PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tomohiko Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Matsuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiro Matsuka is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tanaka
vs
Matsuka

190 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomohiko Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiro Matsuka!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanaka attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tanaka tries to work over Matsuka's front leg with a kick but Matsuka checks it.

Matsuka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tanaka wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Matsuka.
Tanaka tries to hold on but Matsuka postures up.
Tanaka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Matsuka is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tanaka is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Matsuka content just to control the position here.
Tanaka is looking to get to half guard.
Tanaka tries to hold on but Matsuka pushes him away.
Tanaka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tanaka is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuka can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tanaka is looking to escape.
Matsuka punching from mount but Tanaka doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Matsuka throws some wild stikes that Tanaka manages to avoid easily.

Matsuka looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tanaka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Matsuka looking to finish Tanaka with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tanaka!
Tanaka really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tanaka is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Matsuka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanaka tries to lock up and control but Matsuka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka prevents Tanaka from getting the reversal.
Matsuka throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tanaka because Matsuka loaded up on that one.
Tanaka wants to control but Matsuka is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matsuka throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Matsuka prevents Tanaka from getting the reversal.

Tanaka defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Matsuka.
Tanaka is squirming around, avoiding Matsuka's attempts to control the action.
Tanaka is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsuka has a good base and remains in mount.
Tanaka gets back to half guard.
Tanaka is trying to get back to full guard.
Matsuka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tanaka defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka is thwarting Tanaka's attempts to control the position.
Tanaka is looking to improve his position.
Matsuka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tanaka is trying to maintain the position but Matsuka is very close to passing his half guard.
Matsuka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tanaka is looking to improve his position.
Tanaka really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Matsuka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Matsuka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tanaka defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka is defending against the submission attempts here by Matsuka.
Tanaka trying to hold on to Matsuka's head to control him but Matsuka postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matsuka is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matsuka thows a huge punch but Tanaka dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka trying to control here.
Tanaka works his way to full guard. Good work.
Matsuka trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Matsuka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Matsuka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matsuka trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
Tanaka keeping full guard, as Matsuka tries to pass.
Matsuka advances position into side control!
Matsuka working away.
Tanaka manages to work his way to half guard, despite Matsuka's best efforts.
Hiro Matsuka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matsuka trying to pass the guard but Tanaka defending well.

Tanaka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matsuka pulls his head out easily.
Tanaka has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Matsuka is working away from the top position though.
Tanaka manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanaka is keeping the position for now.
Matsuka is pushing down on Tanaka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tanaka is fighting to maintain full guard but Matsuka has managed to sneak the leg through.
Matsuka is trying to control. Tanaka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Matsuka wants to pass the guard but Tanaka is defending well.
Tanaka is pressing down on Matsuka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matsuka is fighting to break Tanaka's control of his arms but Tanaka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Matsuka wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.

Matsuka is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanaka is retaining full guard.
Matsuka postures up.
Matsuka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Tanaka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tanaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsuka postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matsuka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matsuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanaka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tanaka kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Matsuka throws a big elbow that misses.
Tanaka keeping moving, preventing Matsuka from controlling successfully.
Matsuka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tanaka wants to hit a switch here but Matsuka passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tanaka there!
Matsuka tries to control but Tanaka wriggling away.

Matsuka is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tanaka is surviving well by controlling Matsuka's body position as best he can.

Matsuka is working for a guillotine from mount but Tanaka frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka punching from mount but Tanaka doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Matsuka looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Tanaka defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Matsuka.
Matsuka is breathing heavily.
Tanaka regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka gets back to full guard.
Tanaka wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Matsuka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Tanaka gets caught flat footed, as Matsuka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tanaka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tanaka looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Matsuka has picked Tanaka up and slammed him! Tanaka can't keep hold of the triangle and Matsuka manages to pass to side control!
Matsuka wants to control but Tanaka is keeping him busy.
Matsuka working away.
Tanaka is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Matsuka off and has taken his back!

Matsuka is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Matsuka defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Tanaka's arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanaka has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Matsuka trying to control but not successfully.
Matsuka rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka trying to control from half guard but Matsuka is working away.
Tanaka wants to pass to mount but Matsuka is defending the position.

Matsuka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tanaka pulls his head out easily.

Tanaka is working for a submission of some sort.
Tanaka throwing shots but Matsuka is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka wants to control but Matsuka is keeping him busy.

Tanaka looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tanaka is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Matsuka sees it coming and defends easily.
Tanaka is trying to control. Matsuka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuka looks like he's trying to stand up.
Matsuka won't allow Tanaka to pass to mount.

Matsuka is defending against the submission attempts here by Tanaka.
Tanaka stalling away here and it's allowed Matsuka to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuka throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomohiko Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matsuka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Matsuka!