PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sai Fukuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and jj Mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Fukuta
vs
Mac

175 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

167 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sai Fukuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, jj Mac!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukuta fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mac avoids it really well and circles away.
Fukuta looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mac moves in looking to clinch but Fukuta pushes him off.
Fukuta throws a sloppy head kick and Mac moves out of range easily.
Fukuta connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fukuta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mac sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sai Fukuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukuta takes one to the side of the head.
Fukuta will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fukuta fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mac as he avoids it easily.
Fukuta tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mac counters with a nice uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fukuta.
Mac lands a body shot.
Mac uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fukuta.
Fukuta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mac is fending him off so far but Fukuta persists. Nope, Mac circles away and we're back to standing.
Fukuta takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mac throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta fails with a takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Mac.
Fukuta shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mac pinned against the cage. Mac gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mac takes a swing at Fukuta's ribcage but misses.
Fukuta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fukuta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mac defends it nicely.
Fukuta slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mac throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fukuta on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fukuta doesn't manage to clinch there - Mac circles away.
Fukuta looks for a takedown but Mac sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Mac as Fukuta shoots in.
Mac throws a hook to the side of Fukuta's head but Fukuta sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mac rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fukuta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fukuta shoots in looking for a takedown but Mac manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fukuta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fukuta shoots for a takedown but Mac saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fukuta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fukuta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mac sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fukuta somewhat.
Fukuta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mac but Mac pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mac dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

jj Mac dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fukuta looks for a takedown but Mac sprawls well.

Fukuta drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

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

Fukuta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fukuta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fukuta is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mac has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac wants to get back to his feet.

Fukuta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mac is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Fukuta tries for a kimura but Mac is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fukuta wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mac, who protects the arm well.
Mac is looking to reverse the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fukuta landing strikes.

Fukuta thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fukuta lands a nice forearm strike.

Fukuta tries for a kimura but Mac is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fukuta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Fukuta is trying to get an arm triangle but Mac is defending well.
Mac really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fukuta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Fukuta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sai Fukuta dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Mac.
Decent striking displayed by Mac there.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mac but Mac pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mac as he avoids it easily.
Sai Fukuta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fukuta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mac defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sai Fukuta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fukuta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mac tries to avoid it but Fukuta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mac to the ground. Mac escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sai Fukuta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac dodges the punch combination from Fukuta.
Fukuta with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mac counters with a right hand to the body.
A swing and a miss from Mac.
jj Mac is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mac works Fukuta's body with a nice hook.
Nice takedown defense from Mac. No joy for Fukuta on that attempt.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mac sprawls well. Mac wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fukuta gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Mac misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac cracks Fukuta with an open hand slap.
Mac lands a body shot.
Mac fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mac misses with a two punch combination.
Fukuta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mac's waist but Mac gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fukuta off to one side.
Mac misses with a series of wild punches.
Mac stuffs the takedown attempt from Fukuta. Fukuta gets slowly back to his feet.
Fukuta shoots for a takedown but Mac saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta misses with an uppercut. Mac saw that one coming.
Mac leaves Fukuta with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mac looks to land a combination but Fukuta avoids it well.
Fukuta shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mac sprawls well. Mac wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fukuta gets slowly back to his feet.
Fukuta takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta shoots in looking for a takedown but Mac manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fukuta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fukuta closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mac circles away.
Mac misses with a body shot.
Fukuta tries a head kick but it misses.
Mac is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fukuta rather than just go for the knockout.
Fukuta closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mac circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Mac as he connects with a hook.
Mac connects with the punch.
Fukuta takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Mac lands with a nice body punch.
Nice body punch from Mac.

And that's the end of the fight!
jj Mac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mac 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... jj Mac!
A relieved looking jj Mac thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.