PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 790 p4p, 601 weight class) and Arthur Morgan (ranked 127 p4p, 89 weight class). Matsuda comes to the cage accompanied by Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King. Morgan has chosen Battle Cry as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Arthur Morgan was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Matsuda
vs
Morgan

190 cm
27
200
15 - 5 - 0

186 cm
33
202
16 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Conquer
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arthur Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morgan throws a hook but Matsuda avoids it easily.
Morgan connects with a leg kick.
Matsuda moves away from the strike by Morgan.
Matsuda feinted with a counter takedown.
Matsuda lands with a nice body punch.
Matsuda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A decent looking cross lands there for Morgan.
Arthur Morgan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuda moves away.
Matsuda jabs at Morgan's body.
Matsuda blocks a jab.
Morgan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuda tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Matsuda lands with a straight right. Morgan didn't see that one coming.
Matsuda throws out a loose jab but Morgan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morgan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsuda's head backwards.
Matsuda takes one on the chin but seems OK.
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!
Matsuda changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Morgan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matsuda cracks Morgan with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan throws a wild body kick that Matsuda sees coming a mile off.
Matsuda tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morgan avoids the body shot from Matsuda.
Matsuda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuda.
Matsuda ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Morgan takes a swing at Matsuda's ribcage but misses.
Morgan throws a looping overhand right but Matsuda ducks down to avoid it.
Morgan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Morgan has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Matsuda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Morgan manages to avoid it.
A cross from Morgan lands.
Morgan avoids the body shot from Matsuda.
Morgan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Matsuda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda misses the shot to the body.
Matsuda misses with a straight right.
The fighters circling - Morgan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Morgan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morgan throws a sloppy body shot
and Matsuda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuda misses with a straight left.
Morgan swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Morgan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Morgan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuda.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matsuda, as that shot connected.
Morgan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Morgan is looking to slow Matsuda down with leg kicks.
Morgan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morgan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matsuda.
Jab, jab by Matsuda - just one landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Morgan.
Morgan throws a looping overhand right but Matsuda ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan cracks Matsuda with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Matsuda staying out of range there.
Matsuda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Matsuda defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Morgan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuda.
A low kick from Morgan is predictable there

and Matsuda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Morgan's guard.
Morgan has Matsuda pulled in close to control his posture.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing.
Morgan trying to control the position here.
Matsuda postures up.
Morgan wants to sweep here but Matsuda controlling him for the moment.
Matsuda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matsuda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Matsuda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Matsuda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Morgan working a defensive guard here.
Morgan pulls Matsuda in close to his closed guard and prevents Matsuda from doing any damage or advancing position.
Matsuda engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Morgan trying to control the position here.
Matsuda wants to pass the guard but Morgan is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arthur Morgan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Morgan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Morgan throws a body shot but no joy.
Morgan stuns Matsuda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matsuda looks to score with a jab to the body but Morgan is just out of range.
A nice side step and Morgan releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Matsuda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A left lands for Morgan.
Morgan misses with a looping right.
Morgan slips under a jab from Matsuda.
Morgan throws a hook but Matsuda blocks it.
Matsuda moves out of range of the leg kick from Morgan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan jabs Matsuda right on the nose. Matsuda blinks but takes it well.
Morgan lands the left hand.

Matsuda shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matsuda showed some decent athleticism there.

Morgan kicks off Matsuda and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a body punch but Morgan moves out of range.
Matsuda misses with a straight left.
Morgan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Matsuda looks to throw the jab but Morgan is out of range.
Matsuda takes a swing at Morgan's ribcage but misses.
Matsuda fails with a takedown attempt.
Matsuda blocks a head kick by Morgan.
Matsuda ducks under a wild hook from Morgan.
Matsuda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morgan.
Morgan feints and then cracks Matsuda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matsuda down.
Matsuda misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Morgan as he avoids it easily.
Morgan misses with an uppercut
and Matsuda counters with a left to the body.
Matsuda slips a straight right by Morgan.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Morgan. That's going to slow Matsuda down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Matsuda.
Morgan throws a one two combo.
Morgan throws a wild body kick that Matsuda sees coming a mile off.
Matsuda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morgan throws out the jab.
Arthur Morgan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Matsuda drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Morgan can't do much from the bottom here.
Matsuda scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Matsuda's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Morgan is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan taking punishment in the form of punches.
Morgan being controlled for a moment.
Matsuda working the head with strikes.
Matsuda in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Morgan is trying to control Matsuda's posture but Matsuda avoids it.
Matsuda controls the position.
Matsuda working the body and head with strikes.
Morgan controls the position for a moment.
Morgan wants to control but Matsuda postures up.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda tries to advance to mount but Morgan denies him.
Matsuda working the ground and pound.
Matsuda lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan is trying to get back to half guard.
Matsuda looks up at the clock and then as Morgan takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matsuda smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Morgan is trying to control Matsuda's posture but Matsuda avoids it.
Matsuda cracks Morgan with a big elbow.
Morgan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Matsuda's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morgan is pressing down on Matsuda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Matsuda throws a big elbow that misses.
Matsuda looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Matsuda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morgan defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arthur Morgan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tanaka Matsuda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Morgan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Matsuda doesn't seem bothered though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Matsuda darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Morgan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Matsuda under the eye.
Matsuda throws a big shot that misses.
Matsuda blocks a low kick nicely.
Matsuda defending well as Morgan loads up on a big left hand.
Matsuda throwing a counter right hand but Morgan manages to avoid it.
Matsuda dips to his left and cracks Morgan with an uppercut!
Matsuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda slips a jab from Morgan.
Matsuda works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matsuda throws a hook but Morgan blocks it.
Morgan throws a body punch but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda misses with a lunging right hand
and Morgan counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda catches Morgan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Morgan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Matsuda misses with a wild body shot.
Matsuda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morgan moves away.
Morgan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Matsuda if he has to take too many more of those.
Nice defenses there by Morgan.
Matsuda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morgan.
Morgan connects with a solid leg kick.
Morgan throws a low kick, looking for Matsuda's leg but Matsuda calmly moves out of range.
Morgan misses with an uppercut. Matsuda saw that one coming.
Morgan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morgan misses with a straight right.
Matsuda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morgan tries to avoid it but Matsuda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morgan to the ground. Morgan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matsuda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuda connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda shoots in looking for a takedown. Morgan tries to sprawl out of it but Matsuda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Morgan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Arthur Morgan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsuda fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Matsuda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morgan moves out of range as Matsuda strikes.
Matsuda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matsuda feinted with a counter takedown.
A jab from Morgan does it's job there.
Matsuda misses with a body shot.
Morgan missing with a left hand there. Matsuda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matsuda feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice straight punches there by Morgan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Morgan.
Matsuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Morgan.
Matsuda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Morgan counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Morgan misses its intended target.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Morgan cracks Matsuda with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matsuda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morgan looks to throw the jab but Matsuda is out of range.
Matsuda checks a leg kick.
Morgan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Morgan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Matsuda moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Morgan sprawls and moves away.
Matsuda tries for a takedown but Morgan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tanaka Matsuda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Matsuda looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matsuda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Matsuda is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Matsuda throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Morgan controls Matsuda momentarily but Matsuda frees himself.
Arthur Morgan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matsuda looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Matsuda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Morgan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Morgan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Arthur Morgan!
Arthur Morgan thanked the fans post fight for their support.