PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Genji Fukada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fukada has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Genji Fukada has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vasquez
vs
Fukada

221 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Genji Fukada!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez dives in and grabs Fukada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fukada pushes down on Vasquez's head and hops out.
Fukada looks winded!

Vasquez gets a clinch.
Vasquez wants to take the fight to the mat but Fukada manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Fukada has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vasquez uses from the top position.
Fukada keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.
Vasquez looking to sit in guard and control but Fukada gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Fukada preventing the sweep.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Vasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fukada can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fukada wants to control from the top but Vasquez keeps moving.
Vasquez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Fukada moves out of range.
Genji Fukada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquez cracks Fukada with a good jab.
Nice takedown defense from Fukada. No joy for Vasquez on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez tries to clinch but Fukada is having none of it.
Vasquez shoots in but Fukada avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Vasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fukada backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Fukada being controlled against the cage.
Fukada is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vasquez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fukada gets underhooks to prevent Vasquez's takedown attempt.
Vasquez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fukada fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fukada stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fukada should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Vasquez lands with a nice body punch.
Fukada looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fukada misses with an attempted mid kick.

Vasquez gets a double leg takedown into Fukada's guard.
Vasquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fukada trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fukada has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vasquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Vasquez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Vasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Genji Fukada's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vasquez tries to clinch there but Fukada circles away.
Vasquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Vasquez has closed the distance and engaged Fukada in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vasquez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Vasquez is trying to stall.
Vasquez tries to land knees in the clinch but Fukada avoids the damage to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fukada as Vasquez tries to tie him up.
Vasquez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Fukada is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Vasquez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rick Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to clinch there but Fukada circles away.
Fukada takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fukada swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fukada swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Vasquez clinches with his opponent.
Vasquez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fukada gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Vasquez is trying to drag Fukada to the mat but Fukada just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez scores with a shoulder strike.
Vasquez is looking to control Fukada's arms but Fukada gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vasquez has his back to the cage.
Vasquez effectively controlling the action here.
Fukada prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vasquez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Fukada manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Vasquez trying to control but Fukada is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fukada keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.
Fukada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fukada keeping moving, preventing Vasquez from controlling successfully.
Vasquez is really struggling to control Fukada but he's trying to hold on to the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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.
Fukada is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Vasquez clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fukada as Vasquez tries to tie him up.
Vasquez is pushing Fukada up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Vasquez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fukada's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Vasquez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Genji Fukada's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fukada circles away from the clinch attempt.

Vasquez tries to sprawl but Fukada drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vasquez is trying to control but can't.
Vasquez is controlling Fukada's trapped leg to prevent Fukada from advancing to side control.
Vasquez is looking to control Fukada's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vasquez avoid being mounted?
Fukada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Vasquez pushes Fukada off looking to stand but Fukada dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to improve his position but Fukada is controlling well.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Genji Fukada has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fukada trying to mount his opponent but Vasquez defends it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vasquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Fukada tries to sprawl out of it but Vasquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fukada manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vasquez misses with a double jab.
A shot to the liver by Vasquez. Beautiful body shot.
Vasquez has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is looking to clinch but Fukada is avoiding it.
Fukada throws a counter combo.
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Fukada swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vasquez lands a nice shot that snaps Fukada's head back.
Rick Vasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukada stuffs the takedown.
Vasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fukada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vasquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fukada can do to turn this around?
Vasquez wants to clinch up but Fukada keeps it at a distance.

Fukada looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vasquez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukada working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vasquez's head.
Vasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Fukada is proving a slippery customer.
Fukada throwing strikes but missing.
Fukada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vasquez wants to stand up but Fukada is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vasquez throws a nice looking combination but Fukada bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vasquez sets himself, and Fukada steps forward looking for the clinch! Vasquez avoids it this time.
Vasquez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Vasquez wants to clinch.
Fukada drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Vasquez defends it well.
Vasquez dives in and grabs Fukada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fukada pushes down on Vasquez's head and hops out.
Fukada wants to counter with a clinch but Vasquez pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fukada circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fukada unleashes a big counter combination but Vasquez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fukada as he avoids it easily.
Genji Fukada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rick Vasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vasquez pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fukada back to the cage. Vasquez follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

And that's the end of the fight!
Genji Fukada comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Vasquez!