PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xander Arapeta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shizuka Uesugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arapeta kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Sound by Switchfoot. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Arapeta
vs
Uesugi

188 cm
24
200 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
198 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ka-POW Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xander Arapeta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shizuka Uesugi!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Arapeta. Uesugi shrugs it off though.
Arapeta throws a leg kick which misses Uesugi's front leg but catches the back leg as Uesugi tries to avoid it.
Arapeta lands with a thumping leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Uesugi checks a leg kick.
Arapeta takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Arapeta misses with a right hand
enabling Uesugi to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Uesugi misses its intended target.
Arapeta throws a front kick that sends Uesugi stumbling back into the cage.
Arapeta looks to land a right hand but Uesugi moved out of range.
Jab by Arapeta.
Arapeta cracks Uesugi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Arapeta throws the left hand but Uesugi avoids the punch easily.
Arapeta misses with a wild combination.
Uesugi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Arapeta can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arapeta fakes the leg kick and cracks Uesugi in the body.
Uesugi throws a right hand that misses
and Arapeta counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Arapeta gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Uesugi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A low kick from Arapeta misses
and Uesugi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arapeta throws a sloppy head kick
and Uesugi counters with a nice uppercut.
Uesugi moves out of range as Arapeta throws a body kick.
Uesugi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Arapeta counters with a nice leg kick.
Arapeta thows a leg kick but Uesugi checks it
and Uesugi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Arapeta thinking.
Arapeta shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Arapeta.
A bone on bone clash there as Uesugi blocks the leg kick.
Arapeta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Arapeta tries to clinch
and Uesugi counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi moves out of range of the body kick from Arapeta.
Arapeta throws a head kick but Uesugi moves out of range.
Arapeta tries a head kick but it misses.
Arapeta wants to clinch up but Uesugi keeps it at a distance.
Arapeta connects with the punch.
Uesugi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arapeta throws a poor cross that misses
and Uesugi counters with a nice body shot.
Xander Arapeta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arapeta's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Arapeta duly obliges.
Arapeta thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Uesugi if he has to take too many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arapeta tries to score with a low kick but Uesugi moves his leg out of the way.
Uesugi checks a leg kick.
Uesugi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arapeta staying out of range there.
Arapeta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Uesugi.
Xander Arapeta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arapeta throws a lazy head kick
and Uesugi counters with a right hand to the body.
Uesugi slips a jab from Arapeta.
Uesugi scores with a punch to the head.
Nice defenses there by Arapeta.
Arapeta lands a jab to the head.
Arapeta throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Uesugi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Uesugi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Uesugi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arapeta wants to get back to his feet.

Uesugi is working for a kimura but Arapeta is defending it quite comfortably.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uesugi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arapeta's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Arapeta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Arapeta misses with a leg kick
and Uesugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Uesugi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Arapeta thows a leg kick but Uesugi checks it
and Uesugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Uesugi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Uesugi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Arapeta misses with a low kick.
Uesugi shoots in looking for a takedown but Arapeta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Uesugi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Arapeta thows a leg kick but Uesugi checks it
and Uesugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Uesugi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Horrible takedown by Uesugi or perhaps it was just good defense by Arapeta which made him look bad.

Uesugi scores a takedown into full mount!
Arapeta is squirming around, avoiding Uesugi's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uesugi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Uesugi trying to control but Arapeta is having none of it.
Uesugi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Uesugi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two 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.
Uesugi misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Uesugi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arapeta wants to control but Uesugi is having none of it.
Uesugi looking to control but Arapeta is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Uesugi moves to the back.
Uesugi wants to control the position but Arapeta frees himself and scrambles - Uesugi manages to regain control in side control.

That's four 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.

Uesugi is trying to get an arm triangle but Arapeta is defending well.
Uesugi tries to advance to mount but Arapeta denies him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arapeta is pushing Uesugi's head away, looking to escape. Uesugi manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shizuka Uesugi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Arapeta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arapeta scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Uesugi lands with a cross.
Uesugi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Uesugi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Arapeta misses with a double jab

and Uesugi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Arapeta's guard now.
Arapeta manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Uesugi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi tries to hold on but Arapeta postures up.
Arapeta tries to control but Uesugi wriggling away.
Uesugi is desperately trying to improve his position but Arapeta has a good base and remains in mount.
Uesugi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Uesugi tries to lock up and control but Arapeta gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.
Uesugi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Arapeta kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Arapeta controlling from the full mount.
Arapeta avoids the attempt from Uesugi to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Uesugi is trying to escape the mount.
Uesugi tries to hold on but Arapeta pushes him away.
Arapeta sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Uesugi working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Arapeta controlling the pace for now.
Uesugi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Uesugi trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Uesugi is desperately trying to improve his position but Arapeta has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shizuka Uesugi.
I think Uesugi 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shizuka Uesugi!