PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Noah Hensley (ranked 5628 p4p, 357 weight class) and Hidetoshi Fukunishi (ranked 6021 p4p, 489 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fukunishi's choice of entrance music: https://youtu.be/yrO7NFsAbwI. Noah Hensley could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hidetoshi Fukunishi's chin.

Hensley
vs
Fukunishi

175 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Bee Krazy

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Noah Hensley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hidetoshi Fukunishi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukunishi goes for a double leg but Hensley avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hensley continues to drive forward.
Hensley has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fukunishi.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hensley.

Hensley shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fukunishi's guard.
Fukunishi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Hensley drops back looking for a leg! Fukunishi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fukunishi manages to kick Hensley off! Hensley jumps back into Fukunishi's guard.
Fukunishi keeping moving, preventing Hensley from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hensley is fighting to break Fukunishi's control of his arms but Fukunishi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukunishi trying to control the position.
Fukunishi wants to sweep but no luck.
Hensley trying to control but Fukunishi is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fukunishi keeping full guard, as Hensley tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hensley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fukunishi swivels and escapes.
Hensley misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hensley scores with a punch to the head.
Fukunishi has his takedown stuffed
letting Hensley counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukunishi chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Hensley clinches with his opponent.
Fukunishi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fukunishi goes for a takedown attempt but Hensley pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Noah Hensley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hidetoshi Fukunishi.
Fukunishi swinging wildly here.
Fukunishi closes the distance and clinches up with Hensley, looking for a takedown. Fukunishi pushes Hensley against the cage but Hensley circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fukunishi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hensley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fukunishi's waist but Fukunishi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hensley off to one side.
Fukunishi avoids the head kick by Hensley.
Hensley swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukunishi shoots in but Hensley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fukunishi looks winded!
Hensley jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hensley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fukunishi's waist but Fukunishi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hensley off to one side.

Hensley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hensley trying to control the action but Fukunishi is working from the bottom.
Fukunishi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hensley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hensley looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hensley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fukunishi keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hensley stands up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fukunishi or perhaps it was just good defense by Hensley, which made it look bad.
Fukunishi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hensley half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hensley moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hensley throws a series of punches but Fukunishi moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Fukunishi drives through and clinches with Hensley against the cage.
Hensley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Hensley dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fukunishi forces Hensley back against the cage and clinches.
Fukunishi is trying to drag Hensley to the mat but Hensley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Fukunishi stalling the fight.

Fukunishi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hensley regains guard immediately.

Hensley manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hensley is trying to pull guard but Fukunishi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Fukunishi pulls guard effortlessly.
Hensley wants to pass the guard but Fukunishi is keeping the position.
Noah Hensley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hensley works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hensley in particular looking to stall.
Fukunishi wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hensley gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Fukunishi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fukunishi slips a jab and a cross from Hensley.
Danga de danga de dang - Fukunishi scores with a four punch combination!
Hensley misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Hensley misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Hensley. Beautiful body shot.
Fukunishi darts in looking for a takedown but Hensley gets double underhooks and turns Fukunishi into the cage.
Fukunishi is breathing heavily.
Hensley throws a nice looking combination but Fukunishi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Hensley instigates a clinch.

Fukunishi decides to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hensley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fukunishi, up you get!
Hensley moves in looking to clinch but Fukunishi pushes him off.
Hensley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hensley throws a hook but Fukunishi avoids it easily.
Hensley looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Fukunishi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fukunishi is nestled in close to Hensley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fukunishi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hensley doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fukunishi.
Hensley preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hensley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fukunishi can do to turn this around?
Hensley continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hensley tries to get to full guard but Fukunishi has control of the leg.
Hensley manages to get to full guard.
Fukunishi scoring with some ground and pound.
Fukunishi content to stall in guard here.
Hensley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Hensley dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fukunishi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Fukunishi kicks Hensley off and gets to his feet.

Fukunishi takes the fight into the clinch.
Fukunishi is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Fukunishi manages to break the clinch.
Fukunishi lands an overhand right.
Fukunishi shoots in for a double leg but Hensley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hensley tries to close the distance and clinch but Fukunishi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hensley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fukunishi's waist but Fukunishi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hensley off to one side.
And Fukunishi tries to counter it with a takedown but Hensley pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hensley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Fukunishi closes the distance and pushes Hensley back into the cage.
Fukunishi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Fukunishi pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fukunishi working a defensive guard but Hensley passes into half guard.
Hensley tries to stand and escape but Fukunishi is controlling the position.
Hensley is keen to just control but Fukunishi is a slippery customer.

Hensley is looking for a kimura here.
Fukunishi is pressing down on Hensley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fukunishi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukunishi controls Hensley momentarily but Hensley frees himself.
Fukunishi keeping moving, preventing Hensley from controlling successfully.

Fukunishi wants to reverse the position here. Hensley has hold of a leg though and he's dropped back looking for a kneebar! The fighters roll across the mat but Fukunishi is forced to tap! Fukunishi looks devastated but at least his leg points in the right direction.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Noah Hensley!
In defeat, Hidetoshi Fukunishi stepped up to the mic, saying 'くそ！ごめんよ！'.