PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ellis Mccullough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ketaro Furukawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ellis Mccullough has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mccullough
vs
Furukawa

220 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ellis Mccullough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ketaro Furukawa!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Furukawa misses with a head kick.
Furukawa lands a leg kick that knocks Mccullough off balance momentarily.
A head kick misses from Furukawa.
Furukawa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Ellis Mccullough has been cut.
Furukawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Mccullough is just out of range.
Furukawa thuds a left hand into Mccullough's body.

Furukawa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mccullough!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mccullough tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Furukawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Furukawa wants to control but Mccullough is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullough can't do much from the bottom here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Furukawa goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mccullough rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Furukawa's guard! Nice work there by Mccullough!

Mccullough gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furukawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sloppy strikes from Furukawa. Those never looked like landing.
Ketaro Furukawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Furukawa misses with a combination

and Mccullough counters with a single leg into guard. Furukawa didn't expect that.
Furukawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mccullough slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mccullough has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Furukawa is proving hard to escape from.
Mccullough won't allow Furukawa to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furukawa has a closed guard, preventing Mccullough from standing up.
Furukawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Furukawa, not yet.
Mccullough has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Furukawa is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mccullough blocks a head kick by Furukawa.
Mccullough closes this distance looking for a takedown but Furukawa circles away.
Mccullough gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mccullough avoids the head kick by Furukawa.
Furukawa misses with the combination.
Furukawa throws a head kick but Mccullough moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Furukawa.
Furukawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Furukawa tries to bum rush Mccullough with a series of wild strikes but Mccullough uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Furukawa looks winded!
No luck for Mccullough with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Furukawa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mccullough!
Furukawa wants to stand but Mccullough has his arm trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ketaro Furukawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ellis Mccullough's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Furukawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Furukawa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Furukawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mccullough's efforts to push away.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Mccullough is looking to take this one to the mat.

Furukawa jumps guard and drags Mccullough to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mccullough would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mccullough will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Furukawa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Furukawa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Furukawa is working an open guard so Mccullough takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Furukawa throws a head kick that misses.
Furukawa tried to score with a low kick but Mccullough checks it.
Mccullough has a takedown stuffed.
No luck for Mccullough with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ellis Mccullough. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Furukawa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Furukawa throws a head kick but Mccullough moves out of range.
Furukawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mccullough is defended easily by Furukawa.
Furukawa misses with a head kick.
Furukawa misses with a double jab.
Furukawa throws a head kick that misses.
Mccullough blocks a head kick by Furukawa.
Furukawa is breathing heavily.
Furukawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mccullough really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mccullough will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Furukawa throws a sloppy head kick and Mccullough moves out of range easily.
Mccullough avoids the head kick by Furukawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Furukawa defends well and Mccullough ends up having to push Furukawa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Furukawa.

Mccullough breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Furukawa.
Furukawa misses with a two punch combination.
Furukawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mccullough misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mccullough avoids the head kick by Furukawa.
Furukawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mccullough fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Furukawa throws a head kick but Mccullough moves out of range.
Furukawa tries to land a front kick but Mccullough steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Furukawa throws a nice looking combination but Mccullough bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ellis Mccullough is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mccullough looks for a takedown but Furukawa sprawls well.
Furukawa throws a head kick that Mccullough semi-blocks.
Furukawa misses with a head kick.
Furukawa stuffs the takedown attempt from Mccullough. Mccullough gets slowly back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Furukawa.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Furukawa circles away from the clinch attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Furukawa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mccullough circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ketaro Furukawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ellis Mccullough's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mccullough fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Furukawa throws a sloppy head kick

and Mccullough moves into the clinch.

Furukawa decides to pull guard.
Furukawa has Mccullough pulled in close to control his posture.
Mccullough wanted to stand there but Furukawa had control of the position.
Mccullough is working Furukawa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mccullough stands and steps away. Furukawa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullough darts in looking for a takedown but Furukawa gets double underhooks and turns Mccullough into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Furukawa is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mccullough is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Furukawa to the mat. Furukawa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Furukawa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mccullough is controlling him.
Furukawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mccullough is one step ahead there.
Mccullough is in close to Furukawa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mccullough stopping the sweep attempt from Furukawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furukawa wants to get back to his feet but Mccullough is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mccullough would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mccullough stops Furukawa from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Furukawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Furukawa throws a nice outside leg kick.

Furukawa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mccullough quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furukawa tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mccullough.
Mccullough moves into full guard.
Furukawa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Furukawa throws a big right hand that misses.
Furukawa pushes down on Mccullough's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Furukawa blocks the strikes from Mccullough.
Furukawa looks to land a strike but Mccullough avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Furukawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mccullough working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Furukawa.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Furukawa misses with a wild combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mccullough tries to keep at a distance but Furukawa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ellis Mccullough has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ketaro Furukawa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Furukawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mccullough.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ketaro Furukawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Furukawa 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ketaro Furukawa!