PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jim Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itagaki Fukuzawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fukuzawa's choice of entrance music: In Flames - Colony. Itagaki Fukuzawa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Beckett
vs
Fukuzawa

168 cm
30
146 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

170 cm
29
153 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
Modern Wear Apparel & Laundry Services 80% LAUNDRY

GREEN!160
SP Ultimate 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 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jim Beckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Itagaki Fukuzawa!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beckett moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Beckett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fukuzawa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Fukuzawa cracks Beckett with an open hand slap.
Beckett misses with a hook to the body
and Fukuzawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Beckett misses with a straight left.
Fukuzawa slips a straight right by Beckett.
Fukuzawa throws a head kick that misses.
Fukuzawa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Beckett connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beckett doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fukuzawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Beckett swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fukuzawa.
Beckett drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuzawa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice body punch from Beckett.
Fukuzawa misses with a straight left.
Jim Beckett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fukuzawa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Beckett takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Beckett misses with an uppercut. Fukuzawa saw that one coming.
Fukuzawa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fukuzawa takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Beckett lands with a cross.
A combination from Beckett does no damage.
Beckett tries a low kick but Fukuzawa avoids it.
Beckett throws a shot from downtown. Fukuzawa moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Beckett.
Left hook, right uppercut from Fukuzawa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fukuzawa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Beckett tries to counter with a takedown but Fukuzawa is quick to defend against it.
Fukuzawa connects with a body shot that sends Beckett's belly button to the back.
A swing and a miss from Beckett.
Beckett misses with a kick to the body.
Beckett throws a jab but it's blocked by Fukuzawa.
Beckett is looking to slow Fukuzawa down with leg kicks.
Fukuzawa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fukuzawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Beckett misses with a head kick.
Fukuzawa ducks under a wild hook from Beckett.
Fukuzawa throws out a counter right but Beckett avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett lands with a nice body kick.
Fukuzawa throws a leg kick that misses.
Fukuzawa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Beckett's head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fukuzawa checks a leg kick.
Fukuzawa throws out a counter right but Beckett avoids it with no problem.
Itagaki Fukuzawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fukuzawa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Beckett.
Beckett is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Fukuzawa tries to score with a low kick but Beckett moves his leg out of the way.
Beckett pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fukuzawa is out of range and Beckett settles back down.
Fukuzawa lands a jab.
Fukuzawa loads up on a big right hand but Beckett slips the punch.
Fukuzawa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Beckett's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Fukuzawa misses its intended target.
Beckett appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Beckett tries a head kick but it misses.
Beckett has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Beckett there as he acknowledges the shot.
Beckett throws a hook to the side of Fukuzawa's head but Fukuzawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Beckett connects with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beckett attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fukuzawa! But no joy.
Fukuzawa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fukuzawa throws the left hand but Beckett avoids the punch easily.
Beckett wants to land a leg kick but Fukuzawa is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fukuzawa! But no joy.
Beckett throws a leg kick which misses Fukuzawa's front leg but catches the back leg as Fukuzawa tries to avoid it.
Beckett throws a wild body kick that Fukuzawa sees coming a mile off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Itagaki Fukuzawa will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Beckett throws a leg kick
and Fukuzawa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fukuzawa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Beckett ducks under a wild hook from Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa connects with a solid leg kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Beckett might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Fukuzawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Beckett connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Itagaki Fukuzawa has been cut.
Fukuzawa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Beckett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beckett keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Beckett.
As Beckett backs off Fukuzawa throws a huge counter combo but Beckett manages to avoid it all.
Fukuzawa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fukuzawa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuzawa throws a shot from downtown. Beckett moves away and avoids it.
Beckett misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Beckett moves away from the strike by Fukuzawa.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Beckett.
Beckett throws a big shot that misses.
Fukuzawa looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fukuzawa looks to throw the jab but Beckett is out of range.
Fukuzawa ducks under a wild hook from Beckett.
Fukuzawa throws out a loose jab but Beckett uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa lands a nice shot to the body.
Beckett lands a leg kick that knocks Fukuzawa off balance momentarily.
Beckett pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Fukuzawa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fukuzawa swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Beckett counters with a shoot takedown. Fukuzawa fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beckett sitting in guard here, content to control.
Beckett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beckett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Beckett tries to free his leg and advance position but Fukuzawa is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Beckett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fukuzawa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Beckett is looking to work some ground and pound but Fukuzawa has wrist control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fukuzawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Fukuzawa, not yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Beckett is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa lands a nice hook to Beckett's body. Beckett takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fukuzawa misses with a hook

and Beckett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Beckett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fukuzawa keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa wants to improve his position but Beckett is controlling well.
Fukuzawa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Beckett trying to control the position from guard on top but Fukuzawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fukuzawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Itagaki Fukuzawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Itagaki Fukuzawa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Beckett throws a chopping leg kick but Fukuzawa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Beckett misses with a wild body shot.
Beckett connects with an inside leg kick.
Beckett lands with a shot to the body.
Beckett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Beckett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fukuzawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beckett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Beckett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fukuzawa on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuzawa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fukuzawa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Beckett.
Fukuzawa misses with an uppercut. Beckett saw that one coming.
Beckett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Beckett is looking to land body kicks.
Fukuzawa tried to score with a low kick but Beckett checks it.

Beckett shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fukuzawa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Beckett working away.
Fukuzawa avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Beckett.
Jim Beckett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Fukuzawa is looking to reverse the position.
Beckett in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Beckett working the strikes but Fukuzawa uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Fukuzawa tries to roll over but Beckett keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fukuzawa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Beckett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fukuzawa tries to buck Beckett off but Beckett is having none of it.

Beckett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fukuzawa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fukuzawa stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Beckett working the head with strikes.
Fukuzawa felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beckett looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Fukuzawa is avoiding damage well.
Beckett lands some shots froms side control.
Beckett 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.
Beckett postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fukuzawa is trying to improve his position.
Fukuzawa regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Beckett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fukuzawa tries to kick Beckett off but Beckett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Beckett showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fukuzawa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Beckett!
Our winner, Jim Beckett, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.