PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasil Petrov (ranked 34 p4p, 56 weight class) and Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 4 p4p, 7 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Petrov
vs
Matsuzaka

179 cm
35
165
28 - 10 - 1

179 cm
33
181
33 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasil Petrov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Petrov counters with an inside leg kick.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook. Petrov ducked under it nicely.
A quick step to the side and Petrov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Petrov.
Petrov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Matsuzaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Matsuzaka scores with a jab.
Matsuzaka scores with a nice right hand.
Petrov swings widly with a right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a left to the body.
Petrov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsuzaka takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Petrov throws a lazy right hand but Matsuzaka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight left.
Petrov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsuzaka scores with a nice body kick.
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!
Matsuzaka thumps Petrov with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrov. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka connects with the punch.
Petrov misses with an uppercut.
Petrov misses the jab.
Petrov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matsuzaka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Matsuzaka looks to land a left hand but Petrov moved out of range nicely.
Petrov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Petrov staying out of range there.
Petrov lands a nice looking body shot.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petrov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Matsuzaka just manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut there from Petrov.
Matsuzaka staying out of range there.
Good work by Petrov as he checks the leg kick.
Petrov lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petrov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Petrov can pounce on him.
Matsuzaka takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The fighters circling - Matsuzaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Petrov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight left.
Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Petrov.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Petrov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick but Petrov sees it coming and moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petrov. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Matsuzaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Petrov is just out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Petrov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Petrov.
A good leg kick by Petrov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Petrov works Matsuzaka's body with a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Petrov.
Petrov throws a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Petrov misses with a wild body shot.
Petrov misses with a body kick.
Matsuzaka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Petrov throws a big shot that misses.
Petrov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
A jab from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Petrov.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut.
A counter left hand to the body from Petrov misses its target.
Matsuzaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Petrov's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka digs a good body shot into Petrov's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matsuzaka 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.
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petrov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petrov avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Petrov scores with a nice strike.
Nice defenses there by Petrov.
Matsuzaka misses with a double jab.
A big left from Petrov misses.
Petrov checks a low kick from Matsuzaka.
Petrov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Matsuzaka is able to avoid easily.
Matsuzaka now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Petrov throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a nice low kick that buckles Petrov's knee momentarily.
Petrov throws a body kick that misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Matsuzaka.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vasil Petrov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Matsuzaka lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Matsuzaka looks to land a left hand but Petrov moved out of range nicely.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping left.
Petrov is looking to chop away at Matsuzaka's legs.
Petrov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petrov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsuzaka.
Vasil Petrov is winning the standup battle so far.
Matsuzaka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Petrov loads up on a big right hand but Matsuzaka slips the punch.
Matsuzaka tries a quick counter leg kick but Petrov is wise to it.
Matsuzaka cracks Petrov with a right hand to the side of the head.
An inside leg kick from Petrov misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Matsuzaka misses.
Petrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Petrov tried to score with a low kick but Matsuzaka checks it.
Petrov throws an off balance right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a slapping leg kick.
Matsuzaka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Petrov throws out the jab.
Matsuzaka swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Matsuzaka moves out of range as Petrov strikes.
Petrov throws a body shot but no joy.
Matsuzaka doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Petrov lands with a hook. Matsuzaka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petrov moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Matsuzaka.
A slow jab from Petrov misses its intended target.
Petrov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Petrov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Petrov throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a stiff right hand.
Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov misses with a leg kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a stiff right hand.
Petrov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuzaka scores with a hook to the body. Petrov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsuzaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsuzaka there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov scores with a hook to the body. Matsuzaka takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook to the body
and Petrov counters with a nice body shot.
Matsuzaka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A clash of legs there as Petrov blocks the low kick.
Petrov throws a counter high kick but Matsuzaka was just alert enough to avoid it.
Matsuzaka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Petrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petrov lands an overhand right.
Petrov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Petrov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Matsuzaka counters with a slapping leg kick.
Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A shot to the body from Matsuzaka misses
and Petrov counters with a nice uppercut.
Petrov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Petrov throws a leg kick
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
Matsuzaka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Petrov misses with a body shot
and Matsuzaka makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Matsuzaka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matsuzaka connects with a leg kick.
Matsuzaka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Petrov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nice defenses there by Petrov.
Matsuzaka looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Petrov blocks a head kick by Matsuzaka.
Petrov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matsuzaka appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Petrov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot
and Petrov counters with a straight right hand.
Petrov throws a looping overhand right but Matsuzaka ducks down to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Petrov misses the target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Petrov checks a leg kick.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Petrov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a wild body shot.
Nice cross by Matsuzaka.
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!
Matsuzaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
Petrov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Petrov looks to land a left hand but Matsuzaka moved out of range nicely.
A low kick from Matsuzaka misses
and Petrov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matsuzaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Petrov throws a poor cross that misses
and Matsuzaka counters with a good low kick that Petrov was not able to check.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut. Petrov saw that one coming.
Matsuzaka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Petrov throws a sloppy head kick and Matsuzaka moves out of range easily.
Petrov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matsuzaka's head.
Petrov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vasil Petrov will probably get the nod.
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.

Petrov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Both fighters circling a little - Petrov finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Petrov throws a leg kick which misses Matsuzaka's front leg but catches the back leg as Matsuzaka tries to avoid it.
Petrov connects with an inside leg kick.
Petrov ducks right into an uppercut from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping right.
Petrov cracks Matsuzaka with a good jab.
Matsuzaka drops his hands momentarily and Petrov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy uppercut
and Petrov counters with a right hand to the body.
Petrov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Matsuzaka lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Petrov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Petrov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Petrov connects with a high kick.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy head kick
and Petrov counters with a low kick, right behind Matsuzaka 's knee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matsuzaka ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Petrov throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matsuzaka's head backwards.
Matsuzaka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Matsuzaka fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petrov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Matsuzaka tries to work over Petrov's front leg with a kick but Petrov checks it.
Matsuzaka moves out of range as Petrov throws a body kick.
Matsuzaka throws a shot from downtown. Petrov moves away and avoids it.
Petrov is looking to counter punch.
Petrov misses with a right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a straight right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matsuzaka.
Petrov takes a swing at Matsuzaka's ribcage but misses.
Matsuzaka throws the left hand but Petrov avoids the punch easily.
Petrov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuzaka manages to avoid it.
Matsuzaka clobbers Petrov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Petrov throws a solid leg kick but Matsuzaka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Petrov.
Matsuzaka unleashes a big counter combination but Petrov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka cracks Petrov with an open hand slap.
Matsuzaka takes a swing at Petrov's ribcage but misses.
Petrov punishes Matsuzaka's body with a nice straight punch.
Matsuzaka lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A low kick from Petrov is predictable there
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matsuzaka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Petrov lands a head kick!
A low kick from Petrov misses
and Matsuzaka counters with an inside leg kick.
Petrov throws a solid leg kick but Matsuzaka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Petrov.
Petrov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Matsuzaka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petrov misses with a body shot.
Petrov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook
enabling Petrov to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Matsuzaka misses its intended target.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick but Petrov moves out of range.
Matsuzaka stuns Petrov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Matsuzaka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Petrov's head.
Matsuzaka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Petrov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Petrov swings for the body but Matsuzaka moves out of range.
Matsuzaka slips under a jab.
Matsuzaka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matsuzaka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsuzaka misses with a straight right.
As Matsuzaka backs away, Petrov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Petrov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut.
Petrov misses with a kick to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuzaka throws a jab but it's blocked by Petrov.
Petrov misses with a wild body shot.
Matsuzaka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Petrov.
A bone on bone clash there as Petrov blocks the leg kick.
Matsuzaka scores with a one two! Petrov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Petrov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Petrov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A slow jab from Matsuzaka misses its intended target.
Petrov just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Petrov misses.
Petrov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Matsuzaka in his tracks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Keisuke Matsuzaka just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Matsuzaka lunges at Petrov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Petrov's hand.
Petrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Matsuzaka! But no joy.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Petrov.
Petrov misses with an uppercut. Matsuzaka saw that one coming.
Petrov just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Petrov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Petrov connects with a single shot there.
Petrov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matsuzaka throws a looping overhand right but Petrov ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Matsuzaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Matsuzaka lands a jab to the head.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Petrov.
Petrov tests Matsuzaka's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Petrov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws a poor cross that misses
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Petrov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matsuzaka throws a leg kick
letting Petrov counter with a right hand.
Matsuzaka wants to land a leg kick but Petrov is out of range.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick but Petrov moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Matsuzaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping right.
Matsuzaka slips a jab from Petrov.
Petrov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka staying out of range there.
It seemed like Matsuzaka was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Petrov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Matsuzaka lands a jab to the nose.
Nice body punch from Matsuzaka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka throws a body punch but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuzaka moves away.
Matsuzaka misses with the body kick
and Petrov counters with a two punch combo.
The fighters circling - Matsuzaka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Petrov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Petrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matsuzaka moves away.
Matsuzaka moves away from the strike by Petrov.
Petrov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Petrov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matsuzaka counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing blow to the side of Petrov's head.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy uppercut
and Petrov counters with a one-two to the body.
Petrov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Matsuzaka scores with a nice head shot.
Matsuzaka scores with a kick to the midsection.
Petrov checks a low kick from Matsuzaka.
Petrov lands with a nice body punch.
Petrov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Petrov connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuzaka cracks a nice hook into Petrov's ribs.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Petrov.
Matsuzaka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Petrov.
Jab, jab by Petrov - just one landing.
Matsuzaka throws a looping overhand right but Petrov ducks down to avoid it.
Matsuzaka scores with a head kick.
Matsuzaka throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Petrov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Matsuzaka throws a front kick aimed at Petrov's knee but Petrov avoids it well.
Petrov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Petrov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Petrov lands a nice shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matsuzaka checks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Matsuzaka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Petrov throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matsuzaka misses with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Vasil Petrov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsuzaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petrov.
Matsuzaka throws a right hand that Petrov ducks under and follows up with a left that Petrov also avoids with ease.
Petrov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Matsuzaka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Matsuzaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Petrov loads up on a big right hand but Matsuzaka slips the punch.
Matsuzaka takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A nice leg kick from Matsuzaka, right into the meat of the thigh.
Petrov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov misses with a hook to the body
and Matsuzaka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matsuzaka throws a head kick that misses.
Matsuzaka avoids the body shot from Petrov.
Matsuzaka throws an overhand right that lands on Petrov's shoulder, as Petrov tries to avoid the shot.
Petrov scores with a head kick. Matsuzaka tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov scores with a leg kick.
Matsuzaka throws an off balance right hand
and Matsuzaka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Petrov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matsuzaka finds it's way round the side to connect with Petrov's head.
Petrov throws a good cross that connects.
Matsuzaka's jab looks to have found its range, popping Petrov under the eye.
Petrov blocks a jab.
Petrov misses with a lunging right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petrov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Petrov misses with a straight right.
Petrov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuzaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Petrov.
Matsuzaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice shot by Petrov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petrov misses with a head kick.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka moves out of range of the body kick from Petrov.
A little jabbing left from Matsuzaka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Petrov throws a right hand that Matsuzaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Matsuzaka also avoids with ease.
Petrov looks to score with a jab to the body but Matsuzaka is just out of range.
Petrov misses the jab.
Matsuzaka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Petrov at a distance.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Petrov misses with a hook
and Matsuzaka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petrov misses with a hook
and Matsuzaka counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Matsuzaka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Petrov on the side of the head.
Matsuzaka throws a half hearted mid kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Petrov. That's going to slow Matsuzaka down.
Petrov throws a hook but Matsuzaka avoids it easily.
Matsuzaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Petrov misses
and Matsuzaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matsuzaka takes a swing at Petrov's ribcage but misses.
Petrov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matsuzaka throws the left hand but Petrov avoids the punch easily.
A low kick from Matsuzaka misses
and Petrov counters with a thumping low kick.
Petrov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Matsuzaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Matsuzaka sizes up Petrov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Petrov walks into a jab.

Petrov is rocked!
Petrov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Oh Petrov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Matsuzaka cracks Petrov with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Petrov looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Matsuzaka finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matsuzaka manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a shot to the body

and Matsuzaka counters with a nice right hand that sends Petrov toppling to the canvas! Petrov scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Matsuzaka finish him?!
A slapping leg kick lands for Petrov.
Petrov lands with an overhand left.
Petrov connects with a single shot there.
Matsuzaka throws a sloppy body shot
and Petrov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Matsuzaka thinking.
Petrov clobbers Matsuzaka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A chopping leg kick lands by Petrov.
Matsuzaka walks into a left hand.
Petrov seems to have got his legs back now.
Petrov throws a leg kick but Matsuzaka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Matsuzaka feints a counter leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuzaka looks to throw the jab but Petrov is out of range.
Petrov looks for the body kick but Matsuzaka saw that one coming.
Matsuzaka is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Petrov with a body shot.
Vasil Petrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Petrov misses with a looping left.
A little jabbing left from Matsuzaka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keisuke Matsuzaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Petrov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 48:47
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:47
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasil Petrov!
Vasil Petrov retains his welterweight title!
A victorious Vasil Petrov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.