PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takaku Fuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Frankera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takaku Fuke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Fuke
vs
Frankera

166 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Tends to cut

[MMABR]FALCON CLOTHING[†]
[MMABR] Nutrition Unlimited-154Q Recovery for $65

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takaku Fuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Frankera!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fuke closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Frankera to the mat! Frankera manages to get full guard.
Fuke trying to control but Frankera is working from the bottom.
Frankera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Frankera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fuke gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fuke trying to control but Frankera is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Frankera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fuke trying to control the position from guard on top but Frankera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fuke drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fuke jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Fuke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Frankera shoots for a takedown but Fuke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Frankera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Fuke scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frankera bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Frankera wants to control from the top but Fuke keeps moving.
Frankera is pushing down on Fuke's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fuke is fighting to maintain full guard but Frankera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Frankera trying to advance position but Fuke counters by regaining guard.
Fuke throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Frankera has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fuke is proving hard to escape from.
Frankera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Frankera trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Frankera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fuke is pulling down on Frankera's head. It's preventing any offense from Frankera, at least for the moment.
Frankera won't allow Fuke to sweep him here.
Fuke is breathing heavily.
Fuke wants to stand and escape but Frankera is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Frankera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Fuke paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuke shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fuke was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Frankera really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Frankera taking shots to the head.
Frankera wants to control but Fuke is having none of it.
Fuke scoring with strikes but Frankera is staying in there.
Frankera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Frankera tries to lock up and control but Fuke gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fuke has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Frankera's face.
Frankera wants to hold on but Fuke pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frankera is looking to improve his position but Fuke isn't that keen on the idea.
Frankera sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Frankera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Frankera trying to control from the bottom.
Fuke throwing shots but Frankera is blocking nicely.
Frankera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takaku Fuke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Frankera walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fuke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Fuke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Frankera manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fuke is fighting to break Frankera's control of his arms but Frankera is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Frankera is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Robert Frankera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frankera tries to clinch up but Fuke circles away and keeps his distance.
Fuke tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Frankera counters by moving into the clinch.
Frankera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Frankera prevents Fuke from breaking the clinch.
Frankera with a knee to the head.
Fuke swings wildly with an uppercut but Frankera uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fuke.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frankera manages to break the clinch.
Frankera misses with a takedown

and Fuke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Frankera's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Fuke stopping the sweep attempt from Frankera.
Frankera is trying to keep Fuke in close.
Frankera 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.

Frankera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fuke defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Frankera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fuke.
Fuke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Frankera circles away.

Frankera instigates a clinch.
Fuke gets underhooks to prevent Frankera's takedown attempt.
Fuke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Takaku Fuke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Frankera.
Fuke prevents the takedown attempt.
Fuke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Frankera taking a breather.
Frankera lands a knee to the head.
Fuke blocks an uppercut.
Frankera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fuke smiles and moves away.
Frankera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fuke swivels and escapes.
Takaku Fuke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frankera tries for a takedown but Fuke circles away easily

and Fuke counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fuke scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Frankera is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fuke pulls his head out easily.
Fuke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Frankera tries to get to full guard but Fuke has control of the leg.
Fuke thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Frankera's head.
Fuke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Frankera is not content to let Fuke control the position.
Fuke prevents Frankera from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Frankera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fuke counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fuke.
Frankera swings wildly with an uppercut but Fuke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Frankera has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Frankera manages to break the clinch.
Fuke slips under a jab.
Fuke with a lazy takedown attempt
and Frankera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Frankera doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Fuke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Frankera keeping moving, preventing Fuke from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Frankera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takaku Fuke dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Frankera looks to land a left hand but Fuke moved out of range nicely.
Frankera is looking to clinch but Fuke is avoiding it.
Fuke stuffs the takedown.
Fuke shoots in for a takedown but Frankera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Frankera with a poor takedown

and Fuke counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Frankera is looking to control Fuke's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Frankera avoid being mounted?
Fuke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Frankera is refusing to be controlled, as Fuke sits in half guard.
Frankera controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frankera wants to control but Fuke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Frankera works his way to full guard. Good work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Frankera is on top in guard.
Fuke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Frankera.
Frankera trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fuke wants to sweep here but Frankera controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Frankera trying to control but Fuke is working from the bottom.
Frankera advances to half guard.
Fuke is in trouble now - Frankera has advanced to mount!
Fuke tries to hold on but Frankera pushes him away.
Frankera looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frankera sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Fuke working to try and regain half guard.
Fuke stops Frankera from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Frankera wants to control the pace but Fuke is squirming around nicely.

Frankera wants to finish this one by submission but Fuke is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Frankera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fuke is squirming around, avoiding Frankera's attempts to control the action.
Takaku Fuke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Frankera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fuke is squirming around, avoiding Frankera's attempts to control the action.
Frankera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Frankera wants to control the pace but Fuke is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Takaku Fuke.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fuke, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Takaku Fuke!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Takaku Fuke!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Takaku Fuke!

Takaku Fuke wins by unanimous decision!