PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Fujimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barack Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fujimoto
vs
Obama

190 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Fujimoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Barack Obama!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obama tries for a takedown but Fujimoto circles away easily

and Fujimoto counters by moving into the clinch.
Obama tries to break free but Fujimoto pushes him back against the cage.

Fujimoto pulls guard effortlessly.
Obama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fujimoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Obama is working Fujimoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Obama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fujimoto dives on top into guard.

Obama looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Fujimoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Obama is looking for a sweep. Fujimoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fujimoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Obama is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Obama is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Fujimoto jumps into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama struggling a bit here.
Obama prevents Fujimoto from improving position.
Obama tries to buck Fujimoto off but Fujimoto is having none of it.
Fujimoto working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fujimoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Obama keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Obama tries to buck Fujimoto off but Fujimoto is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Fujimoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Obama, which made it look bad.
Obama shoots and misses

and Fujimoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fujimoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Obama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fujimoto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Fujimoto scoring with punches to the head and body.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Obama can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fujimoto won't allow Obama to sweep him here.
Obama is trying to keep Fujimoto in close.
Obama looking for a sweep. Not yet Obama, not yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fujimoto trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Fujimoto clinches up against the cage.

Fujimoto has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Obama clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Fujimoto is trying to stick to Obama's back but Obama is turning into Fujimoto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Fujimoto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Obama.
Obama trying to control the position from guard on top but Fujimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Obama's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Obama is working Fujimoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Obama scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obama wants to control from the top but Fujimoto keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Obama has a takedown stuffed.
Fujimoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Obama.
Fujimoto tries to clinch there but Obama circles away.
Obama tries for a takedown but Fujimoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kenji Fujimoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barack Obama.
Obama with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fujimoto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fujimoto.
Fujimoto softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fujimoto jumps guard and drags Obama to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fujimoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Obama throws an elbow that misses. Fujimoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Obama's guard. Nice move by Fujimoto!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fujimoto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Obama defending against the ground and pound.
Fujimoto wants to control but Obama is keeping him busy.
Obama is trying to improve his position.
Fujimoto lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fujimoto wants to control but Obama is keeping him busy.
Obama is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fujimoto connects with a decent elbow.
Obama wants to get back to his feet but Fujimoto is dominant here and he's now got Obama's back!
Fujimoto controlling well, preventing Obama from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fujimoto working for a choke but Obama is defending well.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fujimoto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
I really don't envy Obama right now.
Fujimoto wants to control but Obama is keeping busy.
Obama covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Obama has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Fujimoto.
Fujimoto lands a shot to the head.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fujimoto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Obama trying to control the position but Fujimoto manages to sink in the hooks.
Obama tries to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Fujimoto dominated that second round.
That's time! Fujimoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fujimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Obama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Obama looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fujimoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Obama with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fujimoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fujimoto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Obama is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fujimoto keeps control of Obama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fujimoto is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fujimoto ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fujimoto no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Fujimoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kenji Fujimoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama throwing strikes from guard but Fujimoto blocks nicely.
Obama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Obama stands up over Fujimoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fujimoto has momentary wrist control but Obama slips an elbow through the middle.
Obama trying to control but Fujimoto is working from the bottom.
Obama throws a strike but Fujimoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fujimoto preventing the sweep.
Barack Obama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obama wants to hit a switch here but Fujimoto passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Obama there!
Obama is looking to improve his position but Fujimoto isn't that keen on the idea.
Fujimoto tries to control but Obama wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fujimoto is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Obama is surviving well by controlling Fujimoto's body position as best he can.
Obama wants to hold on but Fujimoto pushes him away.
Obama can't escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fujimoto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Obama is desperately trying to improve his position but Fujimoto has a good base and remains in mount.

Fujimoto working for a guillotine from mount but Obama is in no mood to give up.
Obama is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fujimoto wants to control the pace but Obama is squirming around nicely.
Obama tries to reverse the position but Fujimoto maintains control.
Fujimoto trying to control but Obama is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Obama bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Fujimoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fujimoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Fujimoto!