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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Itagaki Fukuzawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Kunitskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fukuzawa comes to the cage accompanied by In Flames - Colony. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 170 cm
33
153 lbs
26 - 14 - 2 |
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173 cm
31
146 lbs
16 - 10 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
26 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Itagaki Fukuzawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Kunitskiy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kunitskiy jabs Fukuzawa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fukuzawa has managed to clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kunitskiy 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.
Fukuzawa blocks an elbow strike from Kunitskiy.
Fukuzawa misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Kunitskiy fails to land.
Kunitskiy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fukuzawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fukuzawa effectively controlling the action here.
Kunitskiy tries to throw a body punch but Fukuzawa avoids it by throwing Kunitskiy back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kunitskiy fails to land.
Fukuzawa blocks a body shot from Kunitskiy.
Fukuzawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kunitskiy tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kunitskiy with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fukuzawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kunitskiy punishes Fukuzawa's body with a nice straight punch.
Fukuzawa moves out of range of the body kick from Kunitskiy.
Fukuzawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Kunitskiy is just out of range.
Kunitskiy tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kunitskiy fails with the takedown.
Itagaki Fukuzawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunitskiy slips a jab from Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy unleashes a big counter combination but Fukuzawa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Fukuzawa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fukuzawa checks a leg kick.
Donk. Kunitskiy catches Fukuzawa right on the button with a cross.
Kunitskiy misses with a right hand
and Fukuzawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Fukuzawa stuffs the takedown attempt from Kunitskiy. Kunitskiy gets slowly back to his feet.
Fukuzawa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kunitskiy misses with a hook to the body
and Fukuzawa counters with a series of strikes. Kunitskiy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fukuzawa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kunitskiy counters with a one-two to the body.
Kunitskiy looks to score with a jab to the body but Fukuzawa is just out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kunitskiy ducks under a wild hook from Fukuzawa.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fukuzawa throws out the jab.
Kunitskiy throws a chopping leg kick but Fukuzawa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A quick step to the side and Fukuzawa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fukuzawa loads up on a big right hand but Kunitskiy slips the punch.
Kunitskiy was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kunitskiy avoids the body shot from Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kunitskiy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kunitskiy throws a strike but Fukuzawa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kunitskiy looking for a guillotine here but Fukuzawa defends easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Fukuzawa with a nice head shot there.
Kunitskiy trying to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fukuzawa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fukuzawa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fukuzawa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kunitskiy has momentary wrist control but Fukuzawa slips an elbow through the middle.
Fukuzawa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fukuzawa postures up and lands a big shot to Kunitskiy's brow.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kunitskiy had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fukuzawa defends it easily.
Kunitskiy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kunitskiy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fukuzawa is aware though and is defending well.
Fukuzawa trying to control but Kunitskiy is working from the bottom.
Fukuzawa postures up in Kunitskiy's guard and throws a big left but Kunitskiy blocks it.
Kunitskiy throws his legs up looking for a submission but Fukuzawa uses it to pass to side control.
Kunitskiy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Fukuzawa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fukuzawa is taking a breather. Kunitskiy 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.
Fukuzawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kunitskiy keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Vladimir Kunitskiy will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Kunitskiy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fukuzawa's waist but Fukuzawa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kunitskiy off to one side.
Kunitskiy has a takedown stuffed.
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick
enabling Fukuzawa to counter with a crisp jab.
Kunitskiy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fukuzawa.
Itagaki Fukuzawa is winning the standup battle so far.
Kunitskiy throws a shot from downtown. Fukuzawa moves away and avoids it.
A good leg kick by Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa throws a leg kick which misses Kunitskiy's front leg but catches the back leg as Kunitskiy tries to avoid it.
Kunitskiy connects with a crisp jab.
Kunitskiy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Itagaki Fukuzawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Kunitskiy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fukuzawa throws a hook to the side of Kunitskiy's head but Kunitskiy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kunitskiy changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kunitskiy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fukuzawa as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Fukuzawa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunitskiy lands with a shot to the body.
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick
and Fukuzawa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kunitskiy misses with a body kick.
Vladimir Kunitskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kunitskiy stuns Fukuzawa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fukuzawa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice defenses there by Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy cracks Fukuzawa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fukuzawa scores with a jab to the body.
Kunitskiy looks to land a left hand but Fukuzawa moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Fukuzawa was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fukuzawa is out of range and Kunitskiy settles back down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fukuzawa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fukuzawa thumps Kunitskiy with a low kick.
Kunitskiy attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fukuzawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kunitskiy digs a good body shot into Fukuzawa's ribs.
Fukuzawa throws a leg kick but Kunitskiy checks it.
Kunitskiy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fukuzawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kunitskiy misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kunitskiy. That's going to slow Fukuzawa down.
Fukuzawa looks to land a left hand but Kunitskiy moved out of range nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Kunitskiy blocks the leg kick.
Kunitskiy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kunitskiy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fukuzawa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Fukuzawa. That snapped Kunitskiy's head back.
Fukuzawa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fukuzawa.
A little feinted left hand from Fukuzawa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fukuzawa throws a leg kick but Kunitskiy moved away.
Kunitskiy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fukuzawa cracks the inside of Kunitskiy's front leg.
Fukuzawa misses with a low kick.
Kunitskiy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fukuzawa in his tracks.
Fukuzawa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kunitskiy was well out of range. Poor timing from Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy's corner calls for a 1-2. Kunitskiy obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kunitskiy misses with a leg kick.
Kunitskiy checks the leg kick.
Kunitskiy closes the distance and clinches up with Fukuzawa, looking for a takedown. Kunitskiy pushes Fukuzawa against the cage but Fukuzawa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kunitskiy misses with a right hand
and Fukuzawa counters with a nice uppercut.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kunitskiy on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fukuzawa tries to sprawl but Kunitskiy drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kunitskiy looks to land a strike but Fukuzawa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kunitskiy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kunitskiy throws a big elbow that misses.
Kunitskiy stops Fukuzawa from standing up.
Fukuzawa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kunitskiy's guard.
Kunitskiy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fukuzawa is aware though and is defending well.
Kunitskiy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fukuzawa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fukuzawa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Itagaki Fukuzawa dominated that second round.
That's time! Fukuzawa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.
Kunitskiy jabs Fukuzawa to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kunitskiy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fukuzawa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kunitskiy is looking to chop away at Fukuzawa's legs.
Fukuzawa misses with a straight left.
Fukuzawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fukuzawa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kunitskiy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kunitskiy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fukuzawa avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Fukuzawa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kunitskiy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fukuzawa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fukuzawa wants to land a leg kick but Kunitskiy is out of range.
Kunitskiy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fukuzawa moves away.
Kunitskiy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fukuzawa manages to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kunitskiy. Fukuzawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fukuzawa is looking for a counter combo.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fukuzawa, right into the meat.
No joy there for Kunitskiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fukuzawa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kunitskiy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fukuzawa rather than just go for the knockout.
Kunitskiy misses the body punch
letting Fukuzawa counter with a right hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy staying out of range there.
Fukuzawa throws a big shot that misses.
Fukuzawa misses with a low kick.
Kunitskiy lands with an uppercut that bounces Fukuzawa off the cage and back into range.
Kunitskiy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Fukuzawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kunitskiy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fukuzawa manages to avoid it.
Fukuzawa cracks Kunitskiy with a right hand to the side of the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fukuzawa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy blocks a head kick by Fukuzawa.
Kunitskiy lands the left hand.
Kunitskiy misses with a takedown
and Fukuzawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kunitskiy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fukuzawa to the ground. Kunitskiy is now in Fukuzawa's guard.
Kunitskiy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fukuzawa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Fukuzawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kunitskiy is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kunitskiy wants to control from the top but Fukuzawa keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kunitskiy wants to control from the top but Fukuzawa keeps moving.
Fukuzawa can't keep his opponent in guard - Kunitskiy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kunitskiy lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kunitskiy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fukuzawa keeps working.
That's four 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.
Kunitskiy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kunitskiy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fukuzawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kunitskiy prevents Fukuzawa from improving his position.
Kunitskiy looks to land a strike but Fukuzawa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Fukuzawa has control of Kunitskiy's left arm, preventing Kunitskiy from doing any damage.
Kunitskiy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kunitskiy trying to control but Fukuzawa is working from the bottom.
Fukuzawa trying to keep a closed guard but Kunitskiy is proving a slippery customer.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Itagaki Fukuzawa.
I think Fukuzawa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itagaki Fukuzawa!
Itagaki Fukuzawa decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
52% |
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