PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Steamboat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Carl Douglas - Kung fu fighting. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Steamboat
vs
Matsumoto

178 cm
36
163 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

178 cm
45
170 lbs
36 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Steamboat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steamboat tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Matsumoto is able to avoid easily.
Steamboat misses with a straight left.
Steamboat tries to clinch there but Matsumoto circles away.
Steamboat throws a leg kick that misses.
Matsumoto now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steamboat throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Kiyoshi Matsumoto has been cut.
Steamboat misses with an uppercut
and Matsumoto counters with a right hand to the body.
A leg kick checked by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steamboat misses with a double jab.
Steamboat attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matsumoto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Matsumoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steamboat.
A nice side step and Matsumoto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Steamboat connects with a high kick.
Steamboat misses the jab.
Matsumoto thuds his right hand into Steamboat's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Steamboat 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Steamboat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matsumoto blocks a head kick by Steamboat.
Decent striking displayed by Steamboat there.
Matsumoto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Steamboat.
Matsumoto connects with a looping right hand.
Matsumoto misses with a head kick.
Steamboat tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsumoto throws a leg kick but Steamboat checks it.
Steamboat seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nice body punch from Matsumoto.
Nice defenses there by Matsumoto.
A low kick from Matsumoto is predictable there
and Steamboat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsumoto lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steamboat misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Matsumoto lands a nice hook to Steamboat's body. Steamboat takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Steamboat tries a head kick but it misses.
Matsumoto scoring well with a low kick there.
Matsumoto blocks a head kick by Steamboat.
A countering left hand to the body from Matsumoto misses.
Matsumoto slips under a jab.
Steamboat with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A low kick from Steamboat is predictable there
and Steamboat takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steamboat misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsumoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steamboat avoids the body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws a big shot that misses.
Steamboat tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Matsumoto manages to circle out of the way.

Matsumoto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Steamboat bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsumoto's guard.

Matsumoto trying to keep a closed guard but Steamboat is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto has a closed guard, preventing Steamboat from standing up.
Steamboat postures up in Matsumoto's guard and throws a big left but Matsumoto blocks it.
Matsumoto looking for a sweep. Not yet Matsumoto, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steamboat accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steamboat sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Steamboat postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Steamboat tries to free his leg and advance position but Matsumoto is retaining full guard.
Matsumoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steamboat trying to control the position from guard on top but Matsumoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsumoto being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matsumoto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matsumoto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Matsumoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ricky Steamboat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsumoto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Steamboat blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricky Steamboat will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kiyoshi Matsumoto's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Steamboat swinging wildly here.
Steamboat is looking to score with low kicks.
Steamboat misses with a body kick.
Steamboat's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsumoto under the eye.
Steamboat misses with a jab to the body
and Matsumoto counters with a straight right hand.
Steamboat thows a leg kick but Matsumoto checks it
and Matsumoto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Matsumoto lands a nice shot that snaps Steamboat's head back.
Matsumoto cracks Steamboat with a good jab.
Matsumoto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Matsumoto sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Steamboat to the ground! Matsumoto dives into full mount looking to finish!

Steamboat is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steamboat regains half guard.
Oh Steamboat is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matsumoto is trying to control. Steamboat wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Steamboat seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Steamboat!
Steamboat tries to hold on but Matsumoto pushes him away.
Matsumoto postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Steamboat looks a forlorn figure.
Steamboat is wriggling around trying to escape.
Steamboat is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Steamboat tries to hold on but Matsumoto postures up.
Steamboat holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Matsumoto tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Steamboat working to try and regain half guard.
Steamboat regains half guard.
Steamboat is staying active underneath Matsumoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steamboat is trying to control but can't.
Steamboat slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steamboat trying to keep a closed guard but Matsumoto is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto working some strikes from top position.
Steamboat is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Matsumoto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Matsumoto engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Steamboat is trying to keep Matsumoto in close.
Matsumoto postures up in Steamboat's guard and throws a big left but Steamboat blocks it.
Matsumoto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Steamboat's guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Matsumoto connects with a nice short shot to Steamboat's temple.

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 winds up and cracks Steamboat with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Matsumoto passes into side control, despite Steamboat's attempt to control the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto working the head and body with strikes.
Steamboat is trying to control Matsumoto's posture but Matsumoto avoids it.
Steamboat tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Steamboat keeps working.
Steamboat is looking for a sweep.
Matsumoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matsumoto scores with punches from side control.
Steamboat tries to improve position but can't.
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.
The cut man is working on Kiyoshi Matsumoto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steamboat misses the jab.
Matsumoto punishes Steamboat's body with a nice straight punch.
Matsumoto catches Steamboat with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Steamboat fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsumoto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matsumoto throws a leg kick but Steamboat moved away.
A swing and a miss from Matsumoto.
Steamboat misses with a combination
and Matsumoto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Steamboat misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steamboat lands a leg kick that knocks Matsumoto off balance momentarily.
Steamboat misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsumoto.
Steamboat slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Steamboat on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Steamboat looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsumoto is just out of range.
Steamboat fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsumoto manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Steamboat takes a step back to recover.
Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Steamboat as he avoids it easily.
Matsumoto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Matsumoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Kiyoshi Matsumoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steamboat scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Steamboat throws a leg kick that is checked
and Matsumoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsumoto connects with a nice looking jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Matsumoto.
Steamboat throws a hook but Matsumoto avoids it easily.
Matsumoto appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Matsumoto jabs at Steamboat's body.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steamboat slips a jab from Matsumoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto misses with a body kick.
Steamboat on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Steamboat motions for Matsumoto to come forward. Steamboat throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsumoto fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Steamboat looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A head kick misses from Steamboat.
Steamboat throws a jab when Matsumoto was well out of range.
Matsumoto misses the shot to the body.
Steamboat checks a low kick from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steamboat.
Matsumoto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Steamboat checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Steamboat lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Steamboat moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Steamboat throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matsumoto counters with a good low kick that Steamboat was not able to check.
Ricky Steamboat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steamboat misses with a head kick.
Matsumoto clobbers Steamboat with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Steamboat throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsumoto.
Steamboat takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matsumoto scores with a body shot.
Matsumoto blocks a head kick by Steamboat.
Steamboat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsumoto moves away.
Steamboat misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsumoto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Matsumoto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Steamboat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a head kick.
Steamboat moves forwards but Matsumoto connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto jabs at Steamboat's body.
Steamboat fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsumoto checks it well.
A low kick from Steamboat misses
and Matsumoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steamboat scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steamboat lands a leg kick that knocks Matsumoto off balance momentarily.
Matsumoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Steamboat manages to avoid it.
Steamboat fails in his attempt to clinch.
And Matsumoto tries to counter it with a takedown but Steamboat pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Steamboat misses with a double jab
letting Matsumoto counter with a right hand.
Matsumoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsumoto blocks the body kick.
Steamboat tries to land a leg kick but Matsumoto saw it coming and moves away.

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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyoshi Matsumoto!
A very excited looking Kiyoshi Matsumoto made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.