PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jenji Ueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ueda comes to the cage accompanied by Requiem for a Dream. Jenji Ueda is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ueda
vs
Kawajiri

172 cm
21
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jenji Ueda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ueda shoots in looking for a takedown. Kawajiri tries to sprawl out of it but Ueda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kawajiri manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ueda tries to clinch but Kawajiri is having none of it.
Kawajiri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ueda lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Ueda rushes Kawajiri and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kawajiri wants a takedown but no success here.
Ueda scores a nice knee to the body.
Ueda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ueda is working for takedown but Kawajiri is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kawajiri pulls guard effortlessly.
Kawajiri trying to control the position.
Kawajiri keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.
Kawajiri is trying to control the position but Ueda postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ueda won't allow Kawajiri to sweep him here.
Ueda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kawajiri swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kawajiri has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ueda is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kawajiri.
Kawajiri tries to improve position but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kawajiri circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ueda has picked Kawajiri up - he's going for a ride! Ueda dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ueda wants to work for an arm triangle but Kawajiri is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ueda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawajiri keeps working.
Kawajiri keeping control of the position.
Kawajiri tries to get to full guard but Ueda has control of the leg.
Kawajiri looks gassed!
Kawajiri trying to control but Ueda postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueda trying to control the pace.

Kawajiri is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ueda pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ueda throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ueda tries to clinch up but Kawajiri circles away and keeps his distance.
Ueda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kawajiri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ueda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ueda wants to clinch.

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.
Ueda lands an overhand right.
Ueda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kawajiri misses with a two punch combination.
Ueda is looking to clinch.
Ueda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kawajiri wants to clinch.

Ueda clinches.

Ueda jumps guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenji Ueda dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown but Ueda shows good takedown defense.
Ueda fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ueda gets a clinch.
Ueda gets underhooks to prevent Kawajiri's takedown attempt.
Ueda missing with knees to the body.

Ueda pulls guard successfully.
Ueda keeping full guard, as Kawajiri tries to pass.
Ueda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ueda wants to sweep here but Kawajiri controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ueda is working hard here to advance position.
Kawajiri is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ueda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ueda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

That's two 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.
Kawajiri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kawajiri will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ueda cracks Kawajiri with a solid left hand.
Ueda passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ueda trying to control the action but Kawajiri is working from the bottom.
Ueda cracks Kawajiri with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ueda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kawajiri, who protects the arm well.
Kawajiri struggling a bit here.
Kawajiri is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kawajiri looking for a sweep but Ueda has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Ueda postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kawajiri looks a forlorn figure.
Kawajiri tries to hold on but Ueda postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kawajiri regains half guard.
Kawajiri gets full guard.

Kawajiri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kawajiri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ueda!
Kawajiri lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kawajiri can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ueda is looking to escape.
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 Jenji Ueda will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ueda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawajiri pinned against the cage. Kawajiri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice body kick from Ueda.
Jenji Ueda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ueda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawajiri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ueda takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ueda misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawajiri gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ueda counters with a low kick, right behind Kawajiri 's knee.
Kawajiri scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kawajiri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kawajiri has managed to clinch.
Kawajiri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ueda breaks the clinch.
Kawajiri shoots in but Ueda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jenji Ueda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takanori Kawajiri.
Ueda tries to close the distance and clinch but Kawajiri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ueda gets a clinch.

Ueda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ueda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ueda tries to clinch up.
A low kick from Kawajiri is predictable there

and Ueda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kawajiri's guard.
Kawajiri keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.
Kawajiri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ueda is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri pushes Ueda off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Jenji Ueda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ueda.
Kawajiri misses with a wild combination.
Kawajiri shoots for a double leg takedown but Ueda sprawls well. He's pushed Kawajiri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ueda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ueda stuffs the takedown.
Kawajiri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kawajiri gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ueda counters by clinching up.

Ueda pulls guard successfully.
Kawajiri chips away with some ground and pound.
Kawajiri thows a big elbow that misses.

Ueda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kawajiri passes Ueda's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ueda is staying active underneath Kawajiri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ueda is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri blocks the strikes from Ueda.
Jenji Ueda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ueda wants to control but Kawajiri is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ueda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawajiri pinned against the cage. Kawajiri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ueda pushes Kawajiri up against the cage in a clinch.

Kawajiri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ueda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kawajiri.
Nice takedown defense from Ueda. No joy for Kawajiri on that attempt.
Ueda tries to clinch but Kawajiri moves away

and Kawajiri counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ueda is trying to control the position but Kawajiri postures up.
Takanori Kawajiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ueda lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kawajiri!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jenji Ueda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ueda has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jenji Ueda!