PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nobu Sanada (ranked 1019 p4p, 133 weight class) and Fujii Yusuke (ranked 1818 p4p, 218 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sanada
vs
Yusuke

175 cm
28
159 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

178 cm
35
160 lbs
17 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nobu Sanada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fujii Yusuke!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanada misses with a looping left.

Yusuke has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sanada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sanada throws a shot from downtown. Yusuke moves away and avoids it.
Yusuke moves out of range of the strikes.
Yusuke flicks out a counter leg kick but Sanada steps away.
Yusuke turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sanada slips under a jab from Yusuke.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Sanada misses with a body shot.
Yusuke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sanada taking a breather.
Yusuke misses with a punch to the body.
Yusuke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanada's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Sanada manages to break the clinch.
Sanada checks a leg kick nicely.
Yusuke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sanada.
Sanada misses with a looping right.
Yusuke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanada swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sanada rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yusuke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sanada rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Yusuke counter with a right hand.
Sanada slips a jab from Yusuke.
Sanada takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yusuke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A little feinted left hand from Sanada on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fujii Yusuke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yusuke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sanada moves out of range as Yusuke strikes.
Sanada keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sanada slips under a jab from Yusuke.
Yusuke lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yusuke takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yusuke is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nobu Sanada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yusuke digs a good hook to Sanada's body.
Yusuke walks into a jab.
Yusuke is looking to clinch.
Sanada throws an off balance right hand
and Yusuke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yusuke scores with the left hand. Sanada knows he should have avoided that one.
Yusuke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sanada looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Yusuke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sanada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yusuke clobbers Sanada with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sanada swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yusuke feints a counter leg kick.
Sanada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yusuke takes a swing at Sanada's ribcage but misses.
Sanada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yusuke throws out the jab.
Yusuke throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanada throws a jab but it's blocked by Yusuke.
Yusuke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanada manages to avoid it.
Sanada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yusuke.
Sanada throwing a counter right hand but Yusuke manages to avoid it.
Yusuke misses with a hook to the body
and Sanada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanada lands with a straight right. Yusuke didn't see that one coming.
Yusuke throws a lazy uppercut
and Sanada connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sanada misses with a hook.
Sanada takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sanada takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yusuke with a jab.
Yusuke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanada swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fujii Yusuke dominated that round.
That's time! Sanada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanada throws a shot from downtown. Yusuke moves away and avoids it.
Sanada cracks Yusuke with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yusuke missing with a left hand there. Sanada was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A quick step to the side and Sanada tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yusuke throws a sloppy head kick and Sanada moves out of range easily.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Yusuke throws a looping overhand right but Sanada ducks down to avoid it.
Yusuke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanada moves away.
Yusuke tries to clinch but Sanada is having none of it.
Yusuke swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sanada counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yusuke closes the distance but Sanada moves to the side
enabling Sanada to counter with a crisp jab.
Yusuke misses with a hook
letting Sanada counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusuke scores with a kick to the body.
Yusuke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yusuke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sanada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yusuke lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sanada walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Sanada is rocked!
Yusuke cracks Sanada with a hook to the temple - Sanada is on wobbly legs here! Yusuke swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Sanada falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Yusuke wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Fujii Yusuke!