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Round 1 – They start off exchanging. No time wasted. Matsumoto cranks a few leg kicks. He has an early target. Matsumoto gets aggressive, then circles away. Tanner lands a combination. Matsumoto returns with another low kick. Tanner’s left leg is already noticeably welted. Matsumoto is blasting Tanner’s lead leg. Tanner switches stances briefly but as soon as he returns to orthodox another leg kick lands. Matsumoto switches it up with some high kicks to perhaps keep Tanner honest. Tanner clinches Matsumoto and drives him into the fence. Matsumoto tries to reverse and Tanner tries a trip. Matsumoto remains standing and they separate. Tanner charges in and misses on some combinations. Tanner clinches Matsumoto against the fence and absorbed some Matsumoto punches. Referee Herb Dean warns Matsumoto about shots to the back of the head as the round ends. 10-9 Matsumoto.
Round 2 – Matsumoto catches a low kick from Tanner and shoves him backward. Matsumoto goes back to targeting the leg as Tanner lands some body punches. Matsumoto lands a punching combination and connects on another leg kick. They trade punches and leg kicks. Tanner initiates another clinch and Matsumoto reverses. They separate and Tanner rips the body. Tanner jumps in and Matsumoto rips a punching combination to the head. Matsumoto goes for a high kick. Tanner tries a stepping elbow. Tanner lands a multi-punch combination and follows it up with a head kick. This stretch is perhaps the most success Tanner has had in this fight. Matsumoto goes back to the leg kick. He lands multiple. Tanner shoots and lands a takedown. After a few moments on the ground, Matsumoto gets up against the fence. Tanner lands a hard combination as the round ends. 20-18 Matsumoto.
Round 3 – Matsumoto starts the round with multiple multi-punch combinations. Tanner breathes and stands his ground. They trade leg kicks. Tanner lands multiple body kicks. Those looked like they hurt. Tanner bounces around and moves forward, only to eat a Matsumoto combination. They clinch and break. Tanner shoots for a takedown but Matsumoto stuffs. Tanner lands a knee on the way up. Matsumoto cranks Tanner with a left hand. That got the biggest reaction out of Tanner this fight. Matsumoto increases his volume and Tanner shoots. Matsumoto again stuffs the attempt. Matsumoto lands a combination that’s topped off with a standing knee. Tanner is so tough, man. He’s absorbed so much and continues to move forward. Tanner shoots for a takedown and gets it. He’s in half guard. Matsumoto slides him into guard. Tanner is trying to land big ground-and-pound but Matsumoto ties up his arm. Tanner nearly moves into side control but Matsumoto scrambles up. The round ends as the two fighters trade. What a fight. UFC CEO Dana White is in the cage after the fight to congratulate both fighters. You don’t see that very often. MMA Junkie scores it 29-28 Matsumoto.
Result: Jean Matsumoto def. Kasey Tanner via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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Records: Jean Matsumoto (14-0), Kasey Tanner (6-1)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean