WEC 37: Fabiano Defeats Tamura in Technical BJJ Battle

Featherweight Wagnney Fabiano (11-1) defeated “The Ironman” Akitoshi Tamura (12-7-2) via arm triangle submission at 4:48 of the third round at WEC 37 in Las Vegas Wednesday night.

Round one opened with some light punches by both fighters.  Fabiano shot in for a double leg take down and ended up in an open half guard position on the mat.  Fabiano then worked to gain head and arm control and transitioned to the mount.

From the mount Tamura got Fabiano back into half guard where Fabiano postured up and attempted some light elbow strikes to the head of Tamura.  Tamura avoided the elbows and locked Fabiano into half guard with a grapevine lock down on his leg.  The round ended with Fabiano throwing some light punches to Tamura’s ribs from half guard.

Round two was more of the same technical fighting as Tamura landed and early knee to the body of Fabiano, who countered with a right cross to the head of Tamura.  Fabiano followed it up with an inside leg sweep and ended up in Tamura’s high rubber guard.  Fabiano pulled free and attempted a few elbows and punches to the head of Tamura.

Both fighters were stood up with 1:20 left in the round, but a body kick from Tamura provoked Fabiano to go for a single leg takedown which resulted in a near guillotine.  Fabiano passed to side control, then to mount where he attempted an arm bar as the round expired.

Round three opened with Fabiano once again shooting in on Tamura, who once again countered with an attempt at a guillotine choke.  Fabiano countered by walking his feet up and around the cage wall to gain cross side control on Tamura.  Fabiano then transition from mount to half guard twice more before rolling into an attempted guillotine choke of his own.

After Tamura rolled Fabiano back to half guard, Fabiano was able to land an elbow to Tamura’s forehead that caused a cut to open.  Fabiano was then able to transition to cross side, lock in a head and arm choke and force Tamura to submit with only 12 seconds left in the fight.