PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takaku Fuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippon Banzai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Fuke
vs
Banzai

166 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takaku Fuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippon Banzai!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuke looks to land a combination but Banzai avoids it well.
Ippon Banzai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fuke avoids the head kick by Banzai.
Banzai falls off balance throwing a combination

and Fuke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Fuke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Banzai thumps Fuke with a low kick.

Fuke gets a clinch.

Fuke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Banzai misses with a hook to the body

and Fuke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Banzai's guard.
Fuke stands and throws Banzai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Banzai tries to buck Fuke off but Fuke is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fuke wants to control but Banzai is keeping him busy.
Banzai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Banzai kicks Fuke off and gets back to his feet.
Banzai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fuke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Banzai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banzai looks to clinch

and Fuke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fuke won't allow Banzai to sweep him here.
Banzai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fuke!
Fuke has given up his back here. Will Banzai look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Banzai throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Banzai wants to control the position but Fuke frees himself and scrambles - Banzai manages to regain control in side control.
An elbow from Banzai crashes against the mat.
Fuke stops Banzai from passing to mount.
Fuke is breathing heavily.
Banzai is trying to move to mount but Fuke reverses beautifully and ends up in Banzai's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banzai wants to get back to his feet but Fuke passes into half guard.
Fuke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Banzai does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banzai is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Banzai throws a half hearted mid kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Banzai.

Banzai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Banzai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fuke is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuke can't do much from the bottom here.

Banzai swings around for an armbar but Fuke sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Banzai's guard.
Fuke trying to control the position from guard on top but Banzai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banzai trying to keep a closed guard but Fuke is proving a slippery customer.
Banzai wants to sweep here but Fuke controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fuke is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fuke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banzai tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Fuke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Banzai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Banzai wants to stand up but Fuke is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Banzai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fuke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fuke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takaku Fuke dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fuke is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Banzai's half guard.
Banzai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Banzai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fuke defends well.
Banzai keeping moving, preventing Fuke from controlling successfully.

Banzai is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Fuke frees his head nicely. Oh but Banzai has switched to an armbar! Fuke is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Ippon Banzai!