PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arslan Handukic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katon Fujikan (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.

Handukic
vs
Fujikan

193 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arslan Handukic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Katon Fujikan!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fujikan lands with an uppercut that bounces Handukic off the cage and back into range.

It looks like Arslan Handukic has been cut.
Handukic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fujikan defends it nicely.
Handukic shoots for a takedown but Fujikan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fujikan misses with a two punch combination.
Fujikan misses with a wild combination.
Fujikan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fujikan stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arslan Handukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fujikan throws a head kick that misses

and Handukic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fujikan!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Fujikan is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Handukic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fujikan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Fujikan bucks up and throws Handukic to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Fujikan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Handukic.
Katon Fujikan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujikan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Handukic counters with a single leg into guard. Fujikan didn't expect that.
Handukic wants to pass the guard but Fujikan is keeping the position.
Handukic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Handukic postures up in Fujikan's guard and throws a big left but Fujikan blocks it.

Fujikan manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Katon Fujikan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Handukic shoots in looking for a takedown but Fujikan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Handukic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Handukic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fujikan sprawls well. Fujikan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Handukic gets slowly back to his feet.
Fujikan tries a head kick but it misses.
Handukic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Handukic is breathing heavily.
Fujikan misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handukic throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Fujikan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Handukic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fujikan misses with a series of wild punches.

Handukic moves into the clinch.
Fujikan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Fujikan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Handukic as Fujikan tries to tie him up.
Fujikan seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Handukic tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fujikan pulls Handukic into guard.
Handukic passes into half guard.
Fujikan tries to kick Handukic off but Handukic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fujikan is looking to escape.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fujikan looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Arslan Handukic wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Handukic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fujikan stuffs the takedown attempt from Handukic. Handukic gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handukic connects with a right hand. Fujikan shakes it off.
Handukic lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Handukic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fujikan swivels and escapes.
Fujikan tries to bum rush Handukic with a series of wild strikes but Handukic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Handukic fails with a takedown attempt.
Handukic shoots for a takedown but Fujikan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Handukic shoots in looking for a takedown but Fujikan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Handukic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A punch lands to the side of Handukic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fujikan moves to clinch but Handukic breaks away
and Handukic counters with a head kick. That will keep Fujikan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arslan Handukic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arslan Handukic's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Handukic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fujikan sprawls well. Fujikan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Handukic gets slowly back to his feet.
A cross from Fujikan lands.
A swing and a miss from Fujikan.
Arslan Handukic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Handukic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Handukic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arslan Handukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fujikan throws a sloppy head kick and Handukic moves out of range easily.
Handukic swats away the attempt to clinch by Fujikan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fujikan tries to clinch but Handukic moves out of range.
Fujikan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fujikan.
Katon Fujikan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handukic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fujikan but Fujikan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Handukic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Handukic keeps the fight on the outside.
Fujikan tries a head kick but it misses.
Fujikan misses with a double jab

and Handukic counters by clinching up.
Handukic blocks an uppercut.
Handukic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Fujikan is defending well.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Handukic.
Handukic goes for a takedown attempt but Fujikan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujikan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fujikan misses with a two punch combination.

Fujikan moves into the clinch.
Handukic blocking some punches.
Fujikan lands a left hand.
Handukic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Handukic fails to pull guard.
Fujikan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Fujikan stalling in the clinch.
Handukic working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handukic is trying to break the clinch but Fujikan has him pressed against the cage.
Fujikan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Fujikan is trying to pull guard but Handukic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Fujikan looking to stall.

Handukic has Fujikan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Handukic pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Fujikan tumbling to the mat - Handukic dives into Fujikan's guard.
Fujikan wants to stand up but Handukic is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujikan is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Handukic dives into side control.

Fujikan throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Handukic.
Handukic avoids the head kick by Fujikan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck for Handukic with that takedown attempt.
Handukic shoots in for a takedown but Fujikan shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katon Fujikan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arslan Handukic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice sprawl there from Fujikan as Handukic shoots in.
Fujikan swinging wildly here.
Some wild striking there from Fujikan.

Handukic takes the fight into the clinch.
Fujikan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Handukic smiles and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Fujikan. Those never looked like landing.
Fujikan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Handukic shoots in for a takedown but Fujikan shows good takedown defense.
Fujikan wants to clinch up but Handukic keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handukic doesn't manage to clinch there - Fujikan circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Handukic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arslan Handukic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fujikan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Handukic blocks a head kick by Fujikan.
Fujikan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Handukic shoots in for a double leg but Fujikan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Handukic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fujikan's waist but Fujikan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Handukic off to one side.
Handukic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fujikan defends it nicely.
Handukic avoids the body shot from Fujikan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handukic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Handukic takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fujikan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Handukic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Handukic shoots for a takedown but Fujikan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fujikan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Handukic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fujikan stuffs the takedown attempt from Handukic. Handukic gets slowly back to his feet.
Fujikan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Handukic is defended easily by Fujikan.
Fujikan throws a leg kick but Handukic sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fujikan wants to clinch up but Handukic keeps it at a distance.
Handukic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fujikan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Handukic is defended easily by Fujikan.
Handukic closes the distance and clinches up with Fujikan, looking for a takedown. Handukic pushes Fujikan against the cage but Fujikan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujikan tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Handukic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Handukic slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fujikan is looking to stand up but Handukic isn't so interested in that idea.

Handukic drops back looking for a leg! Fujikan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fujikan manages to kick Handukic off! Handukic jumps back into Fujikan's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Handukic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Arslan Handukic.
I think Handukic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

The fight is ruled a draw!