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Payne Stewart Jr wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stewart Jr walks into a stiff left hand from Matsui.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart Jr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Matsui circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stewart Jr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matsui fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stewart Jr has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stewart Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stewart Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stewart Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Payne Stewart Jr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stewart Jr has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Payne Stewart Jr.
Well Stewart Jr has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Payne Stewart Jr!
The defeated Hachiro Matsui had this to say: 'That was a great fight, I gotta give props to my opponent. He did what he had to do. But I'm not done and I'll be back stronger next time! Thank you to my fans and sponsors. '.