PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Naoki Fujii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laurent Tsadyleba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Fujii
vs
Tsadyleba

176 cm
27
170 lbs
16 - 3 - 2

179 cm
21
158 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Tokyo Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoki Fujii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Laurent Tsadyleba!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fujii moves into range and clinches up with Tsadyleba.

Fujii has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tsadyleba regains guard immediately.

Tsadyleba looking for a guillotine here but Fujii defends easily.
Fujii scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fujii postures up.
Fujii postures up in Tsadyleba's guard and throws a big left but Tsadyleba blocks it.
Fujii throwing strikes from guard but Tsadyleba blocks nicely.
Fujii wants to control from the top but Tsadyleba keeps moving.
Tsadyleba wants to sweep here but Fujii controlling him for the moment.
Fujii throwing strikes from guard but Tsadyleba blocks nicely.
Fujii connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujii preventing the sweep.
Fujii cracks Tsadyleba with a solid left hand.
Fujii postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fujii with a nice head shot there.
Fujii thows a big elbow that misses.

Tsadyleba has his foot on Fujii's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fujii works his way back into a safe position though.

Fujii drops back looking for a leg! Tsadyleba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tsadyleba manages to kick Fujii off! Fujii jumps back into Tsadyleba's guard.
Tsadyleba keeping moving, preventing Fujii from controlling successfully.
Tsadyleba is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fujii lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsadyleba keeping moving, preventing Fujii from controlling successfully.
Fujii with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fujii throws and elbow that misses. Tsadyleba uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fujii's guard. Nice move by Tsadyleba!

Fujii is looking for a triangle but Tsadyleba pushes his legs off easily.
Fujii is breathing heavily.

Fujii had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tsadyleba defends it easily.
Tsadyleba controls from within his opponent's guard.

Fujii looking for subs off his back but Tsadyleba has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujii wants to improve his position but Tsadyleba is controlling well.
Fujii on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tsadyleba is looking to advance position but Fujii won't allow it.

Tsadyleba escapes and gets back to his feet.

Fujii has closed the distance and engaged Tsadyleba in a clinch.
Fujii is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tsadyleba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsadyleba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fujii looking for a takedown.
Fujii wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoki Fujii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tsadyleba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fujii pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Fujii throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fujii circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fujii counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tsadyleba!
Fujii 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.
Fujii cracks Tsadyleba with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tsadyleba in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fujii is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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!
Tsadyleba takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fujii looking to finish Tsadyleba with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tsadyleba!

Tsadyleba is rocked!
Fujii fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Fujii dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fujii throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tsadyleba is still on wobbly legs! Can Fujii finish him?

Fujii closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tsadyleba to the mat! Tsadyleba manages to get full guard.
Tsadyleba seems to have recovered his senses.
Fujii working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tsadyleba not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tsadyleba wants to sweep but no luck.

Fujii has gone for a leg lock! Tsadyleba slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fujii's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsadyleba trying to control but Fujii is working from the bottom.

Tsadyleba got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fujii has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tsadyleba has managed to get both his arms back between Fujii's legs - danger averted.
Fujii looking for a sweep. Not yet Fujii, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsadyleba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fujii looking for a sweep. Not yet Fujii, not yet.
Tsadyleba trying to control the position from guard on top but Fujii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fujii has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tsadyleba is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fujii.
Fujii is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tsadyleba wants to clinch but Fujii slips to the side
and Fujii counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Tsadyleba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two 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.
Tsadyleba tries to work over Fujii's front leg with a kick but Fujii checks it.

Tsadyleba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fujii napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fujii is looking for a sweep.
Fujii manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tsadyleba's best efforts.
Fujii wants to improve his position but Tsadyleba is controlling well.
Tsadyleba is thwarting Fujii's attempts to control the position.
Tsadyleba is nestled in close to Fujii, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Fujii actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Tsadyleba clinches up with Fujii and pushes him back against the cage.
Tsadyleba misses with the head strike.

Fujii wants the takedown. Tsadyleba is fighting it off but Fujii persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Tsadyleba's guard against the cage.
Tsadyleba working a defensive guard here.
Fujii loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fujii looking to sit in guard and control but Tsadyleba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fujii manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tsadyleba manages to get himself to full guard.

Tsadyleba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujii trying to control but Tsadyleba is working from the bottom.
Fujii with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fujii advances to half guard.
Fujii trying to mount his opponent but Tsadyleba defends it.
Fujii working Tsadyleba over with strikes.
Fujii takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Fujii there.

Fujii is looking for submissions but instead, Tsadyleba has regained full guard.
Fujii passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Fujii dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tsadyleba throws a lazy right hand but Fujii sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Laurent Tsadyleba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tsadyleba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tsadyleba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fujii counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Fujii is looking for a kimura here.
Fujii blocks the strikes from Tsadyleba.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fujii working the head and body with strikes.
Fujii thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tsadyleba's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsadyleba wants to control but Fujii is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tsadyleba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tsadyleba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fujii lands strikes from half guard.
Fujii thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tsadyleba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fujii wants to pass to mount but Tsadyleba is defending the position.
Fujii working over Tsadyleba with some ground and pound. Tsadyleba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Fujii is trying to work for a kimura but Tsadyleba is defending well.
Tsadyleba tries to get to full guard but Fujii has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fujii is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fujii thows a huge punch but Tsadyleba dodges it nicely.
Fujii trying to mount his opponent but Tsadyleba defends it.
Tsadyleba wants to control but Fujii is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fujii slips a nice elbow through Tsadyleba's hands, connecting with Tsadyleba's forehead.
Fujii thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tsadyleba to regain full guard.
Naoki Fujii overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fujii cracks Tsadyleba with a solid left hand.
Fujii won't allow Tsadyleba to sweep him here.
Tsadyleba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujii slips nicely into half guard.
Fujii wants to control but Tsadyleba is keeping him busy.
Tsadyleba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fujii scores with a couple of nice shots.
Naoki Fujii is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tsadyleba trying to hold on to Fujii's head to control him but Fujii postures up.
Tsadyleba wants to improve his position but Fujii is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Fujii.
Fujii works his way into full mount!
Fujii controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fujii is working for a guillotine from mount but Tsadyleba frees his head quite easily.

Fujii goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tsadyleba turns into him and now he's in Fujii's guard.
Fujii is trying to control the position but Tsadyleba postures up.
Laurent Tsadyleba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fujii utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoki Fujii showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fujii 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naoki Fujii!