PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Futoshi Matsunaga (ranked 176 p4p, 167 weight class) and Sarfraz Ali (ranked 22 p4p, 19 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Matsunaga
vs
Ali

170 cm
32
145
26 - 12 - 2

165 cm
32
155
24 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Aspire Clothing

Conviction
Aspire Clothing

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 26 - 12 - 2, fighting out of New York, Futoshi Matsunaga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sarfraz Ali!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Ali.
Matsunaga takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab from Matsunaga misses.
Matsunaga displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ali throws out the jab.
Ali swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ali fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsunaga has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ali misses with a jab to the body
enabling Matsunaga to counter with a crisp jab.

Ali pushes Matsunaga up against the cage in a clinch.
Ali misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matsunaga.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Matsunaga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Matsunaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ali lands with a good body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ali looks to land a left hand but Matsunaga moved out of range nicely.
Ali swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Matsunaga tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ali looks to throw a body kick
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matsunaga takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ali throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matsunaga fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ali just manages to avoid it.
Ali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ali fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsunaga checks it well.
Ali lands with a hook. Matsunaga tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ali moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ali connects with a body shot.
Ali comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ali displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsunaga throws out the jab.
Matsunaga takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.

Matsunaga manages to break the clinch.
Matsunaga takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ali gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matsunaga.
Ali misses with some punches.
Ali tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsunaga blocks an uppercut.
Matsunaga blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Matsunaga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali misses the jab.
Ali just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMatsunaga.
Ali lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ali throws a shot from downtown. Matsunaga moves away and avoids it.
Ali buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ali throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matsunaga on the side of the head.
A jab from Ali does it's job there.
Matsunaga misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the body kick.
Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ali.
Matsunaga wants to slow Ali down by chopping away at his legs.
Matsunaga swats away the attempt to clinch by Ali.
Ali moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matsunaga walks into a jab.
Ali's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsunaga under the eye.
Ali throws a shot from downtown. Matsunaga moves away and avoids it.
Ali is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Matsunaga had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ali throws a hook but Matsunaga blocks it.
Good leg kick by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga walks into a left hand.
Ali keeps Matsunaga at a distance using the push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Ali.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ali 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.
Ali with the inside leg kick.
Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsunaga.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsunaga misses the target.
Ali throws out a loose jab but Matsunaga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsunaga misses with an uppercut.
Matsunaga checks the leg kick.
Ali lands with an uppercut that bounces Matsunaga off the cage and back into range.

Ali takes the fight into the clinch.

Matsunaga breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matsunaga moves out of range as Ali throws a body kick.
Matsunaga looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ali connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Matsunaga throws a right and a left that Ali avoids nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsunaga scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarfraz Ali dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed right hand from Matsunaga misses the target.
Ali tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick from Ali misses.
Matsunaga misses with a straight right.
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little feinted left hand from Matsunaga on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matsunaga blocks a jab.
Jab, jab by Ali - just one landing.
Matsunaga sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ali misses with a straight right.
Matsunaga has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ali.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head.
Matsunaga moves away from the strike by Ali.
Ali thows a leg kick but Matsunaga checks it
and Matsunaga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matsunaga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ali can pounce on him.
Ali fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsunaga on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ali attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Matsunaga quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Ali.
Matsunaga is looking to counter punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ali.
Ali with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ali ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Sarfraz Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ali buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ali connects with an inside leg kick.
Ali throws a body kick that misses.
Matsunaga is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Matsunaga takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Matsunaga loads up on a big right hand but Ali slips the punch.
Matsunaga throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsunaga on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matsunaga slips under a jab from Ali.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Ali.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali lands with an overhand left.
Ali thows a leg kick but Matsunaga checks it
and Matsunaga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsunaga checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matsunaga swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsunaga was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Matsunaga appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ali scores with a push kick.
Ali fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matsunaga avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ali throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ali takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ali uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsunaga.
Ali attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ali throws out a leg kick but Matsunaga moves out of range and Ali only half commits.
Matsunaga throws a big shot that misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ali.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ali. That's going to slow Matsunaga down.
Ali swings widly with a right hand
and Matsunaga counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ali bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head.
Ali motions for Matsunaga to come forward. Ali throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Good leg kick by Ali.
Matsunaga throws a hook to the side of Ali's head but Ali sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ali buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ali throws a half hearted mid kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Matsunaga.
Ali tries to score with a low kick but Matsunaga moves his leg out of the way.
Ali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Ali looks to move away, Matsunaga throws a big counter combo but Ali just gets out of the way.
Matsunaga misses with a body shot.
Ali flicks out a counter leg kick but Matsunaga steps away.
Ali throws a hook to the side of Matsunaga's head but Matsunaga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ali moves out of range as Matsunaga strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali throws a looping overhand right but Matsunaga ducks down to avoid it.
Ali looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
Ali tries to score with a low kick but Matsunaga moves his leg out of the way.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsunaga slips a jab from Ali.
Matsunaga was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ali scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Matsunaga looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Matsunaga avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ali stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ali scores with a spinning back kick!
Ali throws a lazy uppercut
and Matsunaga cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ali lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ali shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Matsunaga moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarfraz Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matsunaga throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ali uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsunaga.
A low kick from Ali is predictable there
and Matsunaga counters with an inside leg kick.
Matsunaga connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ali. Ali circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ali takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ali scoring well with a low kick there.
Matsunaga looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ali lands a leg kick that knocks Matsunaga off balance momentarily.
Ali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick from Ali misses
and Matsunaga counters with a good low kick that Ali was not able to check.
Ali lets loose with a powerful body kick. Matsunaga will feel that in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ali ducks under a wild hook from Matsunaga.
Matsunaga takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ali scores with a nice head 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!
Matsunaga checks a leg kick nicely.
Matsunaga feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Ali.
Ali throws a front kick aimed at Matsunaga's knee but Matsunaga avoids it well.
Matsunaga swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ali throws a poor cross that misses
letting Matsunaga counter with a right hand.
Ali takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ali is looking to chop away at Matsunaga's legs.
Matsunaga takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ali with the inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Ali, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ali wants to land a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Ali misses with a kick to the body
and Matsunaga counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ali misses with a hook. Matsunaga ducked under it nicely.
Ali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ali throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Matsunaga on the side of the head.
Ali throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali throws a low kick but it's checked well by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga is looking to counter with head kicks.
Some bone on bone action there as Matsunaga checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Matsunaga steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ali.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut there from Ali.
Ali connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Matsunaga takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice defenses there by Matsunaga.
Matsunaga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsunaga was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ali closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A lazy left from Ali finds it's target.
Ali jabs Matsunaga right on the nose. Matsunaga blinks but takes it well.
Ali lands with a nice body kick.
Ali motions for Matsunaga to come forward. Ali throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsunaga appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Matsunaga tries to move into range but Ali moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsunaga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A good leg kick by Ali.
Matsunaga scores with a hook.
Matsunaga thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ali if he has to take too many more of those.
Ali feints and then cracks Matsunaga's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsunaga down.
Matsunaga takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A jab from Ali misses.
Ali misses with an uppercut. Matsunaga saw that one coming.
Ali connects with an inside leg kick.
Ali lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matsunaga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ali can pounce on him.
Futoshi Matsunaga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matsunaga gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsunaga chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ali can pounce on him.

Matsunaga gets tackled into the cage by Ali. Ali maintains the clinch.

Matsunaga breaks from the clinch.
Matsunaga steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ali.
Ali wants to clinch.
Ali cracks Matsunaga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ali throws a hook but Matsunaga avoids it easily.
Ali wants to land a leg kick but Matsunaga is out of range.
Matsunaga throwing a counter right hand but Ali manages to avoid it.
Ali uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsunaga.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sarfraz Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ali 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sarfraz Ali!
A very excited looking Sarfraz Ali 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.