PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Van Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto has chosen Carl Douglas - Kung fu fighting as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kelly
vs
Matsumoto

181 cm
41
168 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

178 cm
44
170 lbs
35 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Matsumoto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matsumoto showed some decent athleticism there.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Matsumoto lands with a punch from half guard.

Kelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kelly makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kelly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto throws a big elbow that misses.

Kelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matsumoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matsumoto content to stall in guard here.

Matsumoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kelly has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Matsumoto has managed to get both his arms back between Kelly's legs - danger averted.
Kelly keeping full guard, as Matsumoto tries to pass.

Kelly escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matsumoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kelly has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Matsumoto slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly wants to get back to full guard.
Matsumoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.
Kelly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kelly is refusing to be controlled, as Matsumoto sits in half guard.

Kelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matsumoto pulls his head out easily.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matsumoto pulls his head out easily.

Kelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matsumoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Matsumoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Matsumoto wants to take a breather but Kelly is having none of it.
Kelly wants to get back to full guard.

Kelly looking for a kimura from the bottom but Matsumoto passes into side control!
Matsumoto is working Kelly over with some ground and pound from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsumoto working the ground and pound.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.
Kelly is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Matsumoto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kelly as he jumps to the side.
That kick from Matsumoto tenderised Kelly's leg. Kelly is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matsumoto leaves Kelly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matsumoto enables Kelly to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matsumoto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kelly.
Matsumoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly throws an elbow that misses. Matsumoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kelly's guard. Nice move by Matsumoto!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Matsumoto advances to half guard.
Kelly tries to get to full guard but Matsumoto has control of the leg.
Kelly is staying active underneath Matsumoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kelly wants to improve his position but Matsumoto is controlling well.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Matsumoto winds up and cracks Kelly with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kelly has hold of Matsumoto's hands but Matsumoto slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kelly is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Matsumoto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kelly tries to roll over but Matsumoto keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

Kelly with the active half guard here but Matsumoto passes nicely into side control.
Kelly is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsumoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Matsumoto prevents Kelly from improving his position.

Kelly has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Matsumoto escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Matsumoto!
Matsumoto scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kelly regains half guard.
Kelly gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

Kelly working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Matsumoto has passed into half guard!
Matsumoto controlling the action here.
Matsumoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kelly does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matsumoto thows a huge punch but Kelly dodges it nicely.

Kelly looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Matsumoto working Kelly over with strikes.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Matsumoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matsumoto drops an elbow to the side of Kelly's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matsumoto pulls his head out easily.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsumoto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kiyoshi Matsumoto has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsumoto wants to pass to mount but Kelly is defending the position.
Matsumoto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kelly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Matsumoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kelly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Matsumoto scores with a nice head shot.
Nice uppercut there from Matsumoto.
Kelly takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Matsumoto scores with a jab.
Matsumoto comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsumoto misses with a straight left.
Kelly looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kelly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matsumoto connects with an inside leg kick.
Matsumoto cracks Kelly with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly shoots in and gets a takedown into Matsumoto's guard.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matsumoto lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kelly has his foot on Matsumoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsumoto works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kelly looking for a guillotine here but Matsumoto defends easily.
Matsumoto trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matsumoto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Matsumoto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matsumoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kelly had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matsumoto defends it easily.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matsumoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kelly has an active guard here but Matsumoto has managed to pass into half guard.
Matsumoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Matsumoto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matsumoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kelly does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Matsumoto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Matsumoto drops an elbow to the side of Kelly's head.
Matsumoto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kelly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Matsumoto seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kelly wants to improve his position but Matsumoto is controlling well.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Van Kelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsumoto trying to control from half guard but Kelly is working away.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiyoshi Matsumoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matsumoto 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
An out of breath Kiyoshi Matsumoto thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.