PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Riku Momomoto (ranked 345 p4p, 626 weight class) and Franco Fajardo (ranked 46 p4p, 88 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Franco Fajardo enters the cage!

Momomoto
vs
Fajardo

187 cm
25
188
9 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
190
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Riku Momomoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franco Fajardo!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Momomoto connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Franco Fajardo has been cut.

Momomoto gets tackled into the cage by Fajardo. Fajardo maintains the clinch.
Fajardo prevents a body shot from Momomoto.
Momomoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Momomoto lands an uppercut.
Fajardo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Momomoto backwards.
Fajardo misses with a punch on the inside.
Fajardo fails to pull guard.
A short left from Momomoto.
Fajardo throws a punch but it's blocked by Momomoto.
Momomoto definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fajardo scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Fajardo.
Fajardo throws a head punch that misses.
Fajardo gets through Momomoto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Momomoto can't find room to land a body shot as Fajardo controls the action.
Fajardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Momomoto controls his hands.
Fajardo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Momomoto tries to work over Fajardo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Momomoto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fajardo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fajardo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A hook to the body from Momomoto.
Fajardo throws a head punch that misses.
Momomoto scores with a shoulder strike.
Fajardo misses with a body punch.
Fajardo misses with a punch on the inside.
Fajardo tries a body shot but Momomoto blocks it.
Fajardo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Momomoto tries to throw a body punch but Fajardo avoids it by throwing Momomoto back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Momomoto.
Momomoto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fajardo backwards.
Momomoto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fajardos head.
A short body shot lands from Momomoto as the two fighters clinch.
Momomoto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Momomoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fajardo's elbow.
Momomoto lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fajardo misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto lands with a right to the head.
Momomoto digs a right hand into Fajardo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fajardo's gas tank.
Momomoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Momomoto.
Momomoto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fajardo can't find room to land a body shot as Momomoto controls the action.
Fajardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Momomoto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fajardo backwards.
Fajardo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Fajardo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Momomoto uses from the top position.
Fajardo wants to sweep but no luck.

Fajardo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Momomoto is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fajardo.
Momomoto in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo looking for a sweep but Momomoto has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Fajardo is looking to improve his position but Momomoto isn't that keen on the idea.
Fajardo is still trying to improve position.
Momomoto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fajardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fajardo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Momomoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fajardo on the ground.

Fajardo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fajardo looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Momomoto pushes past his half guard into mount!
Momomoto controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fajardo is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Momomoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Momomoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Momomoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fajardo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Momomoto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Momomoto misses with a jab to the body

and Fajardo moves into the clinch.

Momomoto breaks the clinch.
Momomoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Momomoto misses its target.
Franco Fajardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fajardo loads up on a big right hand but Momomoto slips the punch.
Fajardo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Momomoto defends well and Fajardo ends up having to push Momomoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fajardo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Momomoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fajardo can do to turn this around?
Fajardo is just content to waste time from the top position. Momomoto takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Momomoto keeping moving, preventing Fajardo from controlling successfully.
Fajardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Momomoto has wrist control.
Momomoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fajardo throws an elbow that misses. Momomoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fajardo's guard. Nice move by Momomoto!

Momomoto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fajardo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Momomoto has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Momomoto in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Fajardo is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Fajardo's face as Momomoto controls the position.
Momomoto is looking to take a break and control but Fajardo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Momomoto taking a breather here.
Fajardo tries to bench press Momomoto off him but Momomoto keeps the position.
Riku Momomoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fajardo is letting Momomoto control him for a moment.
Fajardo is trying to control Momomoto's posture but Momomoto avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fajardo is looking for a sweep.
Fajardo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Fajardo tries to reverse the position but Momomoto maintains control.
Fajardo regains half guard.
Fajardo is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fajardo wants to control but Momomoto passes into side.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Riku Momomoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fajardo tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Momomoto counter with a right hand.
Momomoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fajardo.
Fajardo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Momomoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fajardo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Momomoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fajardo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Momomoto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Momomoto is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Fajardo misses with a takedown
and Momomoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo tries to clinch but Momomoto is having none of it.
A swing and a miss from Momomoto.
And Fajardo tries to counter it with a takedown but Momomoto pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Momomoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Momomoto fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fajardo moves to clinch but Momomoto breaks away
and Momomoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fajardo lands with an uppercut that bounces Momomoto off the cage and back into range.
A jab from Fajardo finds it's way through Momomoto's defenses.
Fajardo shoots in looking for a takedown but Momomoto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fajardo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Riku Momomoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Fajardo.
Momomoto lands a jab.

That has opened up Franco Fajardo's cut even more.
Fajardo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riku Momomoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fajardo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fajardo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Momomoto avoids the body shot from Fajardo.
Fajardo shoots in looking for a takedown. Momomoto tries to sprawl out of it but Fajardo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Momomoto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fajardo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Momomoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto swings for the body but Fajardo moves out of range.
Momomoto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Momomoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fajardo manages to avoid it.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Momomoto throws a lazy right hand but Fajardo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Momomoto looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A big right from Momomoto misses.
Fajardo tries to clinch
and Momomoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fajardo slips a straight right by Momomoto.
Fajardo with the counter takedown but Momomoto avoids it easily.
A big left from Momomoto misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fajardo clinches up against the cage.
Fajardo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Momomoto prevents a body shot from Fajardo.
Momomoto lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Momomoto lands with a right to the head.
Momomoto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fajardo backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A left hand lands to the body for Momomoto.
Momomoto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fajardo or not.
Fajardo jumps guard but Momomoto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short right from Momomoto.
Fajardo jumps guard but Momomoto stands there with Fajardo around his waist. Fajardo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Momomoto scores with a shoulder strike.
Momomoto lands a hook that snaps the head of Fajardo backwards.
Momomoto lands a nice shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Momomoto clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fajardo misses with a lunging right hand
and Momomoto counters with a left right combination that sends Fajardo crashing to the mat - Momomoto wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Fajardo out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Riku Momomoto!
Riku Momomoto retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Riku Momomoto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.