PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Ramirez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michiru Fukushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ramirez
vs
Fukushi

168 cm
19
134 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paolo Ramirez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michiru Fukushi!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramirez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fukushi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Michiru Fukushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fukushi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ramirez.
Fukushi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fukushi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fukushi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ramirez swats away the attempt to clinch by Fukushi.
Fukushi throws a push kick but Ramirez slaps the foot to one side.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Fukushi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ramirez.
Fukushi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
It looked like Ramirez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fukushi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ramirez was well out of range. Poor timing from Fukushi.

Ramirez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fukushi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fukushi manages to break the clinch.

Fukushi has closed the distance and engaged Ramirez in a clinch.
Fukushi controlling the action here for a moment.

Ramirez manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Ramirez. No joy for Fukushi on that attempt.
Ramirez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Fukushi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ramirez's guard.

Ramirez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Fukushi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ramirez slaps away a takedown attempt from Fukushi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Paolo Ramirez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michiru Fukushi.
Ramirez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fukushi circles away quickly and effectively.
Fukushi fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ramirez.
Fukushi needs to keep his hands up - Ramirez had a free shot at his head there.
Fukushi looks for a takedown but Ramirez sprawls well.
Fukushi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ramirez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ramirez misses with a wild combination.
Fukushi scores with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukushi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ramirez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fukushi somewhat.

Ramirez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fukushi is trying to defend but Ramirez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Fukushi is defending against the submission attempts here by Ramirez.
Ramirez controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukushi is looking to improve his position.
We've been informed that Fukushi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ramirez is trying to control. Fukushi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fukushi wants to control but Ramirez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ramirez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fukushi regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ramirez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fukushi shoots in and drives through. Ramirez sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paolo Ramirez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ramirez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ramirez misses with a low kick.
Ramirez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fukushi darts in looking for a takedown but Ramirez gets double underhooks and turns Fukushi into the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fukushi.
Fukushi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ramirez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fukushi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Fukushi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ramirez's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ramirez scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fukushi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fukushi misses with a body kick.
Ramirez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fukushi can do to turn this around?
Ramirez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukushi doesn't manage to clinch there - Ramirez circles away.
Paolo Ramirez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fukushi scores with a nice body kick.
Ramirez is looking to score with low kicks.

Ramirez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fukushi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ramirez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Fukushi manages to pass to side control.

Fukushi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ramirez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fukushi stands up from half guard.
Fukushi connects with a high kick.
Ramirez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fukushi.
Paolo Ramirez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michiru Fukushi.
Fukushi throws a wild body kick that Ramirez sees coming a mile off.
Fukushi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fukushi is breathing heavily.
Fukushi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Fukushi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Ramirez sneaks out the side door and pushes Fukushi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fukushi misses with a takedown attempt - Ramirez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez shoots in for a double leg but Fukushi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ramirez sets himself, and Fukushi steps forward looking for the clinch! Ramirez avoids it this time.
A right-left combo lands from Ramirez.
Ramirez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Fukushi looks to move away, Ramirez throws a big counter combo bu Fukushi just gets out of the way.

Fukushi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ramirez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fukushi is in Ramirez's guard.

Ramirez pushes Fukushi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Fukushi gets tackled into the cage by Ramirez. Ramirez maintains the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Fukushi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Ramirez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fukushi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ramirez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukushi cracks the inside of Ramirez's front leg.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fukushi.
Ramirez stuffs the takedown attempt from Fukushi. Fukushi gets slowly back to his feet.
Ramirez is looking for a counter combo.
Fukushi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ramirez swivels and escapes.
Fukushi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ramirez circles away quickly and effectively.
Fukushi wants to clinch up but Ramirez keeps it at a distance.
Ramirez throws a series of punches but Fukushi avoids them all with ease.
A little jabbing left from Fukushi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fukushi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ramirez leaves Fukushi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Ramirez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ramirez swings for the body but Fukushi moves out of range.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses.

Fukushi shoots in and bounces Ramirez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fukushi trying to control but Ramirez is working from the bottom.
Fukushi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fukushi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramirez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez being controlled here, momentarily.
Fukushi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fukushi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramirez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramirez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Fukushi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ramirez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Fukushi is controlling him well.
Fukushi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Fukushi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fukushi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Fukushi is trying to get an arm triangle but Ramirez is defending well.
Fukushi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fukushi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Fukushi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Paolo Ramirez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fukushi advances to mount.
Fukushi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fukushi looking to control but Ramirez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fukushi is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ramirez has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ramirez!

Fukushi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Michiru Fukushi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ramirez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michiru Fukushi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ramirez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paolo Ramirez!
Paolo Ramirez made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Unang una sa lahat gusto ko magpasalamat sa Diyos, sa panalong eto at para eto sa Pilipinas,sa mga sumusuporta at lalo na kay Sir Oscar Pineda!'.
In defeat, Michiru Fukushi stepped up to the mic, saying 'uuuugh ahhhhh I can't move anymo~'.