PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gyukosho Fujimoto (ranked 2401 p4p, 1535 weight class) and Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 259 p4p, 173 weight class). Branca has chosen original score medley as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fujimoto
vs
Branca

192 cm
43
250
44 - 25 - 0

194 cm
36
269
30 - 23 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 44 - 25 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gyukosho Fujimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branca throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Branca with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Branca throws out a powerful jab.
Fujimoto on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Branca throws a low kick but it's checked well by Fujimoto.
Fujimoto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fujimoto defending well as Branca loads up on a big left hand.
Joao Cajo Branca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branca lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca misses with a hook.
It looked like Fujimoto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice body punch from Branca.
Fujimoto misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujimoto wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fujimoto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Branca.
Branca scores with a push kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Branca.
Branca has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Fujimoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fujimoto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Branca uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fujimoto.
Branca digs a good body shot into Fujimoto's ribs.
Branca fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fujimoto manages to avoid it.
Fujimoto throws a counter high kick but Branca was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Branca.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fujimoto avoids the body shot from Branca.
Fujimoto moves away from the strike by Branca.
Fujimoto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Branca jabs at Fujimoto's body.
Branca connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fujimoto's hands.
Branca avoids the head kick by Fujimoto.
Fujimoto falls off balance throwing a combination
and Branca counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Branca cracks Fujimoto with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Fujimoto looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Branca finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Branca lands a big uppercut and Fujimoto crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Fujimoto looks OK. Branca waves Fujimoto back to his feet!

Fujimoto is rocked!
Branca fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fujimoto.

Branca sends Fujimoto crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Branca is motioning to the referee to let Fujimoto up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Oh Fujimoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Fujimoto.
Fujimoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice straight punches there by Branca. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Branca.
Fujimoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Branca ducks right into an uppercut from Fujimoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Branca feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Fujimoto sprawling to the canvas! Fujimoto rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Branca finish him?!

Fujimoto is rocked!
Branca fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fujimoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Branca stuns Fujimoto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fujimoto is breathing heavily.
Branca cracks Fujimoto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Branca is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Fujimoto had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

Branca drops Fujimoto with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Fujimoto looks back up at him and smiles so Branca waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Oh Fujimoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Branca throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fujimoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Branca comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Branca feints and then cracks Fujimoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fujimoto down.
Branca lands a nice shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Cajo Branca dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Branca sizes up Fujimoto with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Branca staying out of range there.
Branca has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fujimoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Branca.
Fujimoto looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Fujimoto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Branca is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fujimoto with a body shot.
Branca lands with a thumping leg kick.
Branca cracks Fujimoto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Fujimoto misses
and Branca counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fujimoto thinking.

Branca cracks Fujimoto with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Branca has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Fujimoto to stand back up!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Branca flashes Fujimoto a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Fujimoto's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Fujimoto crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Branca punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Joao Cajo Branca!
Joao Cajo Branca spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.