PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Matsuda (ranked 248 p4p, 644 weight class) and Quebra Cranio (ranked 27 p4p, 74 weight class). Matsuda comes to the cage accompanied by Gojira - Another World. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Matsuda
vs
Cranio

190 cm
35
200
36 - 16 - 0

185 cm
31
190
20 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

NARCOS
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 36 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tanaka Matsuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Quebra Cranio!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda throws a hook but Cranio blocks it.
Matsuda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cranio throws a hook but Matsuda blocks it.
A big left from Matsuda misses.
Cranio falls off balance throwing a combination

and Matsuda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matsuda.
Cranio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cranio keeping full guard, as Matsuda tries to pass.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Cranio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cranio's head.
Matsuda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda connects with a couple of short punches.
Matsuda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cranio looking to control.
Matsuda postures up and lands a big shot to Cranio's brow.
Cranio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cranio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Cranio keeps moving.
Matsuda is looking to work some ground and pound but Cranio has wrist control.
Cranio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranio controls Matsuda momentarily but Matsuda frees himself.
Matsuda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matsuda stopping the sweep attempt from Cranio.
Cranio working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Quebra Cranio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cranio looks to throw the jab but Matsuda is out of range.
Matsuda appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cranio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Matsuda.
Good shot there by Cranio.
Cranio works the jab nicely.
Cranio jabs at Matsuda's body.

Matsuda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cranio controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matsuda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cranio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Matsuda.
Matsuda has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Matsuda performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cranio gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cranio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsuda is one step ahead there.
Matsuda working some strikes from top position.
Matsuda is working Cranio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Matsuda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Matsuda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cranio controls Matsuda momentarily but Matsuda frees himself.
Matsuda lands a couple of elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsuda shoots in and gets a takedown into Cranio's guard.
Matsuda is in close to Cranio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Matsuda looking to pass the guard.
Matsuda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cranio seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cranio wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsuda chips away with some ground and pound.
Tanaka Matsuda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cranio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuda advances position into side control!
The ground and pound from Matsuda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Matsuda works to advance to full mount. Cranio defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Cranio tries to lock up and control but Matsuda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matsuda with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Matsuda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cranio can do to turn this around?
Matsuda looking to control but Cranio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cranio regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranio trying to control from the bottom.
Matsuda prevents Cranio from improving his position.
Cranio wants to control but Matsuda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cranio is looking for a sweep. Matsuda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matsuda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matsuda is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cranio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Matsuda looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranio has Matsuda pulled in close to control his posture.
Matsuda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matsuda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matsuda is working Cranio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cranio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matsuda postures up in Cranio's guard and throws a big left but Cranio blocks it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matsuda works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cranio keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Matsuda lands strikes from half guard.
Cranio is concentrating on defense, preventing Matsuda from advancing position.
Matsuda passes to side control.
Cranio on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cranio is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Matsuda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cranio is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Matsuda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cranio, who protects the arm well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Matsuda dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matsuda moves away from the strike by Cranio.
Matsuda is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Matsuda. That snapped Cranio's head back.
The fighters circling - Matsuda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matsuda takes a swing at Cranio's ribcage but misses.
Matsuda changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cranio tries to avoid it but Matsuda manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cranio to the ground. Cranio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Matsuda gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cranio.
Nice jab there from Cranio.

It looks like Tanaka Matsuda has been cut.
Cranio connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cranio throws a shot from downtown. Matsuda moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Matsuda on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matsuda throws a shot from downtown. Cranio moves away and avoids it.
Cranio lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Matsuda throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cranio was covering up waiting for the punch and Matsuda finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranio controlling the position.
Matsuda trying to control but Cranio is working from the bottom.
Matsuda stands and throws Cranio's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matsuda wants to take a breather but Cranio manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Matsuda.
Matsuda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cranio swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cranio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matsuda looking to pass the guard.
Matsuda trying to control the position from guard on top but Cranio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cranio trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cranio has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cranio throws out a loose jab but Matsuda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cranio scores with a shot to the body.
Matsuda drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cranio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Matsuda misses the target.
Cranio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matsuda was well out of range. Poor timing from Cranio.
Matsuda drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cranio sprawls and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda misses with a right hand
and Cranio counters with a stiff right hand.
Cranio misses with a body shot.
Cranio misses with a body shot.
Matsuda tries for a takedown but Cranio sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cranio misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Matsuda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cranio desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Matsuda trying to control the action but Cranio is working from the bottom.
Tanaka Matsuda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!

Matsuda is working for a kimura here but Cranio manages to reverse the position and he's now in Matsuda's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quebra Cranio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Matsuda 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanaka Matsuda!
Tanaka Matsuda thanked the fans post fight for their support.