PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kieran McArthur (ranked 273 p4p, 33 weight class) and Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 794 p4p, 36 weight class). Kieran McArthur is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

McArthur
vs
Matsunaga

175 cm
27
155 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
145 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kieran McArthur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsunaga drops his hands momentarily and McArthur takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Matsunaga misses with a hook. McArthur ducked under it nicely.
McArthur takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsunaga waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McArthur.
McArthur throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McArthur throws a wild body kick that Matsunaga sees coming a mile off.
Kieran McArthur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Matsunaga throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsunaga takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsunaga misses with a few strikes there.
McArthur throws a hook but Matsunaga avoids it easily.
Matsunaga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McArthur throws a leg kick which misses Matsunaga's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsunaga tries to avoid it.
McArthur connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matsunaga's hands.
McArthur takes a kick to the side of the head.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsunaga misses with a looping left.
Matsunaga throws a leg kick that misses.
McArthur slips under a jab.
McArthur checks the leg kick.
Matsunaga lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McArthur at a distance.
McArthur throws the left hand but Matsunaga avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Matsunaga was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot.
McArthur tries to score with a low kick but Matsunaga moves his leg out of the way.
Matsunaga throws out a leg kick but McArthur moves out of range and Matsunaga only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur sizes up Matsunaga with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McArthur keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matsunaga dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McArthur.
McArthur is looking to counter punch.
McArthur blocks a jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Matsunaga scores with a four punch combination!
McArthur throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matsunaga misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut. McArthur saw that one coming.
McArthur appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a head kick but McArthur moves out of range.
Matsunaga throws a nice outside leg kick.
McArthur throws a leg kick but Matsunaga sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matsunaga scores with a decent looking hook.
McArthur avoids the body shot from Matsunaga.
McArthur is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
McArthur tries to land a front kick but Matsunaga steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McArthur jabs at Matsunaga's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut. McArthur saw that one coming.
McArthur throws a push kick but Matsunaga slaps the foot to one side.
McArthur uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a low kick but it's checked well by McArthur.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matsunaga throws a hook but McArthur blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Matsunaga. Beautiful body shot.
McArthur comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McArthur takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Matsunaga slips a jab from McArthur.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the side of McArthur's head but McArthur sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McArthur misses with a body shot.
McArthur lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Matsunaga throws a solid leg kick but McArthur takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Matsunaga.
McArthur throws a lazy right hand but Matsunaga sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McArthur displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
McArthur was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A looping hook to the body misses from McArthur. Matsunaga does a little dance to reset his feet.
McArthur displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
Matsunaga will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matsunaga throws a jab when McArthur was well out of range.
Matsunaga lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Decent striking displayed by McArthur there.
McArthur with a nice cross.
McArthur wants to slow Matsunaga down by chopping away at his legs.
McArthur ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McArthur was well out of range. Poor timing from Matsunaga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsunaga now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McArthur fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
McArthur fakes the leg kick and cracks Matsunaga in the body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Matsunaga crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McArthur - the referee stops the clock and Matsunaga gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McArthur. Matsunaga manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Matsunaga.
McArthur slips under a jab.
McArthur slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
A swing and a miss from McArthur.
A telegraphed right hand from McArthur misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsunaga. McArthur does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Matsunaga misses.
McArthur uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McArthur.
Matsunaga connects with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsunaga avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McArthur throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matsunaga misses with a kick to the body.
Matsunaga jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but McArthur uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga just misses with a punch to the body.
McArthur ducks right into an uppercut from Matsunaga.
McArthur moves out of range of the strikes.
McArthur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Matsunaga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McArthur appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
McArthur lands a nice shot that snaps Matsunaga's head back.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot.
McArthur throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Matsunaga was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McArthur slips under a jab.
Matsunaga connects with a crisp jab.
Matsunaga looks to score with a jab to the body but McArthur is just out of range.
Matsunaga walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
McArthur pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McArthur misses with an attempted mid kick.
McArthur misses with a hook.
McArthur is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McArthur uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matsunaga.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McArthur.
Matsunaga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McArthur staying out of range there.
McArthur lands a nice hook to Matsunaga's body. Matsunaga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Futoshi Matsunaga will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McArthur scores with a nice strike.
McArthur throws a nice inside leg kick.
McArthur staying out of range there.
That kick from McArthur tenderised Matsunaga's leg. Matsunaga is trying to keep his angry face on.
Matsunaga clobbers McArthur with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Matsunaga's corner calls for a 1-2. Matsunaga obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Matsunaga throws out a loose jab but McArthur uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Matsunaga throws a head kick that misses.
McArthur throws a lazy right hand but Matsunaga sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice body kick there by McArthur.
Matsunaga lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsunaga moves forwards but McArthur connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McArthur throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
McArthur throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsunaga throws a body kick that misses.
McArthur scoring well with a low kick there.
McArthur tries to score with a low kick but Matsunaga moves his leg out of the way.
Matsunaga checks a low kick from McArthur.
McArthur avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsunaga takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Matsunaga misses with a looping left.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut.
No joy there for Matsunaga, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matsunaga just misses with a punch to the body.
McArthur throws a body punch but Matsunaga moves out of range.
McArthur connects with an inside leg kick.
McArthur slips under a jab.
Matsunaga swinging wildly here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McArthur does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McArthur finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Matsunaga looks to land a left hand but McArthur moved out of range nicely.
Matsunaga takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McArthur swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsunaga misses with a double jab.
Matsunaga throws a body punch but McArthur moves out of range.
Matsunaga misses the jab.
McArthur slips under a jab from Matsunaga.
Kieran McArthur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur slips a straight right by Matsunaga.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McArthur lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Matsunaga has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Matsunaga and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Matsunaga drops his hands momentarily and McArthur takes advantage with a crisp shot 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 shot to the liver by McArthur. Beautiful body shot.
McArthur throws a leg kick which misses Matsunaga's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsunaga tries to avoid it.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McArthur looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Matsunaga drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
McArthur throws the kick towards the body but Matsunaga avoids it.
Kieran McArthur is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Matsunaga misses.
McArthur connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A jab from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Matsunaga misses with a hook.
Matsunaga moves forwards but McArthur connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matsunaga bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsunaga's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McArthur throws a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head but Matsunaga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsunaga. McArthur does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsunaga uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McArthur has time to react.
McArthur throws a hook but Matsunaga blocks it.
Matsunaga throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McArthur sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsunaga takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
Matsunaga works McArthur's body with a nice hook.
McArthur ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matsunaga looks to land a left hand but McArthur moved out of range nicely.
McArthur throws a body shot but no joy.
McArthur misses with a looping right.
McArthur blocks a head kick by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as McArthur backs up against the cage.
McArthur misses with a straight left.
McArthur connects with an inside leg kick.
McArthur misses with a kick to the body
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
McArthur misses with a low kick.
Matsunaga misses with a straight left.
Nice cross by McArthur.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga tries to score with a low kick but McArthur moves his leg out of the way.
A good leg kick by McArthur.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur thows a left - swing and a miss!
A decent looking cross lands there for McArthur.
Matsunaga's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Matsunaga duly obliges.
McArthur stuns Matsunaga with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McArthur swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McArthur moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromMatsunaga.
Jab from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the leg kick from McArthur.
Matsunaga throws a hook but McArthur avoids it easily.
Matsunaga pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McArthur back to the cage. Matsunaga follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Matsunaga has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from McArthur.
McArthur tries a low kick but Matsunaga avoids it.
McArthur throws a low kick but Matsunaga moves out of range easily.
Matsunaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
Matsunaga punishes McArthur's body with a nice straight punch.
McArthur takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Matsunaga pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsunaga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McArthur goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Matsunaga doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McArthur tries to work over Matsunaga's front leg with a kick but Matsunaga checks it.
Matsunaga is looking for the big counter here.
Matsunaga lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McArthur circles away quickly and effectively.
McArthur throws a big counter combination but Matsunaga scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
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 Kieran McArthur will probably get the nod.
That's time! McArthur's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McArthur scores with a leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
Matsunaga throws a poor cross that misses
and McArthur counters with a good, hard body kick but Matsunaga shrugs it off.
Matsunaga on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McArthur. McArthur obviously looking to wear him down.
McArthur throws a body punch but Matsunaga moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsunaga misses the target.
McArthur looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McArthur throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McArthur moves out of range of the body kick.
Matsunaga lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McArthur finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McArthur throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsunaga's corner calls for a 1-2. Matsunaga obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McArthur checks the leg kick.
Matsunaga jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McArthur is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Matsunaga.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matsunaga takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Matsunaga throws a good cross that connects.
Matsunaga throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McArthur's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for McArthur.
Matsunaga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McArthur jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsunaga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by McArthur.
Matsunaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
McArthur bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McArthur cracks Matsunaga with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
Matsunaga has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by McArthur.
McArthur tries a head kick but it misses.
McArthur will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Matsunaga swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McArthur. Matsunaga shrugs it off though.
Matsunaga misses with a looping right.
McArthur jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
McArthur fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsunaga manages to avoid it.
Matsunaga scores with a nice head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McArthur throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matsunaga connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur misses with a body kick.
Matsunaga takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Futoshi Matsunaga has been cut.
Matsunaga misses with a head kick.
Matsunaga connects with a crisp jab.
A jab from McArthur misses.
Matsunaga checks the leg kick nicely there.
McArthur looks to land a body kick but Matsunaga moved away.
McArthur throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Matsunaga counters with a stiff right hand.
McArthur fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsunaga checks it well.
Donk. McArthur catches Matsunaga right on the button with a cross.
McArthur connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McArthur misses with a kick to the body.
Matsunaga works McArthur's body with a nice hook.
McArthur checks a leg kick.
McArthur throwing a counter right hand but Matsunaga manages to avoid it.
McArthur getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McArthur blocks a jab.
McArthur thinks about countering with a body kick.
Matsunaga takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McArthur keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga throws the left hand but McArthur avoids the punch easily.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick nicely.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McArthur cracks the inside of Matsunaga's front leg.
McArthur lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McArthur avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A head kick misses from Matsunaga.
McArthur misses with a body kick.
A low kick from McArthur is predictable there
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
McArthur throws a big shot that misses.
McArthur misses with a shot to the body
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
McArthur ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsunaga plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Matsunaga fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McArthur has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A big left from Matsunaga misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsunaga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McArthur throws a wild body kick that Matsunaga sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Matsunaga throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McArthur throws a shot to the body.
Matsunaga misses with a looping right.
McArthur lands with a nice body kick.
Matsunaga does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McArthur appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
McArthur throws out a leg kick but Matsunaga moves out of range and McArthur only half commits.
McArthur fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsunaga checks it well.
McArthur feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Matsunaga's calf.
McArthur avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McArthur looks to land a left hand but Matsunaga moved out of range nicely.
McArthur looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McArthur takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Matsunaga moves out of range easily.
Matsunaga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsunaga checks a leg kick.
McArthur misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Matsunaga finds it's way through McArthur's defenses.
Matsunaga moves away from the strike by McArthur.

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 Kieran McArthur.
Well McArthur 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kieran McArthur!
Kieran McArthur decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.