PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jim Earts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hitoshi Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto has chosen Otep - Blood Pigs as his entrance music. Hitoshi Matsumoto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Earts
vs
Matsumoto

165 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Earts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hitoshi Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Earts shoots in and gets a takedown into Matsumoto's guard.
Earts is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Matsumoto trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Earts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matsumoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Earts content to stall in guard here.
Matsumoto wants to sweep here but Earts controlling him for the moment.
Earts content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jim Earts has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Earts looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Matsumoto!
Earts controlling from the full mount.
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto working to try and regain half guard.
Earts lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is looking to get to half guard.
Earts controlling from mount.
Matsumoto is trying desperately to improve position.
Earts avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.
Matsumoto is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto looks gassed!
Earts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is in a horrible position here. Earts smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsumoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Earts content just to control the position here.
Matsumoto tries to hold on but Earts postures up.
Earts content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto is in a horrible position here. Earts smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Matsumoto tries to hold on but Earts pushes him away.
Matsumoto can't escape the position.
Earts controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Earts dominated that round.
That's time! Earts's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matsumoto tries to sprawl but Earts drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto wants to get back to his feet.
Matsumoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Earts's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Earts's back!
Earts trying to control the action but Matsumoto just sinks the hooks in.
Matsumoto is trying to stick to Earts's back but Earts is turning into Matsumoto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Matsumoto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Earts.
Earts is pushing down on Matsumoto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matsumoto is fighting to maintain full guard but Earts has managed to sneak the leg through.
Matsumoto is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Matsumoto is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Earts is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Earts takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Matsumoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Earts controlling his opponent.
Matsumoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Earts controlling his opponent.
Earts avoids the attempt from Matsumoto to control.
Earts looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Earts's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jim Earts just wasn't active enough.

Earts shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Earts is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Earts stands and throws Matsumoto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matsumoto tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Earts controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earts lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Matsumoto wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Earts dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Matsumoto doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Earts counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Matsumoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Earts gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Earts stays in close to Matsumoto's body and controls the position.
Earts has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Earts is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Earts pushing down on Matsumoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matsumoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Still in half guard, Earts seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Earts seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Matsumoto for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jim Earts.
Matsumoto darts in trying to clinch

and Earts counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Matsumoto!
Earts prevents Matsumoto from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Earts controlling the position easily from mount.
Earts is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matsumoto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Earts looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Jim Earts has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Matsumoto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Earts counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Earts sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Earts works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Earts lands a big shot there that rocks Matsumoto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jim Earts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Earts controlling from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Earts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Earts 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Earts!