PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daisuke Marufuji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabien Gigu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marufuji's entrance music is DJ Krush - No More (Kemuri Productions). A fine choice. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Marufuji
vs
Gigu

182 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daisuke Marufuji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabien Gigu!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marufuji changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gigu tries to avoid it but Marufuji manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gigu to the ground. Gigu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gigu looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Gigu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gigu is controlling Marufuji's posture.
Marufuji passes Gigu's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Marufuji passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gigu!
Gigu prevents Marufuji from taking his back.
Marufuji wants to control the pace but Gigu is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marufuji stands up from mount. Strange move.
Marufuji tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Gigu as Marufuji shoots in.

Marufuji shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Marufuji was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Marufuji gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Marufuji looks for a takedown but Gigu sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daisuke Marufuji. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Marufuji looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gigu!
Gigu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marufuji lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gigu wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gigu defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Gigu takes a big shot to the side of the head.
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.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Marufuji seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gigu for as long as he can get away with.
Marufuji scores with punches to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marufuji controlling the position well here. Gigu rolled but Marufuji kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Gigu defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Marufuji's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gigu looking very determined here, making life difficult for Marufuji.
Gigu rolls, trying to escape but Marufuji keeps control of the position.
Marufuji trying to control.

Gigu defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Marufuji's arms.

Marufuji is looking for the choke from the back position but Gigu is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marufuji lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Gigu hold on?!

Gigu is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Marufuji lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Gigu tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Marufuji landing strikes from the mount.
Gigu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Marufuji looking to control but Gigu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Marufuji looking to finish Gigu with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gigu!
Marufuji tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daisuke Marufuji dominated that round.
That's time! Marufuji's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marufuji looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Marufuji passes to side control.

Marufuji looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Marufuji wants to control but Gigu is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marufuji looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gigu is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marufuji stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Marufuji takes the fight into the clinch.
Gigu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marufuji avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Marufuji successfully pulls guard.
Gigu wants to control from the top but Marufuji keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Marufuji is on top in guard.
Marufuji stopping the sweep attempt from Gigu.
Marufuji tries to free his leg and advance position but Gigu is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marufuji wants to control from the top but Gigu keeps moving.
Marufuji pushes down on Gigu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Marufuji is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Gigu being controlled here, momentarily.
Marufuji connects with a couple of short punches.
Gigu keeping full guard, as Marufuji tries to pass.
Marufuji wants to control from the top but Gigu keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gigu pulls Marufuji in close to prevent any damage.
Marufuji advances position into side control!
Marufuji has knee on belly momentarily but Gigu bucks him off and regains half guard.

Marufuji seems to be working for a kimura but Gigu defends the submission attempt.
Marufuji keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Marufuji is looking to take a break and control but Gigu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gigu is looking for a sweep. Marufuji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marufuji is looking to take a break and control but Gigu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Marufuji 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.

Marufuji is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gigu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marufuji.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Marufuji looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daisuke Marufuji dominated that second round.
That's time! Marufuji's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gigu darts in and clinches Marufuji up against the ropes.

Marufuji pulls guard successfully.
Gigu trying to control the position from guard on top but Marufuji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gigu stopping the sweep attempt from Marufuji.
Marufuji lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gigu!
Marufuji trying to control but Gigu is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marufuji controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gigu in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Marufuji wants to control the pace but Gigu is squirming around nicely.
Gigu wants to control but Marufuji is having none of it.
Marufuji trying to control but Gigu is having none of it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marufuji trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Marufuji stands up from mount. Strange move.
Gigu closes the distance looking to clinch

and Marufuji counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gigu won't be happy with that.
Marufuji looking to control but instead Gigu has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Gigu tries to get to full guard but Marufuji has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marufuji seems to be looking for submissions.
Marufuji seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gigu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Daisuke Marufuji overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Marufuji wants to work for an arm triangle but Gigu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gigu gets back to full guard.

Gigu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marufuji tries to free his leg and advance position but Gigu is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Marufuji looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Marufuji trying to control but Gigu is working from the bottom.
Gigu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marufuji trying to control but Gigu is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Daisuke Marufuji just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Marufuji scores with a takedown into Gigu's guard.
Marufuji preventing the sweep.
Fabien Gigu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daisuke Marufuji is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marufuji controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daisuke Marufuji showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marufuji, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daisuke Marufuji!