PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Messner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matsui Takamatsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takamatsu comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dogs of War kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Messner
vs
Takamatsu

175 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

165 cm
18
135 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Mike Messner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Matsui Takamatsu!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takamatsu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Messner avoids a kick to the body.
Takamatsu's coach down at Island Premium 20x CT's was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Takamatsu's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Messner avoids a kick to the body.
No joy there for Messner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messner misses with a jab, cross combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Messner checks a leg kick.
Messner closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Messner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Messner lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Messner jabs Takamatsu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Takamatsu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Messner misses.
Messner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Takamatsu tries to keep at a distance but Messner has taken the fight into the clinch.
Messner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takamatsu prevents Messner from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Messner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Messner stops a takedown attempt from Takamatsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messner can't break the clinch.
Takamatsu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Messner tries to land knees in the clinch but Takamatsu avoids the damage to the body.
Messner is trying to break the clinch but Takamatsu is controlling him.
Messner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takamatsu has him pressed against the cage.
Messner slows down the pace here.
Messner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Messner wants to get back to striking at distance but Takamatsu won't allow it.
Messner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takamatsu tries to pull guard but Messner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Takamatsu prevents Messner from breaking the clinch.
Takamatsu throws a head punch that misses.
Takamatsu is trying to pull guard but Messner has him pressed against the cage.
Mike Messner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matsui Takamatsu.

Messner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takamatsu connects with a high kick.

Messner forces Takamatsu back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner can't break the clinch.
Messner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Messner looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Messner tries to break free but Takamatsu pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takamatsu.
Messner tries to circle away but Takamatsu has him pinned against the cage.
Takamatsu misses with the head strike.
Messner tries to circle away but Takamatsu has him pinned against the cage.
Messner tries to break free but Takamatsu pushes him back against the cage.
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!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Takamatsu just misses with a elbow thrown towards Messner's brow.
Takamatsu has Messner pressed against the cage, preventing Messner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Takamatsu.
Messner wants to break free but Takamatsu has control.
Messner wants to get back to striking at distance but Takamatsu won't allow it.
Takamatsu tries to pull guard but Messner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Messner.
A frustrated look appears on Messner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Messner can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Messner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Messner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Messner avoids the elbow strike from Takamatsu, against the cage.
Takamatsu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Messner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Messner is pressed up against the cage. Takamatsu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Messner down to the mat. Messner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No joy there for Messner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messner misses with a combination
and Takamatsu counters with a nice low kick that buckles Messner's knee momentarily.
Messner keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Takamatsu throws a push kick but Messner slaps the foot to one side.
Mike Messner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takamatsu throws a low kick, looking for Messner's leg but Messner calmly moves out of range.
Takamatsu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Messner throws a right and a left that Takamatsu avoids nicely.
Nice body punch from Messner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Takamatsu scores with a takedown into Messner's guard.
Messner has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Takamatsu passes Messner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Messner is concentrating on defense, preventing Takamatsu from advancing position.
Takamatsu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Messner is looking for a sweep. Takamatsu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Takamatsu is keen to just control but Messner is a slippery customer.
Messner holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takamatsu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messner keeps working.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matsui Takamatsu wasn't active enough on the ground.
Messner lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Takamatsu scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Messner dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takamatsu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Messner.
Messner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Takamatsu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Messner moves away.
Takamatsu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Messner's sensitive parts.
Takamatsu misses with a kick to the body.

Messner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takamatsu, pushing him back against the cage.
Messner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Takamatsu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Messner avoids a wild elbow strike from Takamatsu.

Messner breaks from the clinch.
Messner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takamatsu circles away quickly and effectively.
Mike Messner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping body kick lands there for Takamatsu.
Takamatsu throws a leg kick but Messner moved away.
Takamatsu throws a body kick that misses.
Messner misses with a few strikes there.
Messner throws a series of punches but Takamatsu avoids them all with ease.
Messner misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messner has Takamatsu up against the cage in a clinch.
Messner is trying to push Takamatsu away but Takamatsu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Takamatsu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Messner.
Messner is looking to break free of the clinch but Takamatsu has double underhooks.
Mike Messner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Messner is trying to break the clinch but Takamatsu has him pressed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Takamatsu is trying to trip Messner. He has hold of a leg but Messner is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Takamatsu persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Messner keeping full guard, as Takamatsu tries to pass.
Messner wants to sweep here but Takamatsu controlling him for the moment.

Takamatsu gets to his feet - Messner follows without any prompting.
A decent looking cross lands there for Messner.
Messner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner works over Takamatsu's head and body with a nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takamatsu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Takamatsu throws a leg kick but Messner sees it coming and moves out of range.
Messner takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Messner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Messner takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Messner misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takamatsu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Messner.
Takamatsu cracks the inside of Messner's front leg.
Takamatsu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Messner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takamatsu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Takamatsu tries to land a front kick but Messner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mike Messner is winning the standup battle so far.
Takamatsu tries to clinch but Messner is having none of it.
Messner swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messner lands a right hook to the body.
Takamatsu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Messner connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Takamatsu scrambles back to his feet.
Messner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Takamatsu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Takamatsu is looking to land body kicks.
Messner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Messner blocks a head kick by Takamatsu.

Takamatsu gets a takedown into half guard.
Takamatsu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Messner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Takamatsu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messner keeps working.
Messner trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamatsu moves nicely into side control.
Messner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Takamatsu on the ground.
Takamatsu working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Messner is looking to reverse the position.
Takamatsu working away.
Takamatsu in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takamatsu trying to control the position but Messner is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsui Takamatsu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Messner blocks a low kick nicely.
Messner throws a body punch but Takamatsu moves out of range.
Takamatsu looks for the body kick but Messner saw that one coming.
Takamatsu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Takamatsu tries to land a leg kick but Messner saw it coming and moves away.
Messner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Messner has closed the distance and engaged Takamatsu in a clinch.

Messner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takamatsu misses with a kick to the body.

Messner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Messner dodges an elbow strike from Takamatsu.
A head punch on the inside from Takamatsu fails to land.

Takamatsu manages to break the clinch.
Takamatsu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Takamatsu scores with a kick to the body.
Messner throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messner lands a two punch combo.
Takamatsu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Takamatsu tries to work over Messner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Takamatsu drags the fight down to the ground.
Messner is looking to work some ground and pound but Takamatsu has wrist control.
Takamatsu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Messner stopping the sweep attempt from Takamatsu.
Takamatsu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Takamatsu working for a triangle but Messner defends it easily.
Messner preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messner trying to control but Takamatsu is working from the bottom.
Takamatsu working a defensive guard here.
Messner throwing strikes but missing.

Takamatsu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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!
Takamatsu lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Messner!
Takamatsu trying to control but Messner is having none of it.
Messner tries to hold on but Takamatsu postures up.
Matsui Takamatsu has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takamatsu is working for a guillotine from mount but Messner frees his head quite easily.
Messner tries to hold on but Takamatsu pushes him away.
Messner prevents Takamatsu from taking his back.
Messner wants to control but Takamatsu is having none of it.
Messner has given up his back here. Will Takamatsu look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Takamatsu is not going to allow Messner to sit and survive in this position.
Takamatsu trying to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamatsu has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Messner's body.
I really don't envy Messner right now.
Takamatsu struggling to keep hold of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Takamatsu is not going to allow Messner to sit and survive in this position.
I really don't envy Messner right now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Takamatsu is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Messner defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lull in the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Messner trying to control the position but Takamatsu manages to sink in the hooks.
Takamatsu wants to control but Messner is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsui Takamatsu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Takamatsu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matsui Takamatsu!
Matsui Takamatsu took some time post fight to say the following; '"Thank you everyone, Please give it up for *Mr. Messner *, Understand that I hold you in the highest respect " Again, I thank you" L.F.C. thank you for giving me this chance."'.