PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Angelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakatsu Ueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masakatsu Ueda struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Mike Angelo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Masakatsu Ueda's chin.

Angelo
vs
Ueda

176 cm
25
158 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
159 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Angelo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masakatsu Ueda!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Ueda.
Angelo shoots for a double leg takedown but Ueda sprawls well. He's pushed Angelo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Ueda forces Angelo back against the ropes and clinches.
Ueda pushes off an throws an elbow but Angelo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Ueda works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Angelo keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.
Ueda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Angelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ueda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Angelo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ueda defends it easily.

Angelo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ueda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ueda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ueda throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ueda is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Angelo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Angelo has escaped and now he's on top!

Angelo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Angelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Angelo is breathing heavily.

Ueda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Angelo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Angelo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Angelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ueda wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Angelo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Ueda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Angelo defends it easily.

Ueda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Angelo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Ueda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Angelo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Angelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ueda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Angelo defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angelo pushes down on Ueda's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ueda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Angelo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Angelo's back!

Ueda is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Ueda somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Ueda doesn't have the hooks in and Angelo manages to turn into his guard.

Angelo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Angelo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Angelo tries to free his leg and advance position but Ueda is retaining full guard.

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.

Ueda has his foot on Angelo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Angelo works his way back into a safe position though.

Ueda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Angelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ueda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Angelo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ueda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Angelo defends it easily.

Ueda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ueda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Angelo pushes down on Ueda's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakatsu Ueda dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Angelo or perhaps it was just good defense by Ueda which made him look bad.
Angelo shoots in looking for a takedown. Ueda tries to sprawl out of it but Angelo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ueda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ueda keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Angelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ueda tries a head kick but it misses.

Ueda pushes Angelo up against the ropes in a clinch.
Ueda prevents a takedown attempt there.

Angelo pulls guard.
Ueda postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ueda wants to pass the guard but Angelo is keeping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Angelo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ueda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Angelo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ueda lands a couple of elbows.
Ueda lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ueda working some strikes from top position.
Angelo keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.

Angelo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ueda is aware though and is defending well.
Ueda scoring with punches to the head and body.

Ueda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ueda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ueda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ueda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ueda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Angelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Angelo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ueda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ueda lands a couple of digs.

Angelo looking for a guillotine here but Ueda defends easily.
Ueda wants to control from the top but Angelo keeps moving.
Ueda is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Angelo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ueda defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueda looking to pass the guard.

Angelo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ueda defends well.
Ueda lands a couple of digs.
Ueda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Angelo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ueda trying to control but Angelo is working from the bottom.
Masakatsu Ueda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ueda connects with a couple of short punches.
Ueda postures up in Angelo's guard and throws a big left but Angelo blocks it.

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.
Ueda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Angelo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Angelo keeping full guard, as Ueda tries to pass.
Ueda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Angelo feints and as Ueda raises his hands in defense, Angelo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Angelo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ueda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ueda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Angelo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Angelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Angelo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Angelo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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 Mike Angelo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Angelo blocks a head kick by Ueda.
Angelo fails with a takedown attempt.

Ueda closes the distance and clinches.
Angelo takes an elbow to the temple.
Angelo has Ueda pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Ueda manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Ueda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Angelo's brow.
Ueda gets underhooks to prevent Angelo's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Angelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ueda lands a damaging elbow.
Ueda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ueda lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Ueda.

Ueda has clasped his hands together around Angelo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ueda has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Angelo tries to reverse the position but Ueda maintains control.
Ueda has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Angelo's face.
Angelo gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Angelo won't allow Ueda to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Angelo actively working from the bottom here.
Ueda wants to control but Angelo is keeping him busy.
Angelo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ueda.
Angelo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Angelo looking for submissions off his back.
Angelo is pressing down on Ueda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Angelo working for a triangle but Ueda defends it easily.

Angelo working for a triangle but Ueda defends it easily.
Ueda scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two 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.
Ueda trying to control the position from guard on top but Angelo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ueda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ueda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ueda trying to control the position from guard on top but Angelo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Angelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ueda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ueda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ueda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Angelo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ueda has managed to get both his arms back between Angelo's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueda looking to pass the guard.

Angelo looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Ueda is defending well. Angelo quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Ueda has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Angelo celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Angelo!
Mike Angelo retains his featherweight title!