PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ikuhisa Minowaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fumio Fukusaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Minowaman
vs
Fukusaku

175 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Minowaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fumio Fukusaku!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minowaman closes the distance and clinches.

Minowaman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Minowaman closes the distance and pushes Fukusaku back into the cage.
Minowaman avoiding damage.

Minowaman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fukusaku uses from the top position.
Minowaman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fukusaku advances position into side control!

Fukusaku is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Minowaman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Minowaman is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Minowaman tries to buck Fukusaku off but Fukusaku is having none of it.

Fukusaku stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukusaku shoots in for a takedown but Minowaman shows good takedown defense.

Minowaman gets a takedown into half guard.
Minowaman is pressing down on Fukusaku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fukusaku is holding on for now.
Minowaman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukusaku keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Minowaman not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minowaman is looking to stall here but Fukusaku recovers full guard.
Minowaman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minowaman trying to control but Fukusaku is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fukusaku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Minowaman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fukusaku is proving hard to escape from.
Minowaman controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Minowaman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fukusaku for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Minowaman 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.

Minowaman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Minowaman has hold of one of Fukusaku's legs. Fukusaku is fighting the takedown attempt but Minowaman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Minowaman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Minowaman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Minowaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Fukusaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ikuhisa Minowaman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Fukusaku tries for a takedown but Minowaman circles away easily

and Minowaman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fukusaku tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Minowaman just stands there and leans against the cage.

Minowaman successfully pulls guard.
Fukusaku trying to control the position from guard on top but Minowaman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Minowaman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fukusaku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fukusaku tries to free his leg and advance position but Minowaman is retaining full guard.
Fukusaku is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fukusaku drops back looking for a leg! Minowaman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Minowaman manages to kick Fukusaku off! Fukusaku jumps back into Minowaman's guard.
Minowaman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Minowaman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Minowaman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Minowaman is looking to stand up but Fukusaku isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Minowaman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fukusaku sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fukusaku shoots and misses

and Minowaman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Minowaman.
Ikuhisa Minowaman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fumio Fukusaku.
Minowaman sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minowaman wants to get up but he can't break Fukusaku's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Minowaman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Minowaman wants to pass the guard but Fukusaku is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minowaman controlling from the top position.
Minowaman is looking to stand up but Fukusaku won't let him.
Fukusaku keeping full guard, as Minowaman tries to pass.

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.
Minowaman throws a big right hand that misses.
Minowaman controls from within his opponent's guard.
Minowaman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuhisa Minowaman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fukusaku gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Minowaman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Minowaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Fukusaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minowaman looking to pass the guard.
Fukusaku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukusaku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fukusaku can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Minowaman controls the pace.
Minowaman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Minowaman throws a lazy right hand but Fukusaku sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Minowaman looks to land a combination but Fukusaku avoids it well.
Fukusaku misses with a takedown

and Minowaman counters with a takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Fukusaku parries the strikes from Minowaman easily there. Minowaman is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Fukusaku to escape.
Fukusaku trying to remain calm as Minowaman controls from the top position.
Minowaman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Fukusaku prevents Minowaman from improving position.
Ikuhisa Minowaman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Minowaman seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Minowaman sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fukusaku is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Minowaman taking a breather here.
Minowaman trying to control the position but Fukusaku is working away.
Fumio Fukusaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Minowaman misses with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ikuhisa Minowaman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Minowaman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikuhisa Minowaman!