PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Elwood Blues (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Fortaleza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Fortaleza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Blues
vs
Fortaleza

170 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Elwood Blues!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Fortaleza!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Fortaleza finds it's way through Blues's defenses.
Blues wants to clinch.
Blues shoots in for a takedown but Fortaleza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blues takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Blues has Fortaleza up against the cage in a clinch.

Blues manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Blues seems keen to control Fortaleza's posture.
Blues on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blues tries to get out of the position.
Blues'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Elwood Blues wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Blues has closed the distance and engaged Fortaleza in a clinch.
Blues is working for takedown but Fortaleza is calmly controlling the position for now.

Blues escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fortaleza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Blues looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blues trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Blues trying to control but Fortaleza is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blues slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fortaleza keeping moving, preventing Blues from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Elwood Blues wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fortaleza connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Blues takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blues keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fortaleza's efforts to push away.
Blues wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elwood Blues. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Blues breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blues looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Blues drives through and clinches with Fortaleza against the cage.
Fortaleza wants to break free but Blues has control.
Blues lands an elbow just above Fortaleza 's eye.
Fortaleza working hard to break the clinch.
Blues has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fortaleza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fortaleza is trying to maintain a safe position but Blues gets an underhook and turns Fortaleza into the cage.

Blues breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blues tries a head kick but it misses.
Blues tries to clinch up but Fortaleza circles away and keeps his distance.
Blues is looking to clinch but Fortaleza is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blues tries to close the distance and clinch but Fortaleza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blues moves in looking to clinch but Fortaleza pushes him off.
Blues looks for a takedown but Fortaleza sprawls well.
Fortaleza tries to bum rush Blues with a series of wild strikes but Blues uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Blues shoots for a double leg takedown but Fortaleza sprawls well. He's pushed Blues's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blues takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Blues throws a body kick that misses.
Blues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fortaleza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fortaleza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Fortaleza lands a slapping body shot.
Blues throws a body punch but Fortaleza moves out of range.
Blues tries to clinch up but Fortaleza circles away and keeps his distance.
Elwood Blues seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blues tries to clinch but Fortaleza is having none of it.
Jim Fortaleza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blues tries to clinch but Fortaleza is having none of it.
Blues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fortaleza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blues tries to clinch but Fortaleza is having none of it.
Blues tries to clinch but Fortaleza moves out of range.
Fortaleza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Blues darts in and clinches Fortaleza up against the cage.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Blues looking for a takedown.
Blues creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fortaleza's defenses.

It looks like Jim Fortaleza has been cut.
Blues is working for takedown but Fortaleza is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fortaleza throws a knee to the head but misses.

Blues breaks from the clinch.
Blues fails with the takedown.
Blues tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blues tries to clinch up.
Fortaleza ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blues moves away.
Blues fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Blues gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fortaleza counters with a two punch combo.
Fortaleza cracks a nice hook into Blues's ribs.
Blues tries to clinch up but Fortaleza circles away and keeps his distance.
Fortaleza scores with a hook to the body. Blues takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jab from Fortaleza.
Blues tries to clinch but Fortaleza moves out of range.
Blues misses the jab.
Fortaleza keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Blues takes the fight into the clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Blues gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fortaleza keeping moving, preventing Blues from controlling successfully.
Blues won't allow Fortaleza to sweep him here.
Fortaleza looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blues trying to control the position from guard on top but Fortaleza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Elwood Blues just wasn't active enough.
Blues tries to close the distance and clinch but Fortaleza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Blues will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horrible takedown by Blues or perhaps it was just good defense by Fortaleza which made him look bad.
Blues tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fortaleza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blues tries to clinch up.
Blues doesn't manage to clinch there - Fortaleza circles away.

Blues gets a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Blues can't get the takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Blues has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fortaleza uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elwood Blues dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Fortaleza's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fortaleza sizes up Blues with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fortaleza throws a push kick but Blues slaps the foot to one side.
Blues doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Blues has managed to clinch.
Knees to the body from Blues.
Blues slows down the pace here.
Fortaleza gets underhooks to prevent Blues's takedown attempt.
Fortaleza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Blues manages to break the clinch.
Blues has his takedown stuffed
and Fortaleza counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortaleza catches Blues with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Blues darts in and clinches Fortaleza up against the cage.
Fortaleza trying to land knees to the body.
Blues working Fortaleza over with knees to the body.
Fortaleza tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Blues breaks from the clinch.
Elwood Blues is winning the standup battle so far.
Blues shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fortaleza but Fortaleza pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elwood Blues. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fortaleza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Blues was well out of range. Poor timing from Fortaleza.

Blues forces Fortaleza back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortaleza is pressed up against the cage. Blues has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fortaleza down to the mat. Fortaleza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fortaleza lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Blues at a distance.
Fortaleza is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Blues rather than just go for the knockout.
Blues shoots in but Fortaleza avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Blues is looking to clinch but Fortaleza is avoiding it.
Nice sprawl there from Fortaleza as Blues shoots in.
Blues tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fortaleza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blues doesn't manage to clinch there - Fortaleza circles away.
Blues thows a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Fortaleza.
Fortaleza has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blues on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Blues wants to clinch
and Fortaleza counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fortaleza motions for Blues to come forward. Fortaleza throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Blues with a poor takedown
and Fortaleza counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Blues throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blues looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fortaleza lands a jab to Blues's midsection.
Blues fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fortaleza keeps the fight on the outside.
Blues will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Blues tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blues shoots in for a takedown but Fortaleza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Blues takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Blues shoots in for a takedown but Fortaleza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fortaleza with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fortaleza lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blues takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Fortaleza swats away the attempt to clinch by Blues.

Blues instigates a clinch.
Elwood Blues has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Blues's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elwood Blues is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fortaleza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blues tries to close the distance and clinch but Fortaleza swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blues shoots in and drives through. Fortaleza sprawls well.
Blues shoots in and drives through. Fortaleza sprawls well.
Blues fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Blues takes the fight into the clinch.
Blues has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fortaleza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blues goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fortaleza prevents it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Fortaleza misses with a body punch.
Fortaleza is trying to break free.
Fortaleza tries to break the clinch but Blues is controlling the position.
Fortaleza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blues is trying to stall.
Blues throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Blues is trying to drag Fortaleza to the mat but Fortaleza just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Fortaleza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fortaleza is trying to break free.
Blues crunches a lovely knee into Fortaleza's ribcage.
Blues can't get the takedown.
Stalling in the clinch from Blues.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fortaleza misses with a body punch.
Fortaleza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blues.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fortaleza stops a takedown attempt from Blues.
Fortaleza misses with an elbow over the top.
Blues has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fortaleza is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blues avoiding damage as Fortaleza throws knees to the body.
Blues has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fortaleza after a bit of a struggle.
Blues keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fortaleza's efforts to push away.
Blues trying to stall but Fortaleza improves his position.
Fortaleza misses with an elbow strike.
Blues keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fortaleza's efforts to push away.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Blues just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fortaleza's brow.
Blues is trying to pull guard but Fortaleza has him pressed against the cage.
Fortaleza stalling in the clinch but Blues improves position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Blues blocking some punches.
Fortaleza wants to get back to striking at distance but Blues won't allow it.
Stalling in the clinch from Blues.
Fortaleza is trying to break the clinch but Blues has him pressed against the cage.
Blues missing with knees to the body.
Blues crunches a lovely knee into Fortaleza's ribcage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Blues fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fortaleza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Blues has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fortaleza is trying to break free.
Blues keeps control of Fortaleza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Fortaleza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fortaleza being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jim Fortaleza.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Elwood Blues!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Elwood Blues!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Elwood Blues!

Elwood Blues wins by unanimous decision!
Elwood Blues seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.