PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shizuka Uesugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shizuka Uesugi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Steele
vs
Uesugi

178 cm
23
193 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
198 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tim Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shizuka Uesugi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steele shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Uesugi pinned against the cage. Uesugi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Uesugi scores with a jab to the body.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steele slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Uesugi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Steele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Uesugi clinches up against the cage.
Uesugi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Uesugi as the two fighters clinch.
Uesugi tries a body shot but Steele blocks it.

Steele is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Uesugi can't fight it off and eventually Steele manages to take the fight to the floor. Uesugi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Uesugi is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele looking to sit in guard and control but Uesugi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Uesugi trying to control but Steele is working from the bottom.

Steele wriggles free and stands up.
Steele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Uesugi was well out of range. Poor timing from Steele.
Steele moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Uesugi misses with a looping right.

Steele looking to score a takedown here. Uesugi is defending well but Steele drives through and ends up in Uesugi's guard.
Uesugi controlling Steele's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to control from the top but Uesugi keeps moving.
Steele landing some decent shots from guard.
Steele trying to control but Uesugi is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Uesugi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi controls Steele momentarily but Steele frees himself.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Uesugi is keeping the position.

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

Uesugi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Steele!
Uesugi looking to finish with strikes here!
Uesugi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Steele because Uesugi loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele wants to control but Uesugi is having none of it.
Uesugi throwing strikes but Steele uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Uesugi is looking to advance position but Steele won't allow it.
Uesugi is just content to waste time from the top position. Steele takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Uesugi wants to control from the top but Steele keeps moving.
Steele can't keep his opponent in guard - Uesugi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Steele might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uesugi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shizuka Uesugi will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Uesugi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Uesugi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Uesugi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steele moves away.
Uesugi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Uesugi wants it to stay on the feet.
Uesugi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Uesugi lands with a straight right. Steele didn't see that one coming.
Uesugi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steele's corner calls for a 1-2. Steele obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A slow jab from Steele misses its intended target.
Steele misses with a body punch
and Uesugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Uesugi throws the left hand but Steele avoids the punch easily.
Steele misses with a shot to the body
and Uesugi counters with a thumping low kick.
Uesugi throws a leg kick
and Steele counters with a nice body shot.
Uesugi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Steele looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fighters circling - Steele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Uesugi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Steele in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steele fails to land the takedown.
Uesugi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Uesugi misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Uesugi. Steele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Uesugi thuds a left hand into Steele's body.
Steele looks to land a left hand but Uesugi moved out of range nicely.
Uesugi's corner calls for a 1-2. Uesugi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Shizuka Uesugi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Uesugi. Steele does a little dance to reset his feet.
Uesugi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Uesugi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Uesugi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Uesugi clobbers Steele with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A lazy left from Uesugi finds it's target.
Steele shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from Steele.

Steele shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Steele showed some decent athleticism there.
Uesugi keeping hold of Steele's head, controlling as best he can.
Uesugi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Steele.
Steele looks to land a strike but Uesugi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Steele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi is trying to keep Steele in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steele looking to sit in guard and control but Uesugi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Uesugi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Uesugi looking to sit in guard and control but Steele gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Steele thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steele sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Uesugi keeping moving, preventing Steele from controlling successfully.
Uesugi controls Steele momentarily but Steele frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steele throwing strikes from guard but Uesugi blocks nicely.
Steele wants to pass the guard but Uesugi is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shizuka Uesugi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Steele. Those never looked like landing.
Steele thows a left - swing and a miss!
Steele shoots in looking for a takedown but Uesugi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Steele's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A big left from Uesugi misses.
Steele looks to throw the jab but Uesugi is out of range.
Steele avoids the body shot from Uesugi.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Uesugi, as that shot connected.
Uesugi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Steele throws a left and a right that both miss
and Uesugi counters with a right hand to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Uesugi.
Nice jab there from Steele.

Steele manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Uesugi on his heels. He'll look to pass Uesugi's guard now, I'm sure.
Uesugi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Uesugi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Steele!
Uesugi looking to ground and pound but Steele is blocking nicely.
Steele wants to try and get back to his feet.
Uesugi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Steele?
Uesugi controlling his opponent.
Uesugi throwing strikes here but Steele is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi throwing strikes here but Steele is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Steele in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
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!
Uesugi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Poor strikes thrown by Uesugi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Uesugi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Steele looks a forlorn figure.
Steele manages to control the position for a moment.
Uesugi looking to finish Steele with some ground and pound. This is bad for Steele!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi with shots to the head and body - Steele looks very uncomfortable down there.
Uesugi misses with a head shot.
Uesugi dominating with strikes here.
Uesugi trying to control but Steele is having none of it.
Tim Steele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Uesugi landing shots from mount.
Shizuka Uesugi has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uesugi prevents Steele from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steele trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Uesugi looking to ground and pound but Steele is blocking nicely.
Uesugi scoring with strikes but Steele is staying in there.

Uesugi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Uesugi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Uesugi throws some wild stikes that Steele manages to avoid easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Uesugi wants to control the pace but Steele is squirming around nicely.
Uesugi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Steele kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shizuka Uesugi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Uesugi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Shizuka Uesugi!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Shizuka Uesugi!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Shizuka Uesugi!

Shizuka Uesugi wins by unanimous decision!