PBP Commentary

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

Velazquez
vs
Fuma

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

169 cm
22
158 lbs
4 - 23 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Velazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velazquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Velazquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Fuma counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fuma.

Fuma breaks the clinch.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Fuma is having none of it.
Velazquez misses with a few strikes there.
Velazquez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fuma.
Fuma keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velazquez tries for a takedown but Fuma circles away easily

and Fuma counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Velazquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Velazquez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Velazquez is trying to hold Fuma in close to prevent damage but Fuma has managed to pass into half guard.
Velazquez is refusing to be controlled, as Fuma sits in half guard.
Velazquez desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to get to full guard but Fuma has control of the leg.
Fuma moves nicely into side control.
Velazquez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fuma wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuma decides to stand back up.

Velazquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fuma, pushing him back against the cage.

Fuma manages to break the clinch.
Fuma is looking to clinch but Velazquez is avoiding it.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fuma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velazquez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Fuma counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Velazquez is not content to let Fuma control the position.
Fuma lands strikes from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velazquez trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuma is trying to control the action in half guard but Velazquez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fuma might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Velazquez kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kotaro Fuma was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velazquez is breathing heavily.
No luck for Velazquez with that takedown attempt.
Fuma stuffs the takedown attempt from Velazquez. Velazquez gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fuma blocks a low kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotaro Fuma dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fuma shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velazquez as he jumps to the side.
Fuma looks for a takedown but Velazquez sprawls well.
Velazquez cracks Fuma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Velazquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Fuma circles away.
Velazquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Fuma circles away.
Fuma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velazquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Fuma.

Velazquez has Fuma up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries for a takedown. No joy.

Fuma breaks the clinch.
Velazquez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Fuma circles away.
Velazquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fuma swinging wildly here.
Fuma shoots in and drives through. Velazquez sprawls well.
Joe Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kotaro Fuma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velazquez clinches up with Fuma and pushes him back against the cage.
Fuma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velazquez walks away with a smile on his face. Fuma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Velazquez dives in and grabs Fuma's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fuma pushes down on Velazquez's head and hops out.
Velazquez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fuma counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Velazquez's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velazquez pulls Fuma in to control the position.
Fuma trying to control but Velazquez is working from the bottom.

Velazquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Velazquez is on top in guard.
Fuma keeping full guard, as Velazquez tries to pass.
Fuma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velazquez wants to pass the guard but Fuma is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velazquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fuma wants to sweep here but Velazquez controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Velazquez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Fuma. No joy for Velazquez on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velazquez tries for a takedown but Fuma circles away easily
and Fuma counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Velazquez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fuma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Velazquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fuma lands a jab.
Velazquez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Velazquez throws a shot to the body.
Fuma throws a series of strikes that have Velazquez backpedaling.

Velazquez is rocked!
Fuma throws a powerful right kick. Velazquez tried to block low but the kick was high! Velazquez was taken right off of his feet! Fuma jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kotaro Fuma!