PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keisuke Matsuzaka (ranked 14 p4p, 31 weight class) and Jaxon Magrath (ranked 1 p4p, 3 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matsuzaka
vs
Magrath

179 cm
35
181
38 - 14 - 1

178 cm
32
174
27 - 7 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

New Standard
Conviction

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Northern Zombie

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 38 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Keisuke Matsuzaka!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 7 - 3, fighting out of New York, Jaxon Magrath!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuzaka tries to clinch there but Magrath circles away.
Magrath listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Magrath avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Magrath will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Magrath has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Magrath listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Matsuzaka cracks Magrath with a good jab.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut. Magrath saw that one coming.
Matsuzaka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Matsuzaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Magrath moves out of range of the strikes.
Magrath scores with a jab.
Magrath swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Matsuzaka throws a looping overhand right but Magrath ducks down to avoid it.
Matsuzaka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Magrath.
Matsuzaka takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magrath uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matsuzaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magrath avoids the body shot from Matsuzaka.
Magrath scores with a jab. Matsuzaka acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A nice leg kick from Magrath, right into the meat of the thigh.
Magrath swings widly with a right hand
and Matsuzaka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Matsuzaka is looking to clinch but Magrath is avoiding it.
Matsuzaka ducks under a wild hook from Magrath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Magrath.
Matsuzaka throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Magrath! But no joy.
Magrath throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magrath darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Magrath uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a looping left.
Magrath takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Magrath throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matsuzaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matsuzaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magrath misses with a straight left.
It looked like Matsuzaka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Magrath chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Matsuzaka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Magrath gets tackled into the cage by Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka maintains the clinch.
Magrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Magrath wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Magrath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Matsuzaka rushes Magrath and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Magrath has had enough of the clinch but Matsuzaka keeps him there for the moment.
A short left from Matsuzaka.
Magrath misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matsuzaka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Matsuzaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matsuzaka lands a left hand.
Magrath avoids the elbow strike from Matsuzaka, against the cage.
Matsuzaka lands a right hand.
Matsuzaka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka pushes off an throws an elbow but Magrath leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matsuzaka prevents Magrath from breaking the clinch.
Magrath working aggressively here.
Matsuzaka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Magrath backwards.
Matsuzaka blocks a body shot from Magrath.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Matsuzaka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Magrath's brow.
Matsuzaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Matsuzaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Magrath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsuzaka lands a nice shot to the body.
Matsuzaka swings for the body but Magrath moves out of range.
Matsuzaka backing away here, and Magrath unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Magrath lands a jab to the head.
Jaxon Magrath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Magrath slips under a jab.
Magrath connects with a right hand. Matsuzaka shakes it off.
Matsuzaka walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Magrath checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Magrath moves into the clinch successfully.
Magrath wants to break free but Matsuzaka has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magrath misses with the head strike.
Magrath misses with a punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka trying to control the position but instead, Magrath has worked for underhooks and has pushed Matsuzaka into the cage.
Matsuzaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Matsuzaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Magrath blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Magrath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Magrath prevents a body shot from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Magrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch on the inside from Magrath fails to land.
Matsuzaka comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Magrath working hard to break the clinch.
Matsuzaka misses with an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Matsuzaka.
Magrath misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keisuke Matsuzaka dominated that round.
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.

Matsuzaka ducks under a wild hook from Magrath.

Matsuzaka closes the distance and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Magrath.
Matsuzaka misses with a punch to the body.

Magrath breaks the clinch.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut
and Magrath counters with a stiff right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matsuzaka, as that shot connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Magrath. Matsuzaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka connects with a looping right hand.
Magrath scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Magrath throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jaxon Magrath seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matsuzaka swings widly with a right hand
and Magrath counters with a nice leg kick.
Matsuzaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Magrath sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Magrath gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matsuzaka misses the jab.
Nice defenses there by Magrath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magrath moves out of range of the body kick.
Matsuzaka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Matsuzaka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Matsuzaka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Magrath.
Matsuzaka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Magrath has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Matsuzaka.
Magrath lands with a good body shot.
Magrath throws a hook to the side of Matsuzaka's head but Matsuzaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Magrath lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Matsuzaka misses with a low kick as Magrath jumps back.
Magrath now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Magrath. That snapped Matsuzaka's head back.
Matsuzaka moves away from the strike by Magrath.
Matsuzaka checks the leg kick.
Matsuzaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Magrath circles away.
A swing and a miss from Matsuzaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Magrath.
Matsuzaka throws a push kick but Magrath slaps the foot to one side.
Matsuzaka tries to close the distance and clinch but Magrath swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matsuzaka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Magrath! But no joy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Magrath tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsuzaka ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magrath moves away.
Matsuzaka thuds a left hand into Magrath's body.
Nice straight punches there by Magrath. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Magrath.
Magrath misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matsuzaka.
Magrath dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Magrath throws a low kick but Matsuzaka moves out of range easily.
Matsuzaka misses with a right hand
and Magrath counters with a nice uppercut.
Magrath pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Matsuzaka has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka works on Magrath's body with a couple of short punches.
Matsuzaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Magrath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matsuzaka gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Magrath bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Matsuzaka's head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Magrath.

Magrath has Matsuzaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Magrath tries to circle away but Matsuzaka has him pinned against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Matsuzaka.
A frustrated look appears on Magrath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matsuzaka prevents a body shot from Magrath.
Matsuzaka keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Magrath's efforts to push away.
Matsuzaka is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Matsuzaka misses with an elbow over the top.
Matsuzaka lands a body punch in the clinch.
Magrath is breathing heavily.
A short left from Matsuzaka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka scores with a shoulder strike.
Magrath working hard to break the clinch.
Keisuke Matsuzaka has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Magrath breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Matsuzaka.
Magrath working aggressively here.
Matsuzaka lands a damaging elbow.
Magrath is trying to push Matsuzaka away but Matsuzaka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Magrath misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Magrath misses with the head strike.
Magrath misses with the head strike.
Magrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matsuzaka has him pressed against the cage.
Matsuzaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Magrath backwards.
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 Keisuke Matsuzaka will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A slow jab from Magrath misses its intended target.
Magrath misses with a straight right.
Magrath doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Magrath scores with a nice strike.
Magrath connects with a body shot.
Matsuzaka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Matsuzaka throws a lazy right hand but Magrath sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matsuzaka. Magrath does a little dance to reset his feet.
Matsuzaka moves out of range as Magrath strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magrath misses with a hook

and Matsuzaka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Matsuzaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Magrath.
A body shot lands from Matsuzaka.
Magrath misses with a short punch on the inside.
Magrath prevents a body shot from Matsuzaka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Matsuzaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magrath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Matsuzaka uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Magrath counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Matsuzaka rushes Magrath and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka keeps control of Magrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matsuzaka misses with an elbow over the top.
Matsuzaka throws an elbow but it misses.
Magrath blocks a body shot from Matsuzaka.
Magrath wants to break free but Matsuzaka has control.

Magrath breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Magrath just misses with a punch to the body.
Matsuzaka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Magrath has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Matsuzaka.
Magrath throws a big shot that misses.
Matsuzaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Magrath circles away.
Matsuzaka cracks Magrath with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magrath throws a jab but it's blocked by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Magrath throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuzaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Magrath looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matsuzaka lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A shot to the body from Magrath misses

and Matsuzaka moves into the clinch.
Magrath has had enough of the clinch but Matsuzaka keeps him there for the moment.
Magrath is trying to break the clinch but Matsuzaka has him pressed against the cage.
Magrath lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Matsuzaka backwards.
Matsuzaka tries to throw a body punch but Magrath avoids it by throwing Matsuzaka back against the cage.
Magrath wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matsuzaka misses with some punches.

Magrath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magrath is looking to slow Matsuzaka down with leg kicks.
Matsuzaka digs a good hook to Magrath's body.
Matsuzaka checks the leg kick.
As Magrath tries to get set, Matsuzaka tries to push him back and clinch up but Magrath manages to avoid the attempt.
Magrath throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Matsuzaka misses.
Matsuzaka lands with a kick to the temple. Magrath shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Magrath lands a leg kick that knocks Matsuzaka off balance momentarily.

Matsuzaka moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka misses with some punches.
A short right from Matsuzaka on the inside.
Matsuzaka lands a shot to the body.

Magrath breaks from the clinch.
Magrath checks a low kick from Matsuzaka.
Magrath doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matsuzaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Magrath circles away.
Matsuzaka throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab by Matsuzaka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magrath avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magrath throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matsuzaka misses with an uppercut.
Matsuzaka misses the jab.
Magrath thows a leg kick but Matsuzaka checks it
and Matsuzaka counters with a thumping low kick.
Matsuzaka moves out of range as Magrath strikes.
Magrath fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matsuzaka checks it well.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Magrath manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Magrath looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A slow jab from Magrath misses its intended target.
Matsuzaka slips under a jab from Magrath.
Matsuzaka doesn't manage to clinch there - Magrath circles away.
Magrath ducks under a wild hook from Matsuzaka.
Magrath swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Matsuzaka slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Keisuke Matsuzaka clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Magrath is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Matsuzaka misses the target.
Magrath tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Magrath. That's going to slow Matsuzaka down.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Magrath lands an uppercut.
Matsuzaka lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Jaxon Magrath has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Matsuzaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuzaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Magrath wants to get back to striking at distance but Matsuzaka won't allow it.
Matsuzaka content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Magrath wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Magrath fails to land.
Magrath misses with some punches.
Matsuzaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Magrath can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Magrath.
Magrath swings wildly with an uppercut but Matsuzaka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matsuzaka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Magrath blocks an elbow strike.
Matsuzaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Matsuzaka cracks Magrath with a nice body shot.
Magrath wants to break free but Matsuzaka has control.
Matsuzaka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Magraths head.
Magrath is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Matsuzaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Magrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Matsuzaka scores with a hook to the body.
Matsuzaka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Magrath being controlled against the cage.

Magrath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Magrath lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Magrath checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Matsuzaka dips to his left and cracks Magrath with an uppercut!
Magrath steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsuzaka.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matsuzaka slips a jab from Magrath.
Magrath throws a hook but Matsuzaka blocks it.
Magrath 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.
Matsuzaka looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Matsuzaka tries to clinch up but Magrath circles away and keeps his distance.
Magrath jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Matsuzaka checks the leg kick nicely there.
Magrath takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Matsuzaka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Magrath sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Magrath misses.
No joy there for Matsuzaka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matsuzaka checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka blocks a jab.
Nice body kick from Matsuzaka.
Magrath tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuzaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Magrath.

Matsuzaka clinches up with Magrath and pushes him back against the cage.
Matsuzaka lands a damaging elbow.
Matsuzaka stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Matsuzaka scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Matsuzaka.
A right handed body shot lands from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka lands an elbow that stopped Magrath in his tracks for a moment.
Matsuzaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka pushes off an throws an elbow but Magrath leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matsuzaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Magrath backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A frustrated look appears on Magrath's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuzaka gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Matsuzaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Matsuzaka works on Magrath's body with a couple of short punches.
Matsuzaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matsuzaka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Matsuzaka lands with a right to the head.
A hook to the body from Matsuzaka.
A body shot lands from Matsuzaka.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Matsuzaka.

Magrath is rocked!
Matsuzaka lands with a light punch inside.
Magrath is still on wobbly legs! Can Matsuzaka finish him?
Matsuzaka pushes Magrath against the cage. Matsuzaka is working some dirty boxing. Matsuzaka pushes off with a quick right hook! Magrath goes down! Magrath tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Matsuzaka moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Keisuke Matsuzaka!
Keisuke Matsuzaka retains his welterweight title!
After the fight, Keisuke Matsuzaka was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.