PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryoto Takahashi (ranked 2 p4p, 92 weight class) and DaMatti Matikainen (ranked 1 p4p, 15 weight class). Takahashi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, SMOKING & THINKING. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Takahashi
vs
Matikainen

175 cm
33
160
25 - 8 - 0

180 cm
29
155
17 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Conquer

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryoto Takahashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, DaMatti Matikainen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matikainen looks to throw the jab but Takahashi is out of range.
Matikainen sizes up Takahashi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Ryoto Takahashi has been cut.
Matikainen misses with an uppercut. Takahashi saw that one coming.
Takahashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Matikainen counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Takahashi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Takahashi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takahashi.
Matikainen tries to break free but Takahashi pushes him back against the cage.
Matikainen blocks a body shot from Takahashi.
Matikainen is trying to push Takahashi away but Takahashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Takahashi digs a right hand underneath Matikainen's ribcage. Matikainen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Matikainen misses with some punches.
A hook to the body from Takahashi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matikainen tries to break the clinch but Takahashi is controlling the position.
Takahashi presses Matikainen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Matikainen breaks the clinch.
Takahashi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Matikainen misses with a few strikes there.
Matikainen looks to throw the jab but Takahashi is out of range.
Takahashi lands with a shot to the body.
Takahashi seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Matikainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takahashi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matikainen throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen throws a shot from downtown. Takahashi moves away and avoids it.
Takahashi gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Matikainen counters with a three punch combo that has Takahashi backing up. Takahashi nods at Matikainen to acknowledge the strikes.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick
and Matikainen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahashi misses with a body kick.
Matikainen looks to land a left hand but Takahashi moved out of range nicely.

Takahashi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Matikainen is trying to break free.
A short right from Matikainen.
Takahashi tries to throw a body punch but Matikainen avoids it by throwing Takahashi back against the cage.
Takahashi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Matikainen's efforts to push away.
Takahashi keeps control of Matikainen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Matikainen.
Takahashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matikainen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Matikainen.
Takahashi tries a body shot but Matikainen blocks it.
A short uppercut from Matikainen.
Takahashi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Matikainen smiles and moves away.
Takahashi ducks under a wild hook from Matikainen.
Takahashi lands with a cross.
Matikainen walks into a left hand.
Takahashi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Takahashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matikainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Matikainen ducks under a wild hook from Takahashi.
A big right from Takahashi misses.
Matikainen flicks out a counter leg kick but Takahashi steps away.

Takahashi darts in and clinches Matikainen up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takahashi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Takahashi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Takahashi misses with a punch to the body.
Takahashi misses with a punch to the body.
Takahashi scores with a shoulder strike.

Matikainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takahashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Matikainen.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Takahashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matikainen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but DaMatti Matikainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Takahashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takahashi is looking to chop away at Matikainen's legs.
Takahashi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Takahashi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Takahashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matikainen.
The fighters circling - Matikainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matikainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Matikainen tries to get set, Takahashi tries to push him back and clinch up but Matikainen manages to avoid the attempt.
Takahashi misses with a hook
and Matikainen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matikainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Takahashi.
Takahashi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Matikainen 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.

Takahashi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matikainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Takahashi presses Matikainen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Takahashi lands with a light punch inside.
Takahashi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matikainen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takahashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matikainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matikainen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Takahashi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takahashi lands a left hand.
Takahashi digs a right hand underneath Matikainen's ribcage. Matikainen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Matikainen prevents a body shot from Takahashi.
Takahashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takahashi has Matikainen pressed against the cage, preventing Matikainen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Takahashi fails to land.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takahashi.
Ryoto Takahashi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matikainen blocks an uppercut.
Matikainen lands a shoulder strike.
Takahashi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matikainen is trying to break the clinch but Takahashi is controlling him.
Matikainen has a couple of punches blocked by Takahashi.
Matikainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Matikainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Matikainen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takahashi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matikainen backwards.
A short uppercut from Matikainen.
Matikainen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Takahashi lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Takahashi fails to land.

Matikainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matikainen misses with a hook. Takahashi ducked under it nicely.
Takahashi moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi lands a body shot.
Takahashi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takahashi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matikainen.
Matikainen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A jab from Matikainen misses.
Takahashi moves out of range of the strikes.
Takahashi is looking to slow Matikainen down with leg kicks.
Matikainen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen misses with a body kick.
Takahashi blocks the body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takahashi. That's going to slow Matikainen down.
Takahashi digs a good hook to Matikainen's body.
Matikainen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Takahashi checks it well.
Takahashi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Matikainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Takahashi throws a sloppy head kick
and Matikainen counters with a straight right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoto Takahashi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Matikainen throws a shot from downtown. Takahashi moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Matikainen misses.
Takahashi is looking to counter the offense by Matikainen and move into the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takahashi. That's going to slow Matikainen down.
Matikainen throws a body punch but Takahashi moves out of range.
Takahashi is looking to counter the offense by Matikainen and move into the clinch.
Takahashi tries to clinch there but Matikainen circles away.
Matikainen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Takahashi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Matikainen counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab from Takahashi.
Takahashi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Takahashi defending well as Matikainen loads up on a big left hand.
Takahashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matikainen.
Takahashi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Matikainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takahashi was well out of range. Poor timing from Matikainen.
Takahashi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Matikainen to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Takahashi misses.
Takahashi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Takahashi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Takahashi lands a nice looking body shot.
Matikainen takes one on the button.
Takahashi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matikainen.
Takahashi jabs Matikainen to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen looks to throw the jab but Takahashi is out of range.
Matikainen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Takahashi with the inside leg kick.
Matikainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matikainen lands a head shot.
Matikainen misses with an uppercut. Takahashi saw that one coming.
Takahashi scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Takahashi tries to clinch there but Matikainen circles away.
Takahashi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Takahashi tries to counter by clinching up but Matikainen breaks away and moves out of range.
Takahashi defending well as Matikainen loads up on a big left hand.
Takahashi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Matikainen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matikainen misses with the combination.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ryoto Takahashi did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takahashi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Matikainen.
Takahashi throws a right hand that misses
and Matikainen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Takahashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Matikainen is just out of range.
Matikainen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Takahashi with a body shot.
Takahashi is looking to land body kicks.
Takahashi tries to land a leg kick but Matikainen saw it coming and moves away.
A little jabbing left from Matikainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Takahashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Takahashi connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Takahashi lands.
Matikainen throws a predictable looking body shot

and Takahashi counters by clinching up.
Takahashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matikainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Takahashi lands a right hand.
Takahashi tries to pull guard but Matikainen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Matikainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matikainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Takahashi manages to avoid it.
As Matikainen tries to get set, Takahashi tries to push him back and clinch up but Matikainen manages to avoid the attempt.
Matikainen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Takahashi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takahashi tries a low kick but Matikainen avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen misses with a leg kick

and Takahashi counters by clinching up.
Takahashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Matikainen lands with a right to the head.
Takahashi misses with a body punch.

Matikainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matikainen misses with an uppercut.
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!
Takahashi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Takahashi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Matikainen misses with a hook. Takahashi ducked under it nicely.
Takahashi lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen looks for the body kick but Takahashi saw that one coming.
Takahashi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Matikainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takahashi.
Matikainen connects with a right hand. Takahashi shakes it off.
Good leg kick by Takahashi.
Takahashi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Matikainen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Matikainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen swings for the body but Takahashi moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Takahashi.
Matikainen throws a series of punches but Takahashi moves out of range.
Matikainen throws a low kick but Takahashi moves out of range easily.
Takahashi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Matikainen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Takahashi. Takahashi obviously looking to wear him down.
Matikainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Takahashi's sensitive parts.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoto Takahashi had his way with DaMatti Matikainen in that round.
The cut man is working on Ryoto Takahashi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Takahashi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
DaMatti Matikainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takahashi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Takahashi moves out of range as Matikainen strikes.
Takahashi is looking to counter the offense by Matikainen and move into the clinch.
Matikainen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Takahashi is looking to counter the offense by Matikainen and move into the clinch.
Matikainen throws a big shot that misses.
Takahashi is looking to counter the offense by Matikainen and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takahashi thuds his right hand into Matikainen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takahashi scores with a jab to the head.
Matikainen misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takahashi throws a body punch but Matikainen moves out of range.
Matikainen 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.
Matikainen misses with a hook. Takahashi ducked under it nicely.
Matikainen lands a leg kick that knocks Takahashi off balance momentarily.
Matikainen ducks right into an uppercut from Takahashi.
Matikainen misses with a hook

and Takahashi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Takahashi.
Takahashi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matikainen blocks a body shot from Takahashi.
Matikainen has a couple of punches blocked by Takahashi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Takahashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takahashi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matikainen.
Matikainen scores with a shoulder strike.
Matikainen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matikainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takahashi lands a nice shot to the body.
Takahashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Matikainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matikainen lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short body shot lands from Takahashi as the two fighters clinch.
Matikainen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Matikainen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Takahashi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Takahashi tries to work over Matikainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takahashi is working Matikainen over against the cage.
Matikainen blocks an uppercut.
Matikainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takahashi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Matikainen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matikainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matikainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Decent striking displayed by Takahashi there.
Takahashi throws out a powerful jab.
Takahashi sizes up Matikainen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Takahashi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matikainen.
Matikainen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Takahashi.
Takahashi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Matikainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takahashi blocks a leg kick.
Takahashi avoids the head kick by Matikainen.
Ryoto Takahashi is winning the standup battle so far.
Matikainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matikainen throws a leg kick but Takahashi moved away.

Takahashi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matikainen, pushing him back against the cage.

Matikainen manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Matikainen misses.
Takahashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matikainen moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryoto Takahashi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Takahashi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 49:46
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 50:46
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryoto Takahashi!
Ryoto Takahashi retains his lightweight title!
A very excited looking Ryoto Takahashi 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.