PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yezu Fujikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Gelfand (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.

Fujikawa
vs
Gelfand

190 cm
23
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yezu Fujikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Gelfand!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gelfand is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fujikawa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Gelfand looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gelfand content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fujikawa really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fujikawa is trying to maintain the position but Gelfand is very close to passing his half guard.

Gelfand is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fujikawa is looking for a sweep. Gelfand is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fujikawa wants to get back to his feet.
Gelfand working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujikawa trying to get back to full guard but Gelfand takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fujikawa is desperately trying to improve his position but Gelfand has a good base and remains in mount.

Gelfand stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gelfand misses with the combination.

Fujikawa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gelfand controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fujikawa trying to keep a closed guard but Gelfand is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujikawa is looking to sweep but instead, Gelfand has passed into half guard.

Fujikawa looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Gelfand pushes past his half guard into mount!

Gelfand is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Fujikawa has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gelfand is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Fujikawa fails with the takedown

and Gelfand counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fujikawa is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gelfand thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Fujikawa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gelfand defends it easily.
Gelfand looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Gelfand thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gelfand not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gelfand must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gelfand postures up and lands a big shot to Fujikawa's brow.
Gelfand sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Let's hope that Gelfand has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gelfand trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Gelfand dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gelfand clinches up with Fujikawa and pushes him back against the cage.

Gelfand has picked Fujikawa up - he's going for a ride! Gelfand dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Gelfand prevents Fujikawa from standing back up.

Gelfand is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fujikawa is just riding it out for now. Gelfand eventually gives up the hold.
Fujikawa moves into full guard.
Gelfand advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujikawa being controlled for a moment.
Fujikawa tries to buck Gelfand off but Gelfand is having none of it.
Fujikawa is letting Gelfand control him for a moment.
Gelfand wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fujikawa keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gelfand decides to stand back up.

Gelfand fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fujikawa to the ground. Gelfand is now in Fujikawa's guard.
Fujikawa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gelfand controls the pace.
Gelfand lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gelfand stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fujikawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gelfand wants to control from the top but Fujikawa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujikawa wants to sweep here but Gelfand controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gelfand passes Fujikawa's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gelfand takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fujikawa tries to get to full guard but Gelfand has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gelfand trying to mount his opponent but Fujikawa defends it.
Still in half guard, Gelfand seems content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ryan Gelfand wasn't active enough on the ground.

Gelfand drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Fujikawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fujikawa tries to bench press Gelfand off him but Gelfand keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Gelfand showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Gelfand drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gelfand stays in close to Fujikawa's body and controls the position.
Fujikawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gelfand avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gelfand working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fujikawa's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfand passes Fujikawa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gelfand looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gelfand controlling the pace.
Fujikawa wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gelfand controlling the action here.
Gelfand moves nicely into side control.
Gelfand has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gelfand decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gelfand attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gelfand fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Fujikawa.

Fujikawa gets the takedown into side control.
Gelfand tries to bench press Fujikawa off him but Fujikawa keeps the position.
Fujikawa wants to stand but Gelfand has his arm trapped.
Gelfand is looking to reverse the position.

Fujikawa stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gelfand shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fujikawa napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Gelfand decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fujikawa to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gelfand fails with a takedown attempt.
Fujikawa closes the distance and clinches up with Gelfand, looking for a takedown. Fujikawa pushes Gelfand against the cage but Gelfand circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gelfand misses with a wild combination.
Yezu Fujikawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Gelfand is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fujikawa throws a series of punches but Gelfand moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Gelfand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gelfand has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight for Ryan Gelfand!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Ryan Gelfand!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Ryan Gelfand!

Ryan Gelfand wins by unanimous decision!