PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 1550 p4p, 1313 weight class) and Psiris Fuhren (ranked 224 p4p, 195 weight class). Matsuda comes into the arena with Avenged Sevenfold - Hail to the King blaring out of the sound system. Fuhren has chosen Everybody Dies as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matsuda
vs
Fuhren

190 cm
28
200
16 - 8 - 0

185 cm
28
197
13 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Psiris Fuhren!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matsuda gets tackled into the cage by Fuhren. Fuhren maintains the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Fuhren.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matsuda.
Matsuda tries to score a body lock takedown but Fuhren shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Matsuda works on Fuhren's body with a couple of short punches.
Matsuda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fuhren struggles to land a body shot inside as Matsuda controls his hands.
We've been hearing reports that Matsuda has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Matsuda misses with a punch on the inside.
Fuhren misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Matsuda tries to break the clinch but Fuhren is controlling the position.
Fuhren keeps control of Matsuda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsuda wants to break free but Fuhren has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda blocks an uppercut.
Matsuda blocking some punches.
Matsuda tries to pull guard but Fuhren holds him up against the cage and eventually Matsuda drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Matsuda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuda misses with a punch to the body.

Matsuda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda throws a big shot that misses.
Fuhren bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fuhren throws an overhand right that lands on Matsuda's shoulder, as Matsuda tries to avoid the shot.
Matsuda staying out of range there.
Fuhren misses the shot to the body.
Fuhren throws the left hand but Matsuda avoids the punch easily.
Matsuda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fuhren.
Matsuda scores with a hook.

Matsuda closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fuhren to the mat! Fuhren manages to get full guard.
Matsuda 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.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuhren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsuda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matsuda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is looking to work some ground and pound but Fuhren has wrist control.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuhren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing.
Fuhren looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsuda is one step ahead there.
Matsuda looking to sit in guard and control but Fuhren gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fuhren trying to stand up but can't free himself from Matsuda's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuhren stands up and waves to Matsuda to follow him.
Matsuda moves out of range of the strikes.
Matsuda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fuhren.
Matsuda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice jab there from Fuhren.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fuhren.
Matsuda misses with a hook.
Fuhren swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matsuda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Matsuda with a nice cross.
Fuhren just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fuhren.
Donk. Matsuda catches Fuhren right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuda closes the distance and clinches up with Fuhren, looking for a takedown. Matsuda pushes Fuhren against the cage but Fuhren circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda lands with a right hand.
Fuhren loads up on a big right hand but Matsuda slips the punch.
Matsuda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Fuhren.
Matsuda attempts a counter takedown but Fuhren avoids it well and moves away.
Matsuda with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fuhren to score with a decent uppercut.
Matsuda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fuhren.
Matsuda half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Fuhren misses with a wild body shot.
Fuhren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matsuda.
A low kick lands for Fuhren.
Fuhren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Jab from Matsuda.
Fuhren misses the shot to the body.
Matsuda needs to keep his hands up - Fuhren had a free shot at his head there.
Matsuda misses with a wild body shot.
Fuhren blocks a jab.
Matsuda throws a shot from downtown. Fuhren moves away and avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Psiris Fuhren dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Matsuda moves away from the strike by Fuhren.
Fuhren lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Matsuda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fuhren misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsuda counters with a stiff right hand.
Psiris Fuhren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice straight punches there by Fuhren. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Fuhren.
A jab from Matsuda misses.
Fuhren throws a leg kick that is checked

and Matsuda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Fuhren!

Fuhren sneaks out the side door and pushes Matsuda away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Fuhren misses the target.

Fuhren instigates a clinch.
Matsuda blocks a body shot from Fuhren.
Fuhren misses with the head strike.
Fuhren takes a shot to the head.
Fuhren works on Matsuda's body with a couple of short punches.
Matsuda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Fuhren misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuhren goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matsuda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fuhren's elbow.

Matsuda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matsuda misses with an uppercut
and Fuhren counters with a good low kick that Matsuda was not able to check.
Matsuda is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Matsuda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fuhren at a distance.
Fuhren scores with a hook.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Fuhren, as that shot connected.
Matsuda cracks Fuhren with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Psiris Fuhren is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fuhren takes a jab right on the kisser.
Matsuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fuhren looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Matsuda throws a looping overhand right but Fuhren ducks down to avoid it.
Fuhren misses with a low kick.
Fuhren just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fuhren.
Fuhren with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good standup being displayed there by Fuhren as he connects with a hook.
Fuhren walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Matsuda checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fuhren throws a body shot but no joy.
Fuhren keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fuhren with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A big left from Fuhren misses.
Fuhren lands a nice looking body shot.
Fuhren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsuda throws out the jab.
Matsuda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsuda misses with an uppercut.
Matsuda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matsuda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Fuhren sprawls and moves away.
A big left from Fuhren misses.
Psiris Fuhren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Matsuda as he checks the leg kick.
Fuhren leaves Matsuda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuhren fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matsuda has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matsuda shoots for a double leg takedown but Fuhren sprawls well. He's pushed Matsuda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Matsuda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuda lands with a good body shot.

Matsuda drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fuhren has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matsuda trying to move into half guard but instead Fuhren has managed to sweep!

Fuhren looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Fuhren decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matsuda, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuhren doesn't manage to clinch there - Matsuda circles away.
Fuhren tries to clinch up but Matsuda circles away and keeps his distance.
Fuhren throws an overhand right that lands on Matsuda's shoulder, as Matsuda tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Fuhren misses the target.
Fuhren connects with a good right hand that stumbles Matsuda. Matsuda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fuhren clobbers Matsuda with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fuhren throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Matsuda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuhren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuhren is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Fuhren keeps moving.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Psiris Fuhren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matsuda connects with a right hand. Fuhren shakes it off.
Matsuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fuhren.
Fuhren chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fuhren displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Matsuda.
Matsuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fuhren.
Fuhren misses with a looping right.
Fuhren throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsuda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Fuhren sprawls and moves away.
Matsuda tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fuhren defends well and Matsuda ends up having to push Fuhren into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Matsuda successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuhren stopping the sweep attempt from Matsuda.

Fuhren decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fuhren connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuhren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsuda throws out the jab.
Fuhren connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Matsuda's hands.
A left lands for Fuhren.
Fuhren tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Matsuda scores with a nice right hand.
Fuhren jabs at Matsuda's body.
Fuhren misses the jab.
Fuhren misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsuda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fuhren swings widly with a right hand

and Matsuda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fuhren is looking to escape.
Matsuda wants to take a breather but Fuhren is having none of it.
Fuhren pushes Matsuda off looking to stand but Matsuda dives back in and keeps control.
Matsuda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fuhren does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuhren is trying to stand back up but Matsuda is controlling him

Matsuda is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Fuhren still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Fuhren has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Fuhren has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fuhren misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuda.
Matsuda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fuhren.
Fuhren walks into a stiff left hand from Matsuda.
Fuhren pivots, looking for a leg kick but Matsuda is out of range and Fuhren settles back down.
Fuhren misses with a straight left.
Fuhren throws a body punch but Matsuda moves out of range.
Matsuda blocks a jab.
Matsuda moves out of range of the leg kick from Fuhren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuhren connects with the punch.
Matsuda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matsuda staying out of range there.
Fuhren connects with a body shot.
Fuhren is looking to clinch.
Matsuda takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fuhren throws an off balance right hand

and Matsuda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Fuhren manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tanaka Matsuda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Matsuda scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Fuhren makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fuhren throws a shot from downtown. Matsuda moves away and avoids it.
Matsuda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Fuhren ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fuhren misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuhren tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuda was well out of range. Poor timing from Fuhren.
Fuhren wants to slow Matsuda down by chopping away at his legs.
Fuhren gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fuhren thows a leg kick but Matsuda checks it

so Matsuda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fuhren bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matsuda's guard.

Matsuda tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Fuhren got a little sloppy there for a moment and Matsuda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fuhren has managed to get both his arms back between Matsuda's legs - danger averted.
Psiris Fuhren is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsuda seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fuhren trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Fuhren gets to his feet - Matsuda follows without any prompting.

And that's the end of the fight!
Psiris Fuhren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fuhren 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Psiris Fuhren!
A relieved looking Psiris Fuhren thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.