PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaharu Fujioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tran
vs
Fujioka

212 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

183 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Masaharu Fujioka!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tran moves out of range of the body kick.
Fujioka throws out a loose jab but Tran uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fujioka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tran throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Fujioka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tran is in Fujioka's guard.
Tran scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fujioka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tran lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fujioka is looking to stand up but Tran isn't so interested in that idea.
Fujioka pulls Tran in to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fujioka wants to stand but Tran is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujioka trying to control the position.
Tran in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tran throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fujioka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tran works over Fujioka with some ground and pound from guard.
Fujioka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fujioka wants to stand up but Tran is controlling him.
Fujioka working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fujioka attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Fujioka shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tran's guard.
Fujioka trying to control but Tran is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tran is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fujioka defends well.
Tran will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tran trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Fujioka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tran is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fujioka is aware though and is defending well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tran swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fujioka has Tran up against the cage in a clinch.

Fujioka turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Fujioka manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tran is looking to regain half guard here but Fujioka keeps moving and retains side control.
Fujioka advances nicely into full mount.
Fujioka trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Fujioka tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Fujioka working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Tran slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Fujioka working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tran's thigh. Tran counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tran is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fujioka throws a wild body kick that Tran sees coming a mile off.

Fujioka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tran sprawls well initially but Fujioka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fujioka wants to take a breather but Tran is having none of it.
Fujioka throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tran to regain full guard.

Tran has his foot on Fujioka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fujioka works his way back into a safe position though.
Tran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fujioka wants to control from the top but Tran keeps moving.
Tran manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fujioka manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tran with a flurry of punches that miss.
Masaharu Fujioka has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fujioka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tran prevents Fujioka from getting back to his feet.
Fujioka trying to strike off his back.
Fujioka pulls Tran in close to his closed guard and prevents Tran from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tran preventing the sweep.
Fujioka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Fujioka drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Fujioka decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tran to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tran or perhaps it was just good defense by Fujioka, which made it look bad.

Fujioka feints and as Tran raises his hands in defense, Fujioka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fujioka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tran working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fujioka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fujioka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fujioka is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka wants to control from the top but Tran keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fujioka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tran works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fujioka is looking to pass into half guard but Tran pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tran is in guard.

Fujioka striking off his back but it's not causing Tran any problems.
Tran throwing strikes but missing.
Fujioka working a defensive guard but Tran passes into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fujioka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tran throwing shots but Fujioka is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaharu Fujioka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Tran shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fujioka sprawls well. Fujioka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tran gets slowly back to his feet.
Fujioka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tran gets caught flat footed, as Fujioka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tran wants to stand and escape but Fujioka is having none of it.
Fujioka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fujioka is looking to stand up but Tran won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fujioka looking to sit in guard and control but Tran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran postures up.
Fujioka is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tran stopping the sweep attempt from Fujioka.
Fujioka controls Tran momentarily but Tran frees himself.
Tran is looking to work some ground and pound but Fujioka has wrist control.
Tran throwing strikes but missing.
Tran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tran missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tran distracts Fujioka with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Fujioka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tran.
Tran scoring with some ground and pound.
Fujioka trying to strike off his back.
Tran working some strikes from top position.
Fujioka wants to stand up but Tran is controlling him.
Fujioka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fujioka holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tran wants to clinch.
Fujioka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fujioka gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tran looking for submissions off his back.
Fujioka is keen to just control but Tran is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka is just content to waste time from the top position. Tran takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Fujioka looking to sit in guard and control but Tran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tran postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tran makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tran throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fujioka is trying to control the position but Tran postures up.
Rafael Tran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masaharu Fujioka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tran working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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 Rafael Tran.
Well Fujioka 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masaharu Fujioka!