PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Katashi Fujioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikola Lebedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Fujioka
vs
Lebedev

183 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katashi Fujioka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mikola Lebedev!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lebedev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fujioka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lebedev as he jumps to the side.
Lebedev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lebedev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lebedev wants it to stay on the feet.
Fujioka shoots in but Lebedev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katashi Fujioka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fujioka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lebedev but Lebedev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fujioka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lebedev tries to avoid it but Fujioka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lebedev to the ground. Lebedev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lebedev digs a good body shot into Fujioka's ribs.
Fujioka bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Lebedev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lebedev wants to control from the top but Fujioka keeps moving.
Lebedev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fujioka keeping full guard, as Lebedev tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebedev trying to control but Fujioka is working from the bottom.
Fujioka wants to sweep but no luck.
Lebedev trying to control the position from guard on top but Fujioka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fujioka throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lebedev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fujioka is keeping the position for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Lebedev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fujioka was covering up waiting for the punch and Lebedev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fujioka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lebedev manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka connects with a couple of short punches.
Fujioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lebedev is keeping the position for now.
Fujioka trying to control but Lebedev is working from the bottom.
Fujioka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fujioka controlling from the top position.
Fujioka tries to free his leg and advance position but Lebedev is retaining full guard.

Fujioka drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lebedev dives on top into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lebedev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fujioka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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 has his foot on Lebedev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lebedev works his way back into a safe position though.
Lebedev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fujioka wants to sweep here but Lebedev controlling him for the moment.
Fujioka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fujioka controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikola Lebedev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lebedev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fujioka has his takedown stuffed
and Lebedev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fujioka fails with the takedown
enabling Lebedev to counter with a crisp jab.
Fujioka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lebedev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katashi Fujioka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fujioka has his takedown stuffed
and Lebedev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fujioka slips a jab from Lebedev.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lebedev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fujioka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fujioka is not content to let Lebedev control the position.
Fujioka is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fujioka regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fujioka throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Lebedev won't allow Fujioka to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fujioka is on top in guard.
Fujioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lebedev is keeping the position for now.
Fujioka working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka trying to control the position from guard on top but Lebedev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fujioka pushing down on Lebedev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fujioka stalling.
Lebedev trying to control but Fujioka postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujioka is keen to just control but Lebedev is a slippery customer.
Fujioka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lebedev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lebedev tries to roll over but Fujioka keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fujioka in particular looking to stall.
Fujioka wants to take a breather but Lebedev is having none of it.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Katashi Fujioka.
Lebedev misses with a double jab.
Fujioka moves out of range as Lebedev strikes.
Fujioka with a poor takedown
and Lebedev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fujioka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lebedev counters with a stiff right hand.
Fujioka shoots and misses
and Fujioka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lebedev scores with a decent looking hook.

Lebedev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lebedev is breathing heavily.
Fujioka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fujioka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikola Lebedev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fujioka fails with the takedown

so Lebedev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lebedev tries to free his leg and advance position but Fujioka is retaining full guard.
Lebedev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fujioka tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Fujioka looking for a triangle here. Lebedev is fighting it but it looks tight! Fujioka pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Lebedev is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Katashi Fujioka!