PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tatsuzo Fukuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudius Calaeabius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fukuda
vs
Calaeabius

173 cm
25
140 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tatsuzo Fukuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Claudius Calaeabius!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Calaeabius moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fukuda.
Calaeabius is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fukuda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fukuda tries a knee to the head but Calaeabius blocks it.
Calaeabius wants a takedown.
Calaeabius's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short uppercut from Fukuda.
Calaeabius is working for takedown but Fukuda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tatsuzo Fukuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudius Calaeabius.

Calaeabius gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Calaeabius lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Calaeabius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fukuda's head.
Calaeabius working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fukuda is pressing down on Calaeabius's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Calaeabius throws an elbow that misses. Fukuda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Calaeabius's guard. Nice move by Fukuda!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fukuda prevents Calaeabius from getting back to his feet.
Fukuda wants to stand but Calaeabius is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Calaeabius can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fukuda prevents Calaeabius from getting back to his feet.
Calaeabius has a closed guard, preventing Fukuda from standing up.

Fukuda stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fukuda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Calaeabius.

Calaeabius decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fukuda looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Calaeabius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fukuda's head.
Calaeabius missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Calaeabius thows a huge punch but Fukuda dodges it nicely.
Calaeabius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Calaeabius looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fukuda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Calaeabius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fukuda is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Calaeabius lands a nice short elbow.
Calaeabius working over Fukuda with some ground and pound. Fukuda looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Calaeabius landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Calaeabius working the head and body with strikes.
Fukuda regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Calaeabius.
Calaeabius preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calaeabius throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fukuda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Calaeabius landing some decent shots from guard.
Fukuda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Calaeabius manages to get himself to full guard.

Calaeabius has a closed guard, preventing Fukuda from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Calaeabius wants to get back to his feet but Fukuda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fukuda tries to stand but Calaeabius is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Calaeabius on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Calaeabius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fukuda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fukuda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Calaeabius takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
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 Tatsuzo Fukuda 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.

Calaeabius doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Calaeabius takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fukuda scores with a shot to the body.
Fukuda scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fukuda scores with a shot to the body.
Calaeabius fails in his attempt to clinch.

Fukuda tries to sprawl but Calaeabius drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Calaeabius missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Calaeabius thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Calaeabius throwing shots but Fukuda is blocking nicely.
Calaeabius thows a huge punch but Fukuda dodges it nicely.
Fukuda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Calaeabius.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calaeabius is looking to advance position but Fukuda won't allow it.
Fukuda on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Calaeabius's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Calaeabius's back!
Calaeabius is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Fukuda is trying to stand.

Fukuda gets back to his feet - a bit of a stange decision given the position he was in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calaeabius tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fukuda counters with a straight right hand.
Calaeabius fails with the takedown.

Calaeabius looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fukuda!
Fukuda defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
What's Fukuda going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Calaeabius postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fukuda can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calaeabius throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Fukuda is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Calaeabius sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fukuda defending well though.
Claudius Calaeabius has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fukuda has hold of Calaeabius's hands but Calaeabius slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Calaeabius working over Fukuda with some ground and pound. Fukuda looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Calaeabius thows a huge punch but Fukuda dodges it nicely.
Calaeabius is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Calaeabius lands with a punch from half guard.
Calaeabius thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Calaeabius has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Calaeabius winds up and cracks Fukuda with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Calaeabius is nestled in close to Fukuda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Calaeabius scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fukuda manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calaeabius lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Calaeabius throws a strike but Fukuda rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fukuda wants to stand but Calaeabius is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fukuda is standing up over Calaeabius. Calaeabius looks to escape but Fukuda dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fukuda decides to stand back up. Fukuda steps back and let's Calaeabius get back to his feet.
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 Tatsuzo Fukuda will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fukuda tries to sprawl but Calaeabius drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fukuda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Calaeabius.
Fukuda moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Calaeabius is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Calaeabius throwing strikes from guard but Fukuda blocks nicely.
Fukuda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Calaeabius.
Calaeabius scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Calaeabius won't allow Fukuda to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calaeabius stands up over Fukuda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Calaeabius postures up in Fukuda's guard and throws a big left but Fukuda blocks it.
Fukuda controlling Calaeabius's posture.
Calaeabius working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calaeabius throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Calaeabius fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fukuda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Calaeabius at a distance.
Calaeabius should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Calaeabius closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fukuda to the mat! Fukuda manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calaeabius lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fukuda will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fukuda is trying to keep Calaeabius in close.
Calaeabius throws a big right hand that misses.
Fukuda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fukuda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Calaeabius manages to get himself to full guard.

Fukuda has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Calaeabius is proving hard to escape from.
Tatsuzo Fukuda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Calaeabius darts in looking for a takedown but Fukuda gets double underhooks and turns Calaeabius into the cage.
Calaeabius takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fukuda catches Calaeabius with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Calaeabius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fukuda lands a right hook to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Calaeabius.
Tatsuzo Fukuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claudius Calaeabius.
Calaeabius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tatsuzo Fukuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Calaeabius looking to score a takedown here. Fukuda is defending well but Calaeabius drives through and ends up in Fukuda's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuda seems keen to control Calaeabius's posture.
Fukuda is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fukuda looking to control.
Calaeabius with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Calaeabius working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Calaeabius postures up in Fukuda's guard and throws a big left but Fukuda blocks it.
Fukuda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Calaeabius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Calaeabius wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Claudius Calaeabius.
I think Fukuda 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatsuzo Fukuda!