PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenichi Uzomaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Uzomaki
vs
Balboa

190 cm
25
215 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenichi Uzomaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocky Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uzomaki with a poor takedown
and Balboa counters with a nice body shot.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balboa throws a right and a left that Uzomaki avoids nicely.
Uzomaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Uzomaki throws a right and a left that Balboa avoids nicely.
Uzomaki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Balboa misses with a few strikes there.
Balboa throws a leg kick that is checked

and Uzomaki counters with a takedown into side control.

Uzomaki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Balboa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Uzomaki's guard! Nice work there by Balboa!
Uzomaki looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Uzomaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uzomaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balboa wants to stand but Uzomaki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Uzomaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balboa is one step ahead there.
Balboa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Uzomaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kenichi Uzomaki just wasn't active enough.
Balboa scores with a nice head shot.
Balboa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Uzomaki moves away.
Balboa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Uzomaki counters with a crisp one two that drops Balboa! Uzomaki thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Balboa to his feet! Balboa is in big trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Balboa.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Balboa connects with a single shot there.
Balboa misses with a jab, cross combination.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Uzomaki enables Balboa to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Uzomaki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Uzomaki looking to control.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Uzomaki keeps moving.
Balboa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Uzomaki's head.
Uzomaki is trying to keep Balboa in close.
Uzomaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balboa is one step ahead there.

Balboa stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa fails to land with a series of punches.
Uzomaki wants to clinch.
Balboa connects with a single shot there.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Uzomaki moves out of range.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Uzomaki stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Uzomaki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Uzomaki fails with the takedown
and Balboa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Balboa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Uzomaki.
Balboa closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Balboa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Uzomaki has control of Balboa's left arm, preventing Balboa from doing any damage.
Uzomaki trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Uzomaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balboa is one step ahead there.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balboa preventing the sweep.
Uzomaki is breathing heavily.
Balboa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Uzomaki keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Balboa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Balboa wants to get up but he can't break Uzomaki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Uzomaki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Uzomaki is trying to get an arm triangle but Balboa is defending well.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balboa holding on.

Uzomaki swings around for an armbar but Balboa sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Uzomaki's guard.
Uzomaki keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Uzomaki pulls Balboa in to control the position.
Uzomaki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Uzomaki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Balboa!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to hold on but Uzomaki postures up.
Balboa is working to get back to half guard.
Uzomaki misses with a head shot.
Balboa is working to get back to half guard.

Uzomaki goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Balboa turns into him and now he's in Uzomaki's guard.
Balboa throwing strikes from guard but Uzomaki blocks nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Balboa trying to control but Uzomaki is working from the bottom.
Balboa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Uzomaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Balboa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Uzomaki wants to sweep here but Balboa controlling him for the moment.
Uzomaki keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
Uzomaki has a closed guard, preventing Balboa from standing up.
Balboa trying to control but Uzomaki is working from the bottom.

Rocky Balboa has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Balboa. That snapped Uzomaki's head back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Uzomaki slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Uzomaki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.

Uzomaki tries for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa tries to buck Uzomaki off but Uzomaki is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Uzomaki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kenichi Uzomaki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Balboa. Those never looked like landing.
Uzomaki with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Balboa counter with a right hand.
Balboa scores with the left hand. Uzomaki knows he should have avoided that one.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Balboa. Those never looked like landing.
Uzomaki fails with the takedown

and Balboa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Balboa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Uzomaki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uzomaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balboa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Uzomaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rocky Balboa wasn't active enough on the ground.
Balboa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Decent striking displayed by Balboa there.
Balboa misses with a body shot.
Uzomaki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Balboa counters with a left and a right that stings Uzomaki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenichi Uzomaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa shoots for a double leg takedown but Uzomaki sprawls well. He's pushed Balboa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balboa scores with a one two! Uzomaki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Uzomaki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Balboa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Uzomaki thinking.
Balboa lands with a nice body punch.
Uzomaki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Balboa looks to land a combination but Uzomaki avoids it well.
Balboa misses with a body kick.
Rocky Balboa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Uzomaki fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Uzomaki backs up against the cage.
Uzomaki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Balboa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balboa scores with a nice head shot.
Balboa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Uzomaki misses with a takedown

and Balboa counters with a single leg into guard. Uzomaki didn't expect that.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Uzomaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balboa scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Balboa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Balboa trying to control but Uzomaki is working from the bottom.
Balboa throws and elbow that misses. Uzomaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Balboa's guard. Nice move by Uzomaki!
Balboa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Uzomaki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Balboa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Balboa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Balboa!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The strikes coming from Balboa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Uzomaki stops Balboa from passing to mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balboa working away.
Balboa throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Balboa.
Balboa landing strikes.
Uzomaki regains half guard.
Uzomaki gets full guard.
Balboa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Uzomaki's head.
Balboa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Uzomaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Uzomaki looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Balboa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Uzomaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Uzomaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balboa.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is keen to just control but Uzomaki is a slippery customer.
Uzomaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Uzomaki.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Uzomaki keeps moving.
Uzomaki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Balboa has passed into side control.
Uzomaki is trying to control Balboa's posture but Balboa avoids it.
Balboa throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Balboa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Balboa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Uzomaki keeps working.
Uzomaki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Uzomaki kicks off Balboa and gets to his feet.
Balboa throws a combination that misses

and Uzomaki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Uzomaki.

Uzomaki has picked Balboa up - he's going for a ride! Uzomaki dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Balboa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Uzomaki seems to be working for a kimura but Balboa defends the submission attempt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Balboa can do anything to dispel that myth.

Uzomaki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Uzomaki has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Balboa works to full guard.
Uzomaki wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.

Uzomaki postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Balboa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Uzomaki, into his guard.
Balboa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Uzomaki is adopting a defensive guard.
Balboa wants to stand but Uzomaki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Uzomaki is trying to keep Balboa in close.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Balboa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Rocky Balboa!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Rocky Balboa!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Rocky Balboa!

Rocky Balboa wins by unanimous decision!