PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinichi Fuujin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keizo Sawaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fuujin comes to the cage accompanied by Soilwork - Rejection Role. Sawaki is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 'Kodo' by The Yoshida Brothers. The key to victory for Shinichi Fuujin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Fuujin
vs
Sawaki

178 cm
22
156 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Control Nutrition
FinnFighters Nutrition

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinichi Fuujin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keizo Sawaki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Fuujin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fuujin missing with a left hand there. Sawaki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Fuujin does it's job there.
Fuujin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fuujin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sawaki.
Sawaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fuujin.
Fuujin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sawaki blocks a jab.
Fuujin works Sawaki's body with a nice hook.
Fuujin misses the shot to the body.
Sawaki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fuujin tries to work over Sawaki's front leg with a kick but Sawaki checks it.
Fuujin throws a big shot that misses.
Fuujin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sawaki scores with a jab.
Fuujin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sawaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Sawaki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sawaki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fuujin.
Fuujin slips under a jab.
Fuujin throws a jab when Sawaki was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sawaki. Fuujin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fuujin throws a hook but Sawaki blocks it.
Fuujin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sawaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sawaki loads up on a big right hand but Fuujin slips the punch.
Fuujin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sawaki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sawaki is thwarting Fuujin's attempts to control the position.
Fuujin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Fuujin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fuujin.
Fuujin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sawaki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fuujin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fuujin has escaped and now he's on top!

Sawaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fuujin postures up in Sawaki's guard and throws a big left but Sawaki blocks it.
Fuujin with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sawaki has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fuujin 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 Sawaki.
Fuujin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki is trying to improve his position.

Fuujin stands up and beckons Sawaki to his feet.
Fuujin throws a body punch but Sawaki moves out of range.
Sawaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sawaki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sawaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fuujin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fuujin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fuujin throws a leg kick
and Sawaki counters with a straight right hand.
Fuujin connects with the punch.
Fuujin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fuujin lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Keizo Sawaki has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin lands a jab.
Fuujin misses the body punch
and Sawaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fuujin lands a two punch combo.
Fuujin misses with a straight left.
Fuujin missing with a left hand there. Sawaki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fuujin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
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!
Fuujin digs a good body shot into Sawaki's ribs.
Sawaki scores with a one two! Fuujin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sawaki blocks a jab.
Fuujin moves forwards but Sawaki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sawaki.
Sawaki looks gassed!
Sawaki works Fuujin's body with a nice hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fuujin swings for the body but Sawaki moves out of range.
Fuujin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sawaki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinichi Fuujin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keizo Sawaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fuujin connects with a right hand. Sawaki shakes it off.
Fuujin works over Sawaki's head and body with a nice combination.
Fuujin looks to land a right hand but Sawaki moved out of range.
Fuujin misses with a double jab
letting Sawaki counter with a right hand.
Fuujin sizes up Sawaki with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice body punch from Sawaki.
Fuujin lunges at Sawaki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sawaki's hand.
Fuujin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fuujin cracks Sawaki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Fuujin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fuujin swings for the body but Sawaki moves out of range.
Fuujin swings for the body but Sawaki moves out of range.
Sawaki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fuujin misses with an uppercut.
Fuujin throws out a powerful jab.
Sawaki on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuujin misses with a series of wild punches.
Sawaki misses with a body shot.
Sawaki defending well as Fuujin loads up on a big left hand.
Fuujin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A shot to de liver by Sawaki. Beautiful body shot.
Fuujin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fuujin misses with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fuujin.
Sawaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fuujin scores with a body shot.
Sawaki moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Shinichi Fuujin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from Fuujin misses
and Sawaki counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fuujin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sawaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Fuujin.
Sawaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fuujin throws a leg kick but Sawaki checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin throws a series of punches but Sawaki moves out of range.
Fuujin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fuujin thuds his right hand into Sawaki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sawaki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fuujin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fuujin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sawaki.
Nice jab there from Sawaki.
Sawaki tests Fuujin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A low kick from Fuujin misses
and Sawaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice sprawl there from Fuujin as Sawaki shoots in.
Sawaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fuujin.
Sawaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sawaki throws a jab when Fuujin was well out of range.
Sawaki cracks a nice hook into Fuujin's ribs.
Nice straight punches there by Fuujin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Fuujin.
Sawaki paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fuujin avoids the body shot from Sawaki.
Fuujin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sawaki counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fuujin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sawaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sawaki is looking to slow Fuujin down with leg kicks.
Fuujin connects with a right hand. Sawaki shakes it off.
A right-left combo lands from Fuujin.
Fuujin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Sawaki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fuujin to the mat! Fuujin manages to get full guard.
Sawaki passes Fuujin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fuujin wants to improve his position but Sawaki is controlling well.
Sawaki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fuujin is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuujin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sawaki trying to control but Fuujin is working from the bottom.

Sawaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fuujin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sawaki has managed to get both his arms back between Fuujin's legs - danger averted.
Sawaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sawaki preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sawaki trying to control but Fuujin is working from the bottom.
Fuujin trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shinichi Fuujin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keizo Sawaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sawaki moves out of range of the leg kick from Fuujin.
Sawaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sawaki misses with a wild body shot.
Fuujin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sawaki.
Fuujin scores with a jab to the body.
Sawaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sawaki. Fuujin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fuujin misses with a jab to the body

and Sawaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sawaki.
Fuujin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fuujin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sawaki has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Fuujin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fuujin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sawaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawaki fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fuujin is looking for a sweep.
Fuujin can't do much from the bottom here.
Fuujin wants to get back to his feet but Sawaki drags him back down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fuujin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Fuujin.
Fuujin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sawaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sawaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sawaki throws a hook to the side of Fuujin's head but Fuujin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sawaki throws an overhand right that lands on Fuujin's shoulder, as Fuujin tries to avoid the shot.
Keizo Sawaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Fuujin throws a good cross that connects.
Fuujin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fuujin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sawaki at a distance.
Sawaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fuujin.
Fuujin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Fuujin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sawaki. That's going to slow Fuujin down.
Fuujin scores with a hook to the body. Sawaki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sawaki moves out of range as Fuujin strikes.
Fuujin thows a leg kick but Sawaki checks it
and Sawaki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sawaki tests Fuujin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sawaki has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fuujin finds it's way round the side to connect with Sawaki's head.
Sawaki scores with a nice strike.
Fuujin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sawaki throws out a loose jab but Fuujin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fuujin's hands.
Fuujin looks to land a right hand but Sawaki moved out of range.
Sawaki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A punch combination from Sawaki misses.
Sawaki has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fuujin misses with a straight right.
Fuujin throws a good cross that connects.
Sawaki avoids a punch combination nicely.

Sawaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fuujin is wriggling around but Sawaki manages to pass to half guard.

Sawaki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fuujin tries to get to full guard but Sawaki has control of the leg.
Shinichi Fuujin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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.

Fuujin is defending against the submission attempts here by Sawaki.
Fuujin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sawaki is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keizo Sawaki.
I think Fuujin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinichi Fuujin!