PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Pugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Matsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matsumoto is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pink Spider. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pugh
vs
Matsumoto

170 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

KaotiK

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Pugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryu Matsumoto!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pugh moves into the clinch.

Matsumoto lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Matsumoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pugh is trying to get back to full guard.
Pugh trying to control but Matsumoto postures up.
Matsumoto has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Las Vegas. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pugh wants to get back to full guard.
Pugh trying to hold on to Matsumoto's head to control him but Matsumoto postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Matsumoto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh tries to clinch but Matsumoto moves away

and Matsumoto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matsumoto.
Matsumoto throws a big elbow that misses.
Matsumoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matsumoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matsumoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pugh's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsumoto throws an elbow that misses. Pugh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Matsumoto's guard. Nice move by Pugh!
Pugh won't allow Matsumoto to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Matsumoto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pugh throwing strikes from guard but Matsumoto blocks nicely.
Matsumoto wants to get back to his feet but Pugh is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matsumoto has momentary wrist control but Pugh slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto seems keen to control Pugh's posture.
Pugh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matsumoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pugh throwing strikes but missing.
Pugh won't allow Matsumoto to get back to his feet.
Pugh throws a strike but Matsumoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Matsumoto lands a couple of digs.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Pugh keeps moving.
Pugh looking for a sweep. Not yet Pugh, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pugh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsumoto sprawls well. He's pushed Pugh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matsumoto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pugh's guard.
Matsumoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Pugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pugh being controlled here, momentarily.
Pugh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsumoto lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Matsumoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pugh preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Pugh keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Matsumoto preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pugh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matsumoto's waist but Matsumoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pugh off to one side.

Matsumoto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Matsumoto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Matsumoto lands a nice forearm strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Pugh's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pugh is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Matsumoto dominated that round.
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.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsumoto.
Pugh shoots in for a takedown but Matsumoto shows good takedown defense.
Matsumoto darts in looking for a takedown but Pugh gets double underhooks and turns Matsumoto into the cage.

Matsumoto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pugh is trying to defend but Matsumoto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pugh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto working Pugh over with strikes.
Matsumoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pugh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pugh regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
Pugh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Matsumoto lands a couple of elbows.
Matsumoto lands a couple of digs.
Matsumoto looking to pass the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Matsumoto wants to control from the top but Pugh keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pugh fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matsumoto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pugh has his takedown stuffed

and Matsumoto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Matsumoto.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsumoto postures up and lands a big shot to Pugh's brow.
Matsumoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Matsumoto lands a couple of digs.
Matsumoto wants to get up but he can't break Pugh's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Matsumoto working some strikes from top position.
Ryu Matsumoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pugh keeping moving, preventing Matsumoto from controlling successfully.
Matsumoto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Matsumoto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Matsumoto throwing strikes from guard but Pugh blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto chips away with some ground and pound.
Matsumoto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pugh wants to improve his position but Matsumoto is controlling well.
Matsumoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pugh shoots for a double leg takedown but Matsumoto sprawls well. He's pushed Pugh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Matsumoto.
Pugh throws a head kick but Matsumoto moves out of range.
Matsumoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Matsumoto is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pugh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matsumoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pugh feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Matsumoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pugh tries to clinch up.
Paul Pugh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pugh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matsumoto pinned against the cage. Matsumoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matsumoto is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pugh with a body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Matsumoto scores with a takedown into Pugh's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Matsumoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Pugh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pugh.
Matsumoto is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pugh fails with a takedown attempt.

Pugh shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matsumoto's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsumoto is adopting a defensive guard.
Pugh postures up in Matsumoto's guard and throws a big left but Matsumoto blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsumoto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pugh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pugh stopping the sweep attempt from Matsumoto.
Pugh throwing strikes but missing.
Matsumoto wants to stand but Pugh is controlling the position.
Matsumoto working a defensive guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pugh won't allow Matsumoto to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.

Matsumoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Pugh 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.
Matsumoto prevents Pugh from improving his position.
Pugh is trying to maintain the position but Matsumoto is very close to passing his half guard.
Pugh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Matsumoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pugh keeps working.
Matsumoto slips a nice elbow through Pugh's hands, connecting with Pugh's forehead.
Matsumoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Pugh is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsumoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Pugh looking to score a takedown here. Matsumoto is defending well but Pugh drives through and ends up in Matsumoto's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matsumoto managing to control the position.
Matsumoto wants to sweep here but Pugh controlling him for the moment.
Pugh throwing strikes from guard but Matsumoto blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pugh is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pugh stops Matsumoto from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pugh accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pugh working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pugh postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pugh's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Matsumoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matsumoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pugh is one step ahead there.
Pugh throws an elbow that misses. Matsumoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pugh's guard. Nice move by Matsumoto!
Paul Pugh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryu Matsumoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Matsumoto distracts Pugh with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Pugh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matsumoto 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

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