PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sai Fukuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Suez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Fukuta
vs
Suez

175 cm
27
155 lbs
12 - 14 - 1

175 cm
27
150 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 12 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Sai Fukuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Suez!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukuta misses with a few strikes there.
Fukuta stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sloppy strikes from Fukuta. Those never looked like landing.
Suez scores with a nice body kick.
Horrible takedown by Suez or perhaps it was just good defense by Fukuta which made him look bad.
Suez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Suez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fukuta tries to get to full guard but Suez has control of the leg.
Fukuta has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Suez is trying to control the action in half guard but Fukuta is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Suez trying to control the pace.
Suez trying to control the action but Fukuta is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Suez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Fukuta misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suez gets a takedown into half guard.
Fukuta punching from the bottom.
Suez uses his free foot to push down on Fukuta's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Fukuta.
Fukuta regains half guard.
Suez is keen to just control but Fukuta is a slippery customer.

Fukuta is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Suez pulls his head out easily.
Suez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fukuta!
Fukuta tries to improve his position but instead Suez has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta trying to control the hands but Suez won't let him.
Suez keeps control of the position as Fukuta tries to break free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fukuta trying to control but not successfully.
Fukuta is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Will Suez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Fukuta trying to control the action but Suez just sinks the hooks in.
Fukuta turns into Suez and is now in his guard.

Suez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fukuta passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suez gets back to half guard.

Suez looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fukuta is thwarting Suez's attempts to control the position.
Suez is looking to improve his position.

Fukuta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Suez defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fukuta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Suez is not content to let Fukuta control the position.
Suez is trying to control but can't.

Fukuta is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Suez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Fukuta wants to pass to mount but Suez is defending the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fukuta wants to work for an arm triangle but Suez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Suez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Suez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Suez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fukuta misses with a series of wild punches.

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

Fukuta is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Suez defends well.
Suez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Fukuta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Suez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Suez wants to control from the top but Fukuta keeps moving.
Suez controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suez trying to control but Fukuta is working from the bottom.
Suez looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael Suez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Suez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Suez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Fukuta is defending against the submission attempts here by Suez.
Suez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Suez stops Fukuta from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fukuta looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Suez wants to pass the guard but Fukuta is defending well.
Fukuta trying to hold on to Suez's head to control him but Suez postures up.
Fukuta pushes Suez off but Suez dives into side control.

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

Suez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fukuta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fukuta is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Suez working away.
Fukuta is working to avoid the ground and pound but Suez connects with a decent elbow.
Suez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fukuta keeps working.
Fukuta wants to control but Suez postures up.
Suez lands some shots froms side control.
Fukuta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Suez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Suez wants to control but Fukuta is keeping him busy.
Fukuta tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suez is looking to take a break and control but Fukuta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Suez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Fukuta's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fukuta is trying to get back to half guard.
Suez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fukuta tries to bench press Suez off him but Suez keeps the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fukuta is trying to control Suez's posture but Suez avoids it.
Fukuta seems a little lost for a moment, as Suez dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Suez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Suez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Suez.
Fukuta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sai Fukuta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Suez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Suez throws a sloppy head kick and Fukuta moves out of range easily.
Suez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Fukuta lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Suez backs up against the cage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Fukuta throws a right and a left that Suez avoids nicely.
Suez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fukuta swivels and escapes.
Suez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fukuta sprawls well. Fukuta wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Suez gets slowly back to his feet.
Fukuta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fukuta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Suez.
Fukuta throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Suez tries to land a front kick but Fukuta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Suez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fukuta avoids it really well and circles away.
Sai Fukuta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Suez.
Fukuta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suez slips under a jab.
Fukuta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Suez was well out of range. Poor timing from Fukuta.

Suez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Fukuta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Suez looking to sit in guard and control but Fukuta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Suez keeping moving, preventing Fukuta from controlling successfully.
Fukuta throws a big elbow that misses.
Rafael Suez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fukuta wants to get up but he can't break Suez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Suez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fukuta manages to get himself to full guard.
Sai Fukuta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Suez stops Fukuta from standing up.
Suez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Suez advances to half guard.
Fukuta trying to hold on to Suez's head to control him but Suez postures up.
Suez wants to take a breather but Fukuta is having none of it.

Fukuta looking for submissions off his back.

Suez seems to be working for a kimura but Fukuta defends the submission attempt.
Fukuta tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukuta is refusing to be controlled, as Suez sits in half guard.

Fukuta looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Suez there.
Rafael Suez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Suez is taking a breather. Fukuta says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
My spies in Stark Slugger Society - NY inform me that Suez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Fukuta is trying to stand up here but Suez is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Suez in particular looking to stall.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rafael Suez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fukuta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Suez.
Suez swinging wildly here.
Suez connects with a solid leg kick.
Suez throws out a powerful jab.
Sloppy strikes from Fukuta. Those never looked like landing.
Suez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fukuta pinned against the cage. Fukuta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Suez or perhaps it was just good defense by Fukuta which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Suez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Suez passes to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Suez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Suez 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Suez!
A victorious Rafael Suez thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.