PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pelayo Palhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shizuka Uesugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shizuka Uesugi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Palhares
vs
Uesugi

174 cm
23
196 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
198 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pelayo Palhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shizuka Uesugi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Palhares throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Uesugi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Palhares moves away from the strike by Uesugi.
Uesugi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Palhares in his tracks.
Palhares misses with a hook.

Palhares drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Uesugi trying to control the position.
Uesugi keeping moving, preventing Palhares from controlling successfully.
Uesugi wants to sweep but no luck.
Palhares trying to control but Uesugi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Palhares showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Pelayo Palhares wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Uesugi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Palhares as he jumps to the side.
Palhares moves out of range as Uesugi strikes.

Uesugi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Palhares did well to prevent Uesugi getting side control.
Palhares wants to improve his position but Uesugi is controlling well.
Uesugi wants to free his trapped foot but Palhares is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Palhares is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Palhares blocking the ground and pound attempt from Uesugi.

Uesugi is working for a kimura but Palhares is defending it quite comfortably.
Palhares wants to control but Uesugi is keeping busy.
Uesugi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Uesugi is looking to take a break and control but Palhares is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Uesugi trying to control from Palhares's half guard. Palhares has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Palhares avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Uesugi trying to control but Palhares is working from the bottom.
Uesugi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Uesugi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Palhares avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Uesugi from controlling successfully.
Uesugi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Palhares pulls Uesugi in close to prevent any damage.
Palhares is trying to control the position but Uesugi postures up.
Uesugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Shizuka Uesugi hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Uesugi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Palhares can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Uesugi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Palhares is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Uesugi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Uesugi's back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Uesugi just trying to survive but Palhares is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Uesugi is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Palhares off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Will Palhares go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Uesugi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Palhares ducks under a wild hook from Uesugi.
Uesugi looks for a takedown but Palhares sprawls well.

Palhares drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shizuka Uesugi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Palhares is putting a hurting on Uesugi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Uesugi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Palhares's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Uesugi is looking for a sweep. Palhares is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Palhares looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi wants to improve his position but Palhares is controlling well.
Uesugi gets back to full guard.

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.
Uesugi looking for a sweep. Not yet Uesugi, not yet.
Uesugi looking to control.
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.
Palhares postures up and lands a big shot to Uesugi's brow.
Uesugi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Palhares distracts Uesugi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Palhares postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Uesugi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Palhares, into his guard.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Uesugi from controlling successfully.
Uesugi is in close to Palhares's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Palhares keeping moving, preventing Uesugi from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uesugi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Uesugi is looking to work some ground and pound but Palhares has wrist control.
Uesugi wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares is trying to control the position but Uesugi postures up.
Palhares looking for a sweep. Not yet Palhares, not yet.
Uesugi wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Shizuka Uesugi hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sloppy strikes from Uesugi. Those never looked like landing.
Palhares takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Uesugi scores with a punch to the head.
Palhares fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Uesugi tries to score with a low kick but Palhares moves his leg out of the way.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uesugi throws a leg kick which misses Palhares's front leg but catches the back leg as Palhares tries to avoid it.
Uesugi misses the shot to the body.
Uesugi looks for a takedown but Palhares sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Palhares.
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.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Palhares getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Uesugi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Palharess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Palhares uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Uesugi.
Uesugi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Uesugi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Palhares counters with a straight right hand.
Shizuka Uesugi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Palhares shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Uesugi is trying to stand up here but Palhares is controlling him well.
Palhares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Palhares is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Uesugi is just riding it out for now. Palhares eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Palhares.
Palhares is keen to just control but Uesugi is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Palhares in particular looking to stall.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Palhares prevents Uesugi from improving his position.
Palhares is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Palhares with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Palhares has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Palhares goes for an armbar but Uesugi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Uesugi.
Palhares can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Uesugi controls the pace.
Pelayo Palhares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Palhares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Palhares is pulling down on Uesugi's head to control his posture.

Uesugi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Uesugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uesugi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Uesugi trying to control the position from guard on top but Palhares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uesugi postures up in Palhares's guard and throws a big left but Palhares blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uesugi wants to control from the top but Palhares keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pelayo Palhares showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

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