PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Grazze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomo Fukasawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tomo Fukasawa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grazze
vs
Fukasawa

185 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Can Moonwalk

Knox Energy
Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Grazze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tomo Fukasawa!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fukasawa gets caught napping as Grazze dives in and scores a takedown. Fukasawa manages to retain guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Grazze not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Grazze will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

We're going to have a standup here because Joseph Grazze wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fukasawa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice uppercut lands for Fukasawa. That snapped Grazze's head back.
Fukasawa moves in looking to clinch but Grazze pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukasawa scores with a hook to the body. Grazze takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fukasawa thuds his right hand into Grazze's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fukasawa lands a jab to Grazze's midsection.
A right-left combo lands from Fukasawa.
Grazze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tomo Fukasawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Fukasawa. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa wants to get back to full guard.
Fukasawa has hold of Grazze's hands but Grazze slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fukasawa 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.
Grazze is thwarting Fukasawa's attempts to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grazze slows the pace down in half guard.
Fukasawa is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grazze is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tomo Fukasawa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fukasawa throws a half hearted mid kick.
Grazze throws a hook to the side of Fukasawa's head but Fukasawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fukasawa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fighters circling - Grazze throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fukasawa stuns Grazze with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fukasawa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Grazze is fending him off so far but Fukasawa persists. Nope, Grazze circles away and we're back to standing.
Fukasawa moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fukasawa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa is looking to clinch.
Grazze is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fukasawa.
Fukasawa misses with a body kick.
Fukasawa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters circling a little - Fukasawa finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Fukasawa tests Grazze's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Grazze drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukasawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grazze is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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 Joseph Grazze will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fukasawa misses with a head kick.
Fukasawa thuds a left hand into Grazze's body.
Fukasawa swinging wildly here.
Fukasawa throws a right and a left that Grazze avoids nicely.
Grazze slaps away a takedown attempt from Fukasawa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fukasawa tries to land a front kick but Grazze steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Grazze throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fukasawa misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grazze closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fukasawa's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grazze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fukasawa looking to control.
Grazze cracks Fukasawa with a solid left hand.
Joseph Grazze overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fukasawa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fukasawa being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fukasawa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Grazze drops his hands momentarily and Fukasawa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fukasawa throws a combination. Grazze tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Grazze checks a leg kick.
Grazze swats away the attempt to clinch by Fukasawa.
Fukasawa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Grazze looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Grazze seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grazze seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fukasawa for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joseph Grazze just wasn't active enough.
Fukasawa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fukasawa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fukasawa lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Grazze has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fukasawa finds it's way round the side to connect with Grazze's head.

Grazze shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fukasawa is trying to defend but Grazze finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grazze trying to control the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fukasawa is trying to maintain the position but Grazze is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Grazze dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Grazze takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Grazze scores with a takedown into Fukasawa's guard.
Grazze slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fukasawa wants to stand and escape but Grazze is having none of it.
Grazze looking to pass the guard.
Grazze won't allow Fukasawa to get back to his feet.
Fukasawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fukasawa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Grazze looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Grazze throws a head kick that misses.
Tomo Fukasawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fukasawa goes for a double leg but Grazze avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Grazze continues to drive forward.

Grazze pulls guard successfully.
Fukasawa wants to control from the top but Grazze keeps moving.
Grazze wants to get back to his feet but Fukasawa passes into half guard.
Grazze is doing well to control the position and prevent Fukasawa from advancing to side control.
Fukasawa is trying to control. Grazze wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grazze slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Grazze on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grazze tries to get out of the position.
Fukasawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grazze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grazze has his hands on Fukasawa's head, controlling the position.
Grazze tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Grazze managing to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Grazze misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fukasawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fukasawa misses with a takedown
and Grazze counters with a solid body kick.
Fukasawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fukasawa with a poor takedown
and Grazze counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Joseph Grazze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomo Fukasawa.
Fukasawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fukasawa connects with a jab.
Fukasawa misses with the combination.
Fukasawa with a poor takedown
and Fukasawa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fukasawa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Grazze darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukasawa wants to get back to full guard.
Grazze not doing much here.
Grazze blocks the strikes from Fukasawa.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Grazze connects with a nice short shot to Fukasawa's temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fukasawa looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Grazze showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Grazze, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Grazze!
Tomo Fukasawa was interviewed post fight and said 'Battle Lost but the War continues - Team Goroshi - Aplha-Male Supplements'.