PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Denke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ikuhisa Matsumoto has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Matsumoto
vs
Denke

180 cm
21
175 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Matsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karl Denke!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsumoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Matsumoto moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matsumoto.
Denke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matsumoto takes a shot to the head.
Denke's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Denke has a couple of punches blocked by Matsumoto.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matsumoto.

Denke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsumoto slips under a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Denke's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nice body punch from Matsumoto.
Denke blocks an elbow strike from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Denke wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matsumoto lands an elbow inside that Denke shrugs off.

It looks like Karl Denke has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Denke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke throws a head punch that misses.
Matsumoto lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matsumoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matsumoto working aggressively here.
A short left from Denke.
Denke is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Denke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Matsumoto trying to control the position but instead, Denke has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matsumoto into the cage.
Matsumoto misses with a body punch.
Matsumoto prevents a body shot from Denke.
Denke lands with a short shot to the head.
Denke has a couple of punches blocked by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto lands a hook that snaps the head of Denke backwards.
Denke throws a head punch that misses.
Denke tries to break the clinch but Matsumoto is controlling the position.
Denke has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Matsumoto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Denke can turn it around.
Matsumoto lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Denke blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice elbow from Matsumoto.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsumoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matsumoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Denke controls his hands.
Denke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Denke prevents a body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto tries a body shot but Denke blocks it.
Denke lands with a short shot to the head.
Denke wants to get back to striking at distance but Matsumoto won't allow it.
Denke misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Matsumoto.
Denke lands with a left to the head.
Matsumoto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Denke or not.
Matsumoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denke's elbow.
Matsumoto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Denke backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denke successfully pulls guard.
Matsumoto wanted to stand there but Denke had control of the position.
Matsumoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Denke on the ground.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Denke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsumoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Denke is looking for a triangle but Matsumoto pushes his legs off easily.

Denke is looking for a triangle but Matsumoto pushes his legs off easily.
Matsumoto trying to control but Denke is working from the bottom.
Denke seems keen to control Matsumoto's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke looking for a sweep. Not yet Denke, not yet.
Denke seems keen to control Matsumoto's posture.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Denke keeps moving.

Denke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Denke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Matsumoto defends it easily.
Matsumoto stopping the sweep attempt from Denke.
Matsumoto wanted to stand there but Denke had control of the position.
Matsumoto trying to control but Denke is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Karl Denke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karl Denke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch lands to the side of Denke 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Matsumoto missing with a left hand there. Denke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It seemed like Denke was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matsumoto throws a nice looking combination but Denke bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Matsumoto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Denke.
Matsumoto misses the body punch
and Denke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsumoto looks to land a left hand but Denke moved out of range nicely.
Denke throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matsumoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsumoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Denke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Denke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matsumoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsumoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Denke swings for the body but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Denke manages to avoid it.
Matsumoto wants to clinch up but Denke keeps it at a distance.
Matsumoto closes the distance but Denke moves to the side
and Denke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Matsumoto has closed the distance and engaged Denke in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Denke.
A head punch on the inside from Denke fails to land.
Denke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Denke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matsumoto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Matsumoto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Denke.
Matsumoto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Denke staying out of range there.
Denke tests Matsumoto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A looping hook to the body misses from Denke. Matsumoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Denke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Denke throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto moves away from the strike by Denke.
Denke misses with a body shot
and Denke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Matsumoto moves into the clinch successfully.
Matsumoto misses with a body punch.
Matsumoto lands a right hand.
Denke tries to score a body lock takedown but Matsumoto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Matsumoto as the two fighters clinch.
Matsumoto is looking to control Denke's arms but Denke gets an underhook and turns him. Now Matsumoto has his back to the cage.
Matsumoto takes a shot to the head.
Denke trying to stall but Matsumoto improves his position.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matsumoto misses with a punch to the body.
Nice elbow from Matsumoto.
Denke stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short left from Denke.
Denke misses with the head strike.
Matsumoto tries to work over Denke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Denke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Denke tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Matsumoto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Matsumoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denke's elbow.

Denke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matsumoto takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.
Denke throws an off balance right hand
letting Matsumoto counter with a right hand.
Matsumoto tries to clinch up but Denke circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke cracks Matsumoto with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matsumoto scores with a jab to the body.
Matsumoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Denke throws a lazy right hand but Matsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsumoto throws a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matsumoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matsumoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Denke moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Denke on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Matsumoto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Matsumoto instigates a clinch.
Denke throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
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 Ikuhisa Matsumoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karl Denke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Denke misses with an uppercut
enabling Matsumoto to counter with a crisp jab.
Matsumoto swings widly with a right hand
and Denke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice jab there from Denke.
Matsumoto takes one on the button.
Matsumoto on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Denke takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matsumoto takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Denke misses.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto wants to clinch.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little jabbing left from Denke on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke throws a body punch but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Matsumoto moves into the clinch successfully.
Matsumoto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Denke backwards.
Denke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Matsumoto walks away with a smile on his face. Denke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matsumoto tries to clinch up.
Nice uppercut lands for Matsumoto. That snapped Denke's head back.
Matsumoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Denke.
Matsumoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Denke! But no joy.
Denke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsumoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Denke.
A shot to the liver by Matsumoto. Beautiful body shot.
Matsumoto takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Matsumoto.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Matsumoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsumoto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsumoto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Matsumoto looks to land a combination but Denke avoids it well.
Denke misses with a straight left.
Matsumoto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ikuhisa Matsumoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Denke slips under a jab from Matsumoto.
Denke throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Denke counters with a straight right hand.
Matsumoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Matsumoto finds it's target.
Denke lands a head shot.
Denke lands a lovely overhand right.

Matsumoto is rocked!
Denke takes a swing at Matsumoto's ribcage but misses.
Oh Matsumoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Matsumoto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Denke finds it's way round the side to connect with Matsumoto's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsumoto. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Denke swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Denke avoids the body shot from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Denke.
Matsumoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Denke scores with a jab.
Denke misses the shot to the body.
Denke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Denke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Denke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot
and Denke counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Denke throws a jab when Matsumoto was well out of range.
Denke's corner calls for a 1-2. Denke obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsumoto misses with a hook
and Denke makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matsumoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Denke.
Matsumoto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Denke walks into a straight right hand from Matsumoto.
Denke slips under a jab from Matsumoto.
Matsumoto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Denke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Denke jabs Matsumoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Matsumoto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Denke counters with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Karl Denke.
I think Denke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Denke!
Karl Denke thanked the fans post fight for their support.