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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 Antti Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fukuzawa comes to the cage accompanied by In Flames - Colony. Karhu has chosen Samuli Edelman - Teit meistä kauniin as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.
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| 170 cm
33
153 lbs
27 - 14 - 2 |
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176 cm
28
154 lbs
16 - 8 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
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
27 - 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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antti Karhu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karhu throws a head kick that half lands.
Karhu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
That kick from Fukuzawa tenderised Karhu's leg. Karhu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Karhu lands a jab to Fukuzawa's midsection.
Fukuzawa takes a swing at Karhu's ribcage but misses.
Fukuzawa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Karhu swings for the body but Fukuzawa moves out of range.
Karhu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fukuzawa's head backwards.
Karhu blocks a jab.
Karhu misses with a hook
and Fukuzawa counters with a left to the body.
Fukuzawa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karhu throws a wild body kick that Fukuzawa sees coming a mile off.
Fukuzawa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Karhu.
Fukuzawa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Karhu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fukuzawa misses with a body kick.
A jab from Karhu misses.
Good leg kick by Karhu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fukuzawa misses with a body punch
and Karhu counters with a straight right hand.
Karhu cracks Fukuzawa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fukuzawa throws a low kick, looking for Karhu's leg but Karhu calmly moves out of range.
Karhu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fukuzawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fukuzawa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fukuzawa tries to clinch there but Karhu circles away.
Karhu tries a quick counter leg kick but Fukuzawa is wise to it.
Karhu throws the kick towards the body but Fukuzawa avoids it.
Karhu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fukuzawa.
Itagaki Fukuzawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karhu misses with a low kick.
Karhu scores with a leg kick.
Fukuzawa misses the shot to the body.
Fukuzawa throws a big shot that misses.
Good shot there by Karhu.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fukuzawa crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Karhu - the referee stops the clock and Fukuzawa gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Karhu. Fukuzawa manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu shoots and misses
and Fukuzawa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fukuzawa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fukuzawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab lands there for Karhu.
Fukuzawa walks into a stiff left hand from Karhu.
Fukuzawa misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Fukuzawa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karhu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fukuzawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fukuzawa lands a right hook to the body.
Karhu misses with a left hand
and Fukuzawa counters with a three punch combo that has Karhu backing up. Karhu nods at Fukuzawa to acknowledge the strikes.
A leg kick checked by Karhu.
Karhu throws a leg kick but Fukuzawa checks it.
Fukuzawa misses with a low kick.
Fukuzawa misses with a looping right.
Fukuzawa is looking to wear down Karhu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Fukuzawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Antti Karhu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fukuzawa has time to react.
Karhu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Karhu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fukuzawa.
Karhu throws a head kick but Fukuzawa moves out of range.
A big right from Fukuzawa misses.
Karhu is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Fukuzawa had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Karhu works the jab nicely.
Karhu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Karhu thows a left - swing and a miss!
A head kick misses from Karhu.
Fukuzawa misses with a shot to the body
and Karhu counters with a straight right hand.
Karhu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fukuzawa is able to avoid easily.
Karhu blocks a leg kick.
Karhu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Fukuzawa momentarily.
Fukuzawa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu throws a looping overhand right but Fukuzawa ducks down to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karhu lands with a nice body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fukuzawa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A cross from Karhu lands.
Karhu misses with an uppercut
and Fukuzawa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Karhu avoids the body shot from Fukuzawa.
Karhu blocks a head kick by Fukuzawa.
A little jabbing left from Karhu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fukuzawa cracks Karhu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Karhu misses with a shot to the body
and Fukuzawa counters with a straight right hand.
Fukuzawa on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A left and a right from Fukuzawa both land. Nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fukuzawa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Karhu has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Fukuzawa is looking to score with low kicks.
Fukuzawa scores with a jab. Karhu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Antti Karhu dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Karhu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Karhu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fukuzawa in his tracks.
Fukuzawa throws a shot from downtown. Karhu moves away and avoids it.
A head kick misses from Karhu.
Karhu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fukuzawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Karhu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Karhu throws a head kick but Fukuzawa moves out of range.
Fukuzawa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Karhu misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Fukuzawa.
Karhu throws a hook but Fukuzawa blocks it.
A little feinted left hand from Fukuzawa on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fukuzawa wants to land a leg kick but Karhu is out of range.
And Karhu responds with a good body kick, but Fukuzawa manages to step out the way in time.
Fukuzawa slips a jab from Karhu.
Karhu throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Fukuzawa to counter with a crisp jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu slips a jab and a cross from Fukuzawa.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Karhu checks a leg kick.
Karhu darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Fukuzawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karhu checks a low kick from Fukuzawa.
Karhu closes the distance and clinches up with Fukuzawa, looking for a takedown. Karhu pushes Fukuzawa against the cage but Fukuzawa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fukuzawa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karhu. That's going to slow Fukuzawa down.
Fukuzawa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Karhu on the side of the head.
Fukuzawa checks a leg kick nicely.
Fukuzawa connects with a leg kick. Karhu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fukuzawa throws a head kick that misses.
Karhu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fukuzawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karhu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Karhu prevents Fukuzawa from improving his position.
Fukuzawa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fukuzawa has control of Karhu's left arm, preventing Karhu from doing any damage.
Karhu wants to control from the top but Fukuzawa keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa seems keen to control Karhu's posture.
Karhu throws a strike but Fukuzawa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Karhu has control of Fukuzawa's left arm, preventing Fukuzawa from doing any damage.
Fukuzawa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Karhu working a defensive guard here.
Fukuzawa advances position into side control!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu is looking to reverse the position.
Karhu takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karhu is trying to control Fukuzawa's posture but Fukuzawa avoids it.
Fukuzawa wants to take a breather but Karhu manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Fukuzawa.
Karhu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Karhu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fukuzawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Karhu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Itagaki Fukuzawa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Fukuzawa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Karhu swings widly with a right hand
and Fukuzawa counters with a one-two to the body.
Karhu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fukuzawa is able to avoid easily.
A big left from Karhu misses.
Karhu closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fukuzawa takes a swing at Karhu's ribcage but misses.
Fukuzawa jabs Karhu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Karhu works Fukuzawa's body with a nice hook.
Fukuzawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karhu.
Karhu scores with a jab to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karhu takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Karhu lands with a kick to the ribs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Fukuzawa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fukuzawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karhu lands a jab to the nose.
Antti Karhu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karhu gets a clinch.
Fukuzawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Karhu lands a body punch.
Fukuzawa avoiding damage.
Karhu lands a right hand.
Karhu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Karhu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fukuzawa.
Karhu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fukuzawa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Karhu throws a big shot that misses.
Fukuzawa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fukuzawa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Fukuzawa appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fukuzawa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Karhu walks into a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fukuzawa misses the shot to the body.
Fukuzawa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Karhu slips a straight right by Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fukuzawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Karhu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Karhu looks to land a right hand but Fukuzawa moved out of range.
Fukuzawa staying out of range there.
Karhu connects with a body shot that sends Fukuzawa's belly button to the back.
Fukuzawa needs to keep his hands up - Karhu had a free shot at his head there.
Fukuzawa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Karhu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Karhu works the jab nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fukuzawa throws a hook but Karhu blocks it.
Fukuzawa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fukuzawa blocks a jab.
Fukuzawa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karhu throws out the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Fukuzawa misses the target.
Karhu throws out a counter right but Fukuzawa avoids it with no problem.
Fukuzawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fukuzawa. Karhu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Karhu cracks Fukuzawa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Karhu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fukuzawa can pounce on him.
Fukuzawa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fukuzawa throws a hook but Karhu avoids it easily.
Karhu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Karhu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fukuzawa misses with a hook.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu throws a jab but it's blocked by Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fukuzawa looks to land a combination but Karhu avoids it well.
Karhu throws a solid leg kick but Fukuzawa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Karhu.
Fukuzawa with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fukuzawa drops his hands momentarily and Karhu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fukuzawa lands an overhand right.
Fukuzawa avoids the body shot from Karhu.
A decent looking cross lands there for Karhu.
Fukuzawa ducks under a wild hook from Karhu.
Fukuzawa avoids the body shot from Karhu.
Karhu slips under a jab.
Karhu slips a jab and a cross from Fukuzawa.
And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Karhu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Karhu 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Karhu!
Antti Karhu tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
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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
67% |
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