PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Matsuda Taro (ranked 679 p4p, 79 weight class) and Chan Sung Aoki (ranked 6435 p4p, 527 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taro
vs
Sung Aoki

164 cm
26
145 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

181 cm
33
157 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Fast

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matsuda Taro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Chan Sung Aoki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taro shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aoki eats them both and turns towards Taro to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Chan Sung Aoki has been cut.
Aoki with a nice cross.
Taro lands the left hand.
Taro catches Aoki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aoki throws the kick towards the body but Taro avoids it.

Taro rushes Aoki and presses him up against the ropes.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
Taro is trying to maintain a safe position but Aoki gets an underhook and turns Taro into the ropes.
Taro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taro prevents a body shot from Aoki.
Aoki misses with a punch on the inside.
Taro is trying to stall.
Taro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taro lands a hook that snaps the head of Aoki backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aoki tries to work over Taro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Taro lands with a short shot to the head.
Taro struggles to land a body shot inside as Aoki controls his hands.
Taro tries to work over Aoki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taro tries to work over Aoki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Taro.
Taro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Taro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aokis head.
Taro misses with a punch to the body.
Taro misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Taro.
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
Aoki lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Taro.
Taro takes an elbow to the forehead.
Aoki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Stalling in the clinch from Taro.

Taro breaks the clinch.
Taro misses with an uppercut.
Aoki moves out of range as Taro throws a body kick.
Aoki takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aoki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Taro to score with a decent uppercut.
Matsuda Taro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aoki clinches up against the ropes.
Taro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taro's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Taro.
Taro stalling against the ropes.
Taro is working Aoki over against the ropes.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki tries to land knees in the clinch but Taro avoids the damage to the body.
Taro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taro works on Aoki's body with a couple of short punches.
Aoki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Taro is leaning against Aoki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taro stalling in the clinch.
Aoki tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Taro's elbow.
Aoki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Taro is blocking nicely.
Aoki misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsuda Taro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chan Sung Aoki's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

An inside leg kick lands from Taro.
Taro pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aoki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Taro.
A bone on bone clash there as Taro blocks the leg kick.
Taro throws a quick counter kick to the body but Aoki avoids it.
Aoki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Aoki connects with a crisp jab.
Taro misses the jab.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch but Taro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As Aoki backs away, Taro returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Taro tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Aoki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aoki unleashes a big counter combination but Taro bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Taro looks to score with a jab to the body but Aoki is just out of range.
Aoki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taro looks to throw the jab but Aoki is out of range.
Taro misses with a hook.
Taro moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromAoki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Taro misses.
Taro lands with a hook. Aoki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Aoki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Taro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aoki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aoki scores with a jab.
Taro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aoki can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aoki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taro throws a low kick but Aoki moves out of range easily.

Aoki clinches.
Aoki misses with the head strike.
Taro'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.
Aoki blocks an uppercut.
I was talking to Taro's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Taro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aoki lands a right hand.
Taro is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Aoki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Taro tries a body shot but Aoki blocks it.
Aoki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Taro taking a breather.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Taro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taro gets through Aoki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Taro tries to work over Aoki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Aoki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Taro's face.
A short left from Aoki.
Taro wants to stall.
Aoki has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Taro seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Aoki can turn it around.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taro throws a punch but it's blocked by Aoki.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aoki lands with a light punch inside.
Taro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Aoki looking to throw knees to the head but Taro is blocking nicely.
Taro managing to block the knees to the body from Aoki.
A right handed body shot lands from Aoki.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Aoki tries to work over Taro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taro misses with a punch to the body.
Aoki prevents a body shot from Taro.
Aoki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chan Sung Aoki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Chan Sung Aoki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Aoki slips a jab from Taro.
Aoki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Taro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Aoki throws a body shot but no joy.
Taro throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Aoki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice straight punches there by Taro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Taro.
Aoki slips a jab from Taro.
Aoki lands a really nice looking cross but Taro seems unphased.
A chopping leg kick lands by Taro.
Aoki lands a nice hook to Taro's body. Taro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Aoki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aoki is looking to clinch but Taro is avoiding it.
Taro just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aoki throws a sloppy head kick and Taro moves out of range easily.
Taro was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Aoki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Taro throws out the jab.
Taro looks to land a right hand but Aoki moved out of range.
Aoki scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taro has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Taro.
Aoki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Taro blocks it with crossed arms.

Taro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aoki lands a nice shot to the body.
Taro misses the shot to the body.
Aoki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Taro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big left from Aoki misses.
Taro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taro misses the shot to the body.
Aoki gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Taro counters with a nice uppercut.
Aoki ducks right into an uppercut from Taro.
Nice body punch from Aoki.
Aoki looks to score with a jab to the body but Taro is just out of range.
Aoki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aoki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taro misses with a hook.
Aoki moves out of range as Taro strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aoki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Aoki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Taro to score with a decent uppercut.
Aoki takes one to the chin there.

Aoki has managed to clinch.
Aoki takes a shot to the head.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Aoki misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taro.
Taro misses with a body punch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Aoki throws an elbow but misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Taro.
Aoki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Taro misses with a body punch.
Taro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Aoki backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsuda Taro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Taro 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsuda Taro!
Matsuda Taro was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.