PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 49 p4p, 127 weight class) and Pupuki Namasuzuki (ranked 8 p4p, 23 weight class). Branca comes to the cage accompanied by original score medley. Namasuzuki has chosen Stand By Me- Ben King as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Branca
vs
Namasuzuki

194 cm
29
267
23 - 11 - 0

175 cm
30
262
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Mile High

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pupuki Namasuzuki!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Namasuzuki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Namasuzuki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A leg kick checked by Branca.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Branca.
Branca checks a leg kick.
Branca was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Namasuzuki has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Namasuzuki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Namasuzuki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Namasuzuki connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Joao Cajo Branca has been cut.
Branca has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Chakuriki LA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Namasuzuki misses the jab.
Branca appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Branca avoids the body shot from Namasuzuki.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Namasuzuki defending well as Branca loads up on a big left hand.
Namasuzuki with a nice calf kick.
Branca swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Donk. Namasuzuki catches Branca right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Namasuzuki moves away.
Branca uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Namasuzuki.
A lazy left from Branca finds it's target.
Namasuzuki with the inside leg kick.
Namasuzuki takes a swing at Branca's ribcage but misses.
Namasuzuki avoids the body shot from Branca.
Branca tries to land a body kick
and Namasuzuki counters with a low kick, right behind Branca 's knee.
Namasuzuki lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Branca at a distance.
Namasuzuki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Branca takes a swing at Namasuzuki's ribcage but misses.
Branca checks a low kick from Namasuzuki.
It looked like Branca wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Namasuzuki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Branca makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca slips a jab from Namasuzuki.
As Namasuzuki backs away, Branca returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Namasuzuki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Branca is looking to counter with a body kick.
Branca throws a poor cross that misses
and Namasuzuki counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A swing and a miss from Namasuzuki.
Branca uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Namasuzuki.
Branca misses with a body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Namasuzuki.
Branca punishes Namasuzuki's body with a nice straight punch.
Branca scores with a jab. Namasuzuki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Namasuzuki throws a body shot but no joy.
Branca jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Branca moves away from the strike by Namasuzuki.
Namasuzuki cracks a nice hook into Branca's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Namasuzuki was well out of range. Poor timing from Branca.
Namasuzuki throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Branca throws a right and a left that both miss.
Namasuzuki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Branca.
Namasuzuki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Branca appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Namasuzuki fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Branca is out of range.
Namasuzuki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Branca doesn't seem bothered though.
Namasuzuki scores with a hook to the body. Branca takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Branca missing with a left hand there. Namasuzuki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Namasuzuki misses the shot to the body.
Pupuki Namasuzuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Namasuzuki connects with a solid leg kick.
Branca swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branca throws a lazy right hand but Namasuzuki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Branca throws a leg kick that is checked
and Namasuzuki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Namasuzuki avoids a kick to the body.
Joao Cajo Branca is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Branca ducks under a wild hook from Namasuzuki.
Branca misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Namasuzuki. Branca does a little dance to reset his feet.
Branca swings widly with a right hand
and Namasuzuki counters with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Namasuzuki throws a shot to the body.
Namasuzuki slips under a jab from Branca.
Namasuzuki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Branca misses its intended target.

Namasuzuki closes the distance and clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pupuki Namasuzuki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Cajo Branca's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Branca misses with a kick to the body.
Branca lands an overhand right.
Namasuzuki with a hook.
Namasuzuki cracks a nice hook into Branca's ribs.
Branca tests Namasuzuki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Namasuzuki paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Branca misses with a lunging right hand
and Namasuzuki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Namasuzuki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Branca!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on Branca's face as Namasuzuki controls the position.

Namasuzuki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca wants to control but Namasuzuki postures up.
Branca tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Namasuzuki advances to full mount.
Namasuzuki looking to control but Branca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Branca wants to hold on but Namasuzuki pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Namasuzuki controlling the position easily from mount.
Branca regains half guard.
Namasuzuki slows the pace down in half guard.
Branca is controlling Namasuzuki's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca wants to control but Namasuzuki is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Namasuzuki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Namasuzuki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Namasuzuki stops Branca from getting back to his feet.
Branca is trying to control but can't.
Namasuzuki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Branca misses with an attempted mid kick.
Namasuzuki tries a quick counter leg kick but Branca is wise to it.
A head kick misses from Branca.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Branca throws a shot to the body.
Namasuzuki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Namasuzuki lands with a right hand.
Namasuzuki lands with a straight right. Branca didn't see that one coming.
Pupuki Namasuzuki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Branca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Namasuzuki moves out of range as Branca strikes.
Namasuzuki jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A low kick from Namasuzuki misses
and Branca counters with a series of strikes. Namasuzuki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Branca throws a looping overhand right but Namasuzuki ducks down to avoid it.
Branca keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Namasuzuki.
Namasuzuki throws a body punch but Branca moves out of range.
Branca quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Namasuzuki lands with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pupuki Namasuzuki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joao Cajo Branca's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Branca moves out of range as Namasuzuki strikes.
Branca throws a head kick that misses

and Namasuzuki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Namasuzuki trying to control the action but Branca is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Namasuzuki takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Namasuzuki prevents Branca from improving his position.
Branca gets full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Namasuzuki manages to get himself to full guard.

Namasuzuki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Branca manages to get himself to full guard.

Branca looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca controls Namasuzuki momentarily but Namasuzuki frees himself.
Namasuzuki passes into half guard.
Branca trying to hold on to Namasuzuki's head to control him but Namasuzuki postures up.

Branca is defending against the submission attempts here by Namasuzuki.
Branca is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Namasuzuki is stalling here. Branca is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Namasuzuki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Branca has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Branca will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Branca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Namasuzuki keeps working.
Branca working away.
Branca in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Namasuzuki tries to bench press Branca off him but Branca keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namasuzuki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Namasuzuki is looking for a sweep. Branca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Namasuzuki is pressing down on Branca's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Branca looking to sit in guard and control but Namasuzuki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Namasuzuki looking to pass the guard.
Joao Cajo Branca has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Branca wants to sweep here but Namasuzuki controlling him for the moment.
Namasuzuki trying to control but Branca is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Namasuzuki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Branca working a defensive guard here.
Namasuzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Branca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Namasuzuki being controlled here momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Branca looking for subs off his back but Namasuzuki has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pupuki Namasuzuki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Namasuzuki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pupuki Namasuzuki!
An out of breath Pupuki Namasuzuki thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.