PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 490 p4p, 842 weight class) and Samuel Sanchez (ranked 77 p4p, 127 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Matsuzaka
vs
Sanchez

179 cm
26
181
14 - 5 - 1

185 cm
24
180
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Chris Dean and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka misses with the body kick
and Matsuzaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sanchez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sanchez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sanchez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Matsuzaka sneaks back into half guard.
Sanchez winds up and cracks Matsuzaka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sanchez prevents Matsuzaka from improving his position.
Sanchez wants to control but Matsuzaka is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Matsuzaka is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at GWad's Playpen that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Sanchez misses with a head shot. Matsuzaka uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matsuzaka keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.
Matsuzaka keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Matsuzaka trying to control the position here.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsuzaka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sanchez chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanchez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsuzaka has momentary wrist control but Sanchez slips an elbow through the middle.
Sanchez is stalling in the full guard.
Matsuzaka keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws an elbow that misses. Matsuzaka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sanchez's guard. Nice move by Matsuzaka!

Matsuzaka stays in close to Sanchez's body and controls the position.

Sanchez is looking for a triangle but Matsuzaka pushes his legs off easily.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matsuzaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Matsuzaka stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.
Matsuzaka engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sanchez is looking to sweep but instead, Matsuzaka has passed into half guard.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Matsuzaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez wants to control but Matsuzaka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sanchez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanchez.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sanchez dominated that round.
That's time! Matsuzaka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matsuzaka scores with the left hand. Sanchez knows he should have avoided that one.
Matsuzaka lands with a good body shot.

Matsuzaka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanchez, pushing him back against the cage.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sanchez throws a punch but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka digs a right hand into Sanchez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sanchez's gas tank.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanchez as Matsuzaka tries to tie him up.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanchez has clasped his hands together around Matsuzaka's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sanchez controls the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsuzaka gets back to half guard.
Matsuzaka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with a punch from half guard.
Matsuzaka is looking to improve his position.
Sanchez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Matsuzaka's head.
Sanchez lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Sanchez.
Matsuzaka is not content to let Sanchez control the position.
Matsuzaka is looking to improve his position.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsuzaka defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matsuzaka trying to control here.
Sanchez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanchez winds up and cracks Matsuzaka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matsuzaka defending well though.
Matsuzaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Matsuzaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez is looking to stall here but Matsuzaka recovers full guard.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Matsuzaka keeps moving.
Sanchez throws a strike but Matsuzaka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsuzaka is one step ahead there.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but instead Matsuzaka has moved into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez wants to improve his position but Matsuzaka is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samuel Sanchez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Sanchez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot.

Matsuzaka closes the distance and pushes Sanchez back into the cage.
Matsuzaka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Matsuzaka lands a shot to the body.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Matsuzaka avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Sanchez.
Matsuzaka stalling in the clinch but Sanchez improves position.
Matsuzaka misses with an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow just above Sanchez 's eye.
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka blocking some punches.
Sanchez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sanchez can't get the takedown.
Sanchez misses with a punch on the inside.
Matsuzaka is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Matsuzaka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Matsuzaka can't find room to land a body shot as Sanchez controls the action.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez blocks an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Sanchez tries to stall but Matsuzaka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sanchez is working for takedown but Matsuzaka is calmly controlling the position for now.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Sanchez.
Nice elbow from Matsuzaka.

It looks like Samuel Sanchez has been cut.
Sanchez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka blocks an uppercut.
Matsuzaka lands with a short shot to the head.
Matsuzaka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samuel Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it misses.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matsuzaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanchez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez takes a shot to the head.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanchez lands with a right to the head.
Matsuzaka pushes off an throws an elbow but Sanchez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sanchez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a left to the head.
Sanchez dodges an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Sanchez misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sanchez blocks a body shot from Matsuzaka.
Sanchez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Matsuzaka lands a body shot in the clinch.
Matsuzaka gets through Sanchez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.
Sanchez avoids a wild elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sanchez misses with the head strike.
Matsuzaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sanchez misses with a punch on the inside.
Sanchez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matsuzaka scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Matsuzaka after a bit of a struggle.
Matsuzaka takes a shot to the head.
Sanchez wants to stall.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matsuzaka throws a head punch that misses.
Matsuzaka lands a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Matsuzaka.
Sanchez blocks an elbow strike from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keisuke Matsuzaka showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Samuel Sanchez!