PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tenchi Fuchigami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romano comes to the cage accompanied by Nicotina Groove by SUBSONICA. Tenchi Fuchigami told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Romano
vs
Fuchigami

176 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuel Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tenchi Fuchigami!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano catches Fuchigami with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fuchigami goes for a double leg but Romano avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romano continues to drive forward.

Fuchigami pulls guard effortlessly.
Fuchigami utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fuchigami is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fuchigami controlling Romano's posture.
Romano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Romano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fuchigami pulls Romano in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tenchi Fuchigami was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Romano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fuchigami stopping the sweep attempt from Romano.
Fuchigami passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano tries to bench press Fuchigami off him but Fuchigami keeps the position.
Fuchigami wants to stand but Romano has his arm trapped.
Romano is looking for a sweep.
Fuchigami wants to control for a moment but Romano uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Fuchigami tries to stand but can't do so whilst Romano controls his leg.
Fuchigami wants to free his trapped foot but Romano is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuchigami not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romano moves into full guard.
Romano keeping full guard, as Fuchigami tries to pass.
Fuchigami must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fuchigami trying to stand up but can't free himself from Romano's guard.
Romano has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fuchigami loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fuchigami trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Romano working for a triangle but Fuchigami defends it easily.
Romano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fuchigami.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuchigami missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fuchigami scoring with some ground and pound.
Fuchigami throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fuchigami trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fuchigami wanted to stand there but Romano had control of the position.
Romano wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuchigami is looking to stand up but Romano won't let him.
Fuchigami trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Romano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Romano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fuchigami has his hands on Romano's head, controlling the position.
Fuchigami wants to get back to his feet but Romano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romano throws a big right hand that misses.
We've been hearing that Romano has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Fuchigami lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Romano!
Fuchigami lands a couple of good shots and Romano has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tenchi Fuchigami dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fuchigami ducks under a wild hook from Romano.
Fuchigami doesn't manage to clinch there - Romano circles away.
Fuchigami tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Romano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fuchigami is looking to clinch but Romano is avoiding it.
Fuchigami scoring well with a low kick there.
Romano misses with a straight right.
Romano swings for the body but Fuchigami moves out of range.
Fuchigami tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fuchigami is looking to clinch but Romano is avoiding it.
Fuchigami shoots in looking for a takedown but Romano manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fuchigami's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fuchigami moves to clinch but Romano breaks away

and Romano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Romano preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fuchigami pulls Romano in to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romano is looking to work some ground and pound but Fuchigami has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano wants to control from the top but Fuchigami keeps moving.
Fuchigami wants to get back to his feet but Romano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tenchi Fuchigami has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fuchigami utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romano throws a big elbow that misses.
Romano looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fuchigami can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fuchigami wants to stand but Romano is controlling the position.
Romano stands up over Fuchigami, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Romano wants to pass the guard but Fuchigami is keeping the position.
Romano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fuchigami works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fuchigami is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fuchigami seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano is looking for a sweep. Fuchigami is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fuchigami content to control rather than advance.
Fuchigami missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Romano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fuchigami wants to get up but he can't break Romano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Fuchigami wants to control from the top but Romano keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romano is working an open guard so Fuchigami takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Romano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fuchigami.
Fuchigami fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fuchigami will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fuchigami wants to clinch up but Romano keeps it at a distance.
Tenchi Fuchigami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fuchigami fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fuchigami moves in looking to clinch but Romano pushes him off.
Fuchigami tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fuchigami wants to clinch.
Romano thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fuchigami steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romano.
Romano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fuchigami is looking to clinch but Romano is avoiding it.
Romano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fuchigami.
Romano throws a nice looking combination but Fuchigami bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romano avoids a punch combination nicely.

Fuchigami moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fuchigami manages to break the clinch.
Fuchigami shoots in for a takedown but Romano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Samuel Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tenchi Fuchigami.
Fuchigami dives in and grabs Romano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romano pushes down on Fuchigami's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tenchi Fuchigami will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fuchigami tries to clinch there but Romano circles away.
Fuchigami wants to clinch.
Fuchigami slips a jab from Romano.
A jab from Romano misses.
Romano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Romano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Romano misses with an uppercut
and Fuchigami counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romano darts in looking for a takedown but Fuchigami gets double underhooks and turns Romano into the cage.
Fuchigami lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Fuchigami breaks the clinch.
Fuchigami tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fuchigami blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Romano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fuchigami avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Romano keeps the fight on the outside.
Fuchigami tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Romano counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fuchigami's guard now.
Fuchigami is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romano connects with a couple of short punches.
Fuchigami trying to keep a closed guard but Romano is proving a slippery customer.
Fuchigami keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
Fuchigami is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Samuel Romano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romano trying to control from the bottom.
Romano wants to get back to full guard.
Fuchigami tries to stand and escape but Romano is controlling the position.
Fuchigami throws a strike but Romano avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fuchigami looking to sit in guard and control but Romano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuchigami preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Romano throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fuchigami is on top in guard.
Fuchigami cracks Romano with a solid left hand.
Romano is trying to control the position but Fuchigami postures up.

Romano looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fuchigami slips nicely into half guard.
Fuchigami wants to stand up but Romano manages to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano has a closed guard, preventing Fuchigami from standing up.
Romano keeping moving, preventing Fuchigami from controlling successfully.

Romano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fuchigami is looking to stand up but Romano won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Romano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tenchi Fuchigami.
Well Fuchigami has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tenchi Fuchigami!