PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buster Bilkington (ranked 5779 p4p, 19125 weight class) and Gyukosho Fujimoto (ranked 228 p4p, 315 weight class). Gyukosho Fujimoto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bilkington
vs
Fujimoto

225 cm
22
300
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
45
250
44 - 36 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Sakura Style

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight 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, Buster Bilkington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 36 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gyukosho Fujimoto!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bilkington dives in for a single leg takedown but Fujimoto sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little jabbing left from Fujimoto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bilkington has Fujimoto pushed against the cage.

Fujimoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fujimoto throws a push kick but Bilkington slaps the foot to one side.
Bilkington slips a straight right by Fujimoto.
Bilkington uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fujimoto.
Sloppy strikes from Bilkington. Those never looked like landing.

Bilkington drives through and clinches with Fujimoto against the cage.
Fujimoto 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fujimoto working hard to break the clinch.

Fujimoto breaks from the clinch.
Bilkington looks to land a right hand but Fujimoto moved out of range.
Bilkington tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fujimoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fujimoto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bilkington tries to close the distance and clinch but Fujimoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujimoto misses with an uppercut.
Fujimoto throws a sloppy head kick and Bilkington moves out of range easily.

Bilkington darts in and clinches Fujimoto up against the cage.

Fujimoto breaks from the clinch.
Fujimoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bilkington.
Bilkington looks for a takedown but Fujimoto sprawls well.
Fujimoto is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bilkington fails with a takedown attempt.
Fujimoto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fujimoto as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington tries to close the distance and clinch but Fujimoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bilkington darts in and clinches Fujimoto up against the cage.

Fujimoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bilkington moves into the clinch.
Fujimoto working hard to break the clinch.
Fujimoto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Fujimoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bilkington bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fujimoto's head backwards.
Bilkington blocks a jab.

Bilkington gets a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Fujimoto breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bilkington closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bilkington lands in his opponent's guard.
Bilkington prevents Fujimoto from getting back to his feet.
Bilkington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fujimoto wants to stand and escape but Bilkington is having none of it.

Bilkington stands up from Fujimoto's guard - Bilkington perhaps looking for a knockout.

Bilkington moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bilkington drags the fight down to the ground.
Bilkington throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Bilkington has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fujimoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bilkington trying to control the position.

Fujimoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bilkington has a closed guard, preventing Fujimoto from standing up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buster Bilkington dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bilkington has a takedown stuffed.
Bilkington closes the distance and clinches up with Fujimoto, looking for a takedown. Bilkington pushes Fujimoto against the cage but Fujimoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fujimoto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bilkington.
A quick step to the side and Bilkington tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fujimoto scores with a nice strike.
Fujimoto throws a series of punches but Bilkington avoids them all with ease.

Bilkington moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fujimoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bilkington shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bilkington showed some decent athleticism there.
Fujimoto scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Bilkington manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington won't let Fujimoto get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Bilkington looking to control but Fujimoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bilkington looking to control and managing it successfully.
A nice elbow there by Bilkington.
Fujimoto is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Fujimoto blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bilkington throws some wild stikes that Fujimoto manages to avoid easily.
Bilkington will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bilkington wants to control the pace but Fujimoto is squirming around nicely.

Fujimoto bucks Bilkington off and manages to get back to his feet!
Bilkington fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bilkington jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Buster Bilkington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fujimoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Bilkington. Bilkington gets slowly back to his feet.
Bilkington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fujimoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fujimoto shapes to counter with a head kick.
Bilkington misses with a body kick.
Fujimoto checks a leg kick nicely.
Gyukosho Fujimoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown but Fujimoto shows good takedown defense.
Fujimoto swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington shoots and misses
and Fujimoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bilkington tries to clinch up
and Bilkington takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bilkington tries to clinch up but Fujimoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Bilkington shoots for a double leg takedown but Fujimoto sprawls well. He's pushed Bilkington's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bilkington moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bilkington misses with a two punch combination.
Fujimoto lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Fujimoto throws a lazy head kick

and Bilkington moves into the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Fujimoto in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Bilkington jumps guard but Fujimoto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gyukosho Fujimoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Fujimoto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bilkington's head backwards.
Bilkington misses with a combination
and Fujimoto counters with a two punch combo.
Bilkington gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fujimoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Bilkington fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fujimoto misses with a wild combination.
Buster Bilkington is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bilkington tries to clinch but Fujimoto moves away
and Fujimoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Bilkington fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fujimoto manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Fujimoto was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilkington shoots in but Fujimoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buster Bilkington. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bilkington closes the distance and clinches up with Fujimoto, looking for a takedown. Bilkington pushes Fujimoto against the cage but Fujimoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bilkington moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromFujimoto.

Bilkington gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fujimoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bilkington has him pressed against the cage.
Bilkington keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fujimoto's efforts to push away.
Fujimoto is trying to break free.
Fujimoto has had enough of the clinch but Bilkington keeps him there for the moment.

Bilkington jumps guard.
Fujimoto wants to stand and escape but instead Bilkington has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujimoto wants to stand but Bilkington is controlling the position.

Fujimoto is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Bilkington presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fujimoto prevents a body shot from Bilkington.
Fujimoto is looking to break free of the clinch but Bilkington has double underhooks.
Fujimoto working hard to break the clinch.
Fujimoto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fujimoto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fujimoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bilkington has him pressed against the cage.
Bilkington goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fujimoto prevents it.

Fujimoto breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fujimoto but Fujimoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bilkington dives in for a single leg takedown but Fujimoto sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bilkington tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fujimoto avoids it.
Fujimoto can't break the clinch.
Fujimoto has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fujimoto is trying to force a seperation but Bilkington has the dominant position.
Fujimoto wants to break free but Bilkington has control.

Fujimoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bilkington fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bilkington shoots in for a takedown but Fujimoto shows good takedown defense.
Fujimoto throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Fujimoto. No joy for Bilkington on that attempt.
Fujimoto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bilkington tries to clinch but Fujimoto is having none of it.
Fujimoto walks into a jab.
Fujimoto might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Bilkington tests Fujimoto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fujimoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bilkington.
Gyukosho Fujimoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bilkington checks a leg kick.
Bilkington shoots in for a double leg but Fujimoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A slow jab from Fujimoto misses its intended target.
Fujimoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fujimoto! But no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gyukosho Fujimoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fujimoto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gyukosho Fujimoto!
An out of breath Gyukosho Fujimoto thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.