PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elroy Moreno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akaizawa Matsuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elroy Moreno has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Moreno
vs
Matsuda

224 cm
23
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Elroy Moreno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akaizawa Matsuda!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matsuda motions for Moreno to come forward. Matsuda throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Matsuda shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Moreno napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Matsuda taking a breather here.
Matsuda tries to stand but Moreno is controlling his head.
Moreno tries to buck Matsuda off but Matsuda is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Matsuda politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Matsuda prefers to stall for the moment though.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Akaizawa Matsuda.
Matsuda tries to score with a low kick but Moreno moves his leg out of the way.

Matsuda forces Moreno back against the cage and clinches.

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

Moreno gets caught napping as Matsuda dives in and scores a takedown. Moreno manages to retain guard.
Matsuda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsuda wanted to stand there but Moreno had control of the position.

Moreno is looking for a triangle but Matsuda pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda controlling from the top position.
Matsuda throwing strikes but missing.
Matsuda wanted to stand there but Moreno had control of the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Matsuda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Akaizawa Matsuda wasn't active enough on the ground.
Moreno moves out of range of the body kick from Matsuda.

Matsuda takes the fight into the clinch.

Matsuda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Matsuda closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Moreno's guard.
Matsuda prevents Moreno from getting back to his feet.

Moreno has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Matsuda is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Moreno.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda working the ground and pound but Moreno is defending the strikes.
Matsuda postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Moreno is being controlled here.
Matsuda lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Moreno down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matsuda works to advance to full mount. Moreno defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
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!
Moreno is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsuda has closed the distance and engaged Moreno in a clinch.

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

Matsuda gets a clinch.
Matsuda is trying to break the clinch but Moreno has him pressed against the cage.

Matsuda works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Matsuda wants to control from the top but Moreno keeps moving.
Moreno has a closed guard, preventing Matsuda from standing up.
Matsuda throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno wants to stand up but Matsuda is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akaizawa Matsuda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Matsuda is looking to score with low kicks.

Matsuda closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Moreno quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuda is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Matsuda uses his free foot to push down on Moreno's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Moreno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda controlling from the full mount.
Moreno is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda controlling from mount.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Matsuda fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Akaizawa Matsuda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matsuda trying to control but Moreno is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Matsuda there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Matsuda is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Moreno is desperately trying to improve his position but Matsuda has a good base and remains in mount.
Moreno is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akaizawa Matsuda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Matsuda rushes Moreno and presses him up against the cage.
Moreno misses with a punch to the body.

Moreno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moreno misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Moreno tries to score with a low kick but Matsuda moves his leg out of the way.

Moreno tries to sprawl but Matsuda drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Matsuda works his way into full mount!
Moreno knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matsuda on the ground.
Moreno tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matsuda goes for an armbar but Moreno turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Moreno.
Matsuda controlling the position.
Matsuda trying to keep a closed guard but Moreno is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matsuda holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akaizawa Matsuda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Matsuda instigates a clinch.
Moreno tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matsuda avoids it.
Matsuda misses with a knee strike.

Matsuda has Moreno pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Matsuda pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Moreno tumbling to the mat - Matsuda dives into Moreno's guard.
Moreno keeping moving, preventing Matsuda from controlling successfully.
Matsuda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Moreno haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Akaizawa Matsuda has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Moreno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Matsuda looking to score a takedown here. Moreno is defending well but Matsuda drives through and ends up in Moreno's guard.

Moreno is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Moreno looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matsuda is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matsuda stands and throws Moreno's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matsuda advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Matsuda looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Elroy Moreno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akaizawa Matsuda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Matsuda sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akaizawa Matsuda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matsuda 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akaizawa Matsuda!