PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kotaro Fuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Abe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akira Abe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fuma
vs
Abe

169 cm
19
158 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

177 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Abe!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuma looks to land a combination but Abe avoids it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fuma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abe fails with the takedown

and Fuma counters with a single leg into guard. Abe didn't expect that.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Abe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Abe working over Fuma with some ground and pound. Fuma looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fuma works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuma working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abe.
Abe throwing strikes from guard but Fuma blocks nicely.
Fuma working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abe.
Abe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Abe advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abe looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fuma trying to hold on to Abe's head to control him but Abe postures up.
Fuma knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Abe on the ground.
Abe wants to free his trapped foot but Fuma is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Abe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fuma sees it coming and defends easily.

Abe wants to work for an arm triangle but Fuma is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Abe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fuma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abe is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Abe looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fuma with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Abe is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Fuma as he works his way to full guard.
Abe throws a big elbow that misses.
Abe looks gassed!
Abe trying to control but Fuma is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fuma is keeping the position for now.
Abe looking to sit in guard and control but Fuma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Abe keeping moving, preventing Fuma from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Abe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Abe fails to land the takedown.
Fuma misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fuma stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fuma wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Abe.
Kotaro Fuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Abe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abe scores with a takedown into Fuma's guard.
Fuma keeping moving, preventing Abe from controlling successfully.

Abe drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fuma manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Abe has Fuma in his guard.
Fuma trying to control but Abe is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abe seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Kotaro Fuma has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Abe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fuma counters with a two punch combo.
Abe is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abe with a poor takedown

and Fuma decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Abe's guard.
Fuma stays in close to Abe's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kotaro Fuma just wasn't active enough.
Fuma tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Abe swivels and escapes.
Fuma throws a sloppy head kick and Abe moves out of range easily.

Fuma gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuma drops down looking for an ankle pick but Abe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Fuma. No joy for Abe on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fuma scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fuma scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotaro Fuma dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Abe with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fuma counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Fuma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fuma misses with the combination.
Abe has his takedown stuffed

and Fuma counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fuma.

Abe is rocked!
Fuma sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Abe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Abe trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kotaro Fuma.

Fuma closes the distance and clinches.

Fuma pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fuma is trying to keep Abe in close.

Abe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fuma has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Abe has managed to get both his arms back between Fuma's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abe looking to pass the guard.
Abe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fuma's head.
Abe trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Fuma manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kotaro Fuma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fuma tries to free his leg and advance position but Abe is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abe wants to sweep here but Fuma controlling him for the moment.
Fuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Abe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kotaro Fuma just wasn't active enough.
Fuma doesn't manage to clinch there - Abe circles away.
Fuma fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Abe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuma shoots in for a takedown but Abe shows good takedown defense.
Fuma fails to land with a series of punches.
Abe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kotaro Fuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Abe.
Fuma tries to clinch up but Abe circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Abe closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kotaro Fuma showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fuma 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kotaro Fuma!