PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chip Nickel (ranked 10 p4p, 50 weight class) and Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 3 p4p, 7 weight class). Nickel comes to the cage accompanied by TISM - Greg the Stop Sign. Matsuda is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Gojira - Another World. Tanaka Matsuda is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Nickel
vs
Matsuda

189 cm
33
186
31 - 10 - 0

190 cm
31
200
24 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
SynCity Fightwear

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chip Nickel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda throws a lazy right hand but Nickel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuda throws a body punch but Nickel moves out of range.
Nickel scores with a hook to the body. Matsuda takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nickel takes a swing at Matsuda's ribcage but misses.
And Matsuda tries to counter it with a takedown but Nickel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Matsuda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Matsuda swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nickel.
Nickel misses with a shot to the body

and Matsuda counters with a single leg into guard. Nickel didn't expect that.

Nickel kicks Matsuda off and gets to his feet.
Matsuda moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nickel takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Matsuda scores with a shot to the body.
Nickel gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Matsuda walks into a left hand.
Matsuda misses with a straight left.
Nickel ducks under a wild hook from Matsuda.
Matsuda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nickels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Matsuda throws an overhand right that lands on Nickel's shoulder, as Nickel tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nickel digs a good body shot into Matsuda's ribs.
Chip Nickel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsuda moves away from the strike by Nickel.
Matsuda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nickel misses with a low kick.
Nickel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuda manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Nickel misses the target.

Matsuda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nickel is controlling Matsuda's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Nickel trying to control here.
Matsuda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nickel's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickel moves into full guard.

Matsuda drops back looking for a leg! Nickel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nickel manages to kick Matsuda off! Matsuda jumps back into Nickel's guard.
Nickel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsuda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nickel's head.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Nickel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matsuda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matsuda throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda won't allow Nickel to sweep him here.
Nickel controlling the position.
Matsuda passes Nickel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nickel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nickel tries to get out of the position.
Nickel is pressing down on Matsuda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nickel is adopting a defensive guard.
Matsuda won't allow Nickel to sweep him here.
Nickel wants to get back to his feet but Matsuda passes into half guard.
Matsuda working Nickel over with strikes.
Matsuda lands with a punch from half guard.
Nickel is trying to maintain the position but Matsuda is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickel pushes Matsuda off but Matsuda dives into side control.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Matsuda landing a few strikes.
Matsuda trying to control the action but Nickel is working from the bottom.
Matsuda throws an elbow but Nickel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nickel is looking for a sweep.
Matsuda tries to score with some ground and pound. Nickel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Matsuda wants to control but Nickel is keeping him busy.
Matsuda misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice shot lands for Matsuda.
Matsuda throws a hook but Nickel blocks it.
Matsuda throws an off balance right hand
and Matsuda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nickel misses with a looping left.
Nickel tries to land a leg kick but Matsuda saw it coming and moves away.
Nickel leaves Matsuda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nickel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Matsuda. That did some damage!
Nickel throws a hook to the side of Matsuda's head but Matsuda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nickel missing with a left hand there. Matsuda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nickel.
Chip Nickel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nickel misses with a low kick.
Nickel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nickel with the inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nickel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nickel blocks a jab.
Matsuda misses with a hook. Nickel ducked under it nicely.
Nickel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuda.
Matsuda looks to land a right hand but Nickel moved out of range.
Nickel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Matsuda manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Nickel on his heels. He'll look to pass Nickel's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nickel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nickel keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Matsuda wants to pass the guard but Nickel is keeping the position.
Nickel is looking to stand back up but Matsuda counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Nickel.
Matsuda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nickel trying to control but Matsuda postures up.
Nickel is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Matsuda jumps into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nickel is not content to let Matsuda control the position.
Nickel struggling a bit here.
Nickel tries to bench press Matsuda off him but Matsuda keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda throws an elbow but Nickel slips to the side and avoids it well.
Matsuda lands a few punches from side control.
Nickel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matsuda's best efforts.
Matsuda working over Nickel with some ground and pound. Nickel looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Matsuda is trying to control the action in half guard but Nickel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Matsuda slows the pace down in half guard.
Matsuda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matsuda trying to control the pace.
Nickel looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickel is in trouble now - Matsuda has advanced to mount!
Nickel is bucking up trying to escape but Matsuda cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Matsuda landing shots from mount.
Nickel tries to lock up and control but Matsuda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matsuda wants to control the pace but Nickel is squirming around nicely.
Nickel tries to lock up and control but Matsuda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matsuda with shots to the head and body - Nickel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Matsuda connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nickel is looking to improve his position but Matsuda isn't that keen on the idea.
Nickel tries to hold on but Matsuda postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nickel misses with a low kick.
Matsuda lands with a cross.
Nickel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nickel.
Nickel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matsuda feints the counter takedown.
Nickel throws a right hand that misses
and Matsuda counters with a nice uppercut.
Matsuda throws out a loose jab but Nickel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsuda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Matsuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - Matsuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nickel connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nickel throws a poor cross that misses

and Matsuda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matsuda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matsuda cracks Nickel with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nickel wants to sweep here but Matsuda controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda postures up and lands a big shot to Nickel's brow.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing.
Nickel is controlling Matsuda's posture.
Matsuda advances position into side control!
Matsuda working the ground and pound but Nickel is defending the strikes.
Nickel defending against the ground and pound.
Matsuda working away.
Matsuda cracks Nickel with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nickel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matsuda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nickel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Matsuda throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Matsuda is trying to get an arm triangle but Nickel is defending well.
Nickel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Matsuda asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Nickel struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nickel is trying to get back to half guard.
Matsuda scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nickel to see if he's OK.
Matsuda working the ground and pound.
Matsuda working away.
Nickel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Matsuda taking a breather here.
Nickel is trying to get back to his feet.

Matsuda is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Nickel looks calm but he's in trouble here. Matsuda gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Nickel is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Matsuda lets go of the hold and Nickel can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tanaka Matsuda!
Tanaka Matsuda is the new middleweight champion!
Tanaka Matsuda seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.