PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stan Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomo Fukasawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stan Ford has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ford
vs
Fukasawa

200 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
19
191 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Knox Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Stan Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tomo Fukasawa!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fukasawa circles away quickly and effectively.
Fukasawa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fukasawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ford lands a head kick!
Fukasawa sizes up Ford with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fukasawa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tomo Fukasawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fukasawa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ford has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Ford on the inside.

Ford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice jab there from Fukasawa.
Fukasawa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fukasawa throws a right and a left that Ford avoids nicely.
Ford moves away from the strike by Fukasawa.
Ford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukasawa shoots in but no luck this time.
A left lands for Fukasawa.
A punch combination from Fukasawa misses.
Fukasawa throws a right hand that Ford ducks under and follows up with a left that Ford also avoids with ease.
Ford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ford is looking to clinch but Fukasawa is avoiding it.
Fukasawa connects with a body shot that sends Ford's belly button to the back.
Ford closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fukasawa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fukasawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ford throws a head kick that misses.

Ford gets a clinch.
Ford lands with a right to the head.
Fukasawa has had enough of the clinch but Ford keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ford manages to pull guard.
Fukasawa wants to get up but he can't break Ford's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ford keeping moving, preventing Fukasawa from controlling successfully.
Ford wants to get back to his feet but Fukasawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ford is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ford manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Ford wants a takedown but no success here.
Ford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fukasawa's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fukasawa is defending well for now.
Fukasawa avoids the elbow strike from Ford, against the cage.
Ford has been working on his balance at Rift Fighting Academy, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Fukasawa.
Fukasawa is trying to force a seperation but Ford has the dominant position.
Fukasawa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ford smiles and moves away.
Fukasawa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fukasawa misses with a few strikes there.
Ford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ford walks into a stiff left hand from Fukasawa.
Fukasawa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fukasawa throws out a leg kick but Ford moves out of range and Fukasawa only half commits.
Fukasawa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ford doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford looks for a takedown but Fukasawa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Ford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukasawa cracks Ford with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fukasawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ford tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fukasawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Ford. No joy for Fukasawa on that attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Fukasawa.
A jab from Fukasawa does it's job there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ford with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fukasawa to score with a decent uppercut.
Fukasawa shoots in for a double leg but Ford sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ford doesn't manage to clinch there - Fukasawa circles away.
Fukasawa goes for a double leg but Ford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ford continues to drive forward.
Ford tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomo Fukasawa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fukasawa shoots in but Ford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ford dodges the punch combination from Fukasawa.
Fukasawa blocks a head kick by Ford.
Fukasawa's corner calls for a 1-2. Fukasawa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fukasawa throws the kick towards the body but Ford avoids it.
Fukasawa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fukasawa duly obliges.

Fukasawa drives through with a takedown into Ford's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ford keeping moving, preventing Fukasawa from controlling successfully.
Ford wants to stand and escape but Fukasawa is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fukasawa drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fukasawa jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ford manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ford controlling from mount.
Fukasawa gets back to half guard.
Well, if Ford is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa is trying to stand back up but Ford is controlling him
Ford sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fukasawa defending well though.
Fukasawa is trying to stand up here but Ford is controlling him well.

Ford decides to stand and escape the position.
Fukasawa throws a combination that misses
and Ford counters with a head kick.
Fukasawa misses with the combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Fukasawa finds it's way through Ford's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ford.
Fukasawa scores with a jab.
Fukasawa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ford.
Fukasawa shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ford eats them both and turns towards Fukasawa to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ford on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fukasawa throws a body punch but Ford moves out of range.
Tomo Fukasawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fukasawa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Ford tries to sprawl but Fukasawa drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Fukasawa is looking for a kimura but Ford is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fukasawa to get the leverage.

Ford pushes Fukasawa off and gets back to his feet.
Fukasawa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa scores with a hook.
Fukasawa throws a shot from downtown. Ford moves away and avoids it.
Fukasawa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fukasawa lands a nice shot that snaps Ford's head back.
Ford takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ford fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Fukasawa misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ford has Fukasawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Ford with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomo Fukasawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ford moves into the clinch.
Ford misses with a knee strike.

Ford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ford fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fukasawa, pushing him back against the cage.

Ford manages to break the clinch.
Fukasawa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fukasawa feints a jab promting Ford to slip. Fukasawa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ford slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fukasawa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ford on the side of the head.
Ford uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fukasawa.
Ford shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fukasawa as he jumps to the side.
Fukasawa scores with a nice right hand.
Fukasawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Ford.
Stan Ford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ford checks the leg kick nicely there.
Fukasawa's corner calls for a 1-2. Fukasawa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fukasawa throws out a powerful jab.
Fukasawa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ford circles away quickly and effectively.

Ford moves into the clinch.
Fukasawa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ford avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fukasawa is pressed up against the cage. Ford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fukasawa down to the mat. Fukasawa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Ford. No joy for Fukasawa on that attempt.
Fukasawa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Fukasawa uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ford has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ford gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fukasawa.
Ford showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fukasawa.
Ford takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fukasawa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fukasawa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from Fukasawa.
Ford will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Ford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukasawa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ford backs up against the cage.
Fukasawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Fukasawa misses.
Fukasawa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ford avoids the head kick by Fukasawa.
Fukasawa lands with a nice body punch.
Ford looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ford darts in looking for a takedown but Fukasawa gets double underhooks and turns Ford into the cage.
Ford scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ford has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fukasawa after a bit of a struggle.

Ford breaks the clinch.
Ford fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fukasawa manages to avoid it.
Ford on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ford fails with a takedown attempt.
Fukasawa lands a glancing blow to the side of Ford's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa throws a right and a left that Ford avoids nicely.
Fukasawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fukasawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ford.
Fukasawa connects with a body shot.
Ford takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fukasawa shoots in but Ford avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fukasawa looks to land a combination but Ford avoids it well.
Fukasawa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukasawa works over Ford's head and body with a nice combination.
Stan Ford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tomo Fukasawa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fukasawa lands a jab-cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomo Fukasawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fukasawa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomo Fukasawa!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Tomo Fukasawa waved his t-shirt featuring Knox Energy's logo in front of the cameras.