PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Uppercut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flare comes to the cage accompanied by Also Sprach Zarathustra. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Flare
vs
Uppercut

173 cm
32
180 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

177 cm
35
178 lbs
26 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Granite chin

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lance Uppercut!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uppercut takes a swing at Flare's ribcage but misses.
Flare connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Uppercut momentarily.
Uppercut fails to land the takedown.
Uppercut scores with a shot to the body.
Flare shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Uppercut but Uppercut pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Flare misses with a takedown
and Uppercut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Flare shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uppercut works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

Uppercut is looking for a triangle but Flare pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare postures up.
Flare scoring with some ground and pound.

Uppercut is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Flare is aware though and is defending well.
Uppercut throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Flare connects with a couple of short punches.
Flare with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Flare postures up in Uppercut's guard and throws a big left but Uppercut blocks it.
Uppercut is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Flare controlling from the top position.
Flare stopping the sweep attempt from Uppercut.
Flare lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare trying to control the position from guard on top but Uppercut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uppercut is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Flare looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Uppercut keeping full guard, as Flare tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Flare with a lazy takedown attempt
and Uppercut counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Uppercut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Uppercut defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Flare.
Uppercut lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uppercut lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Flare with a poor takedown
enabling Uppercut to counter with a crisp jab.
Uppercut shoots for a double leg takedown but Flare sprawls well. He's pushed Uppercut's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Flare closes the distance and clinches up with Uppercut, looking for a takedown. Flare pushes Uppercut against the cage but Uppercut circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Uppercut moves into range and connects with a jab.

Uppercut shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Flare is trying to defend but Uppercut finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Uppercut is looking to stall here but Flare recovers full guard.
Flare is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Uppercut's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Flare looking to hit a scissor sweep but Uppercut is one step ahead there.
Uppercut working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Flare's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uppercut throwing strikes from guard but Flare blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uppercut sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Uppercut wants to control from the top but Flare keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Uppercut dominated that round.
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.

Uppercut looks to throw the jab but Flare is out of range.
Uppercut throws out a loose jab but Flare uses good head movement to avoid it.
Uppercut lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Flare looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Uppercut is fending him off so far but Flare persists. Nope, Uppercut circles away and we're back to standing.
Flare tries for a takedown but Uppercut circles away easily
and Uppercut counters with a straight right hand.
Lance Uppercut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uppercut throws a jab but it's blocked by Flare.
Uppercut looks to throw the jab but Flare is out of range.
Flare misses with a straight left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Flare.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Flare shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Uppercut napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Flare wants to lay and pray for a moment but Uppercut keeps working.
Uppercut tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Uppercut's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Flare has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Uppercut is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Flare throwing shots but Uppercut is blocking nicely.
Uppercut wants to improve his position but Flare is controlling well.
Flare lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare slips a nice elbow through Uppercut's hands, connecting with Uppercut's forehead.
Uppercut tries to get to full guard but Flare has control of the leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flare wants to control but Uppercut is keeping him busy.
Uppercut wants to improve his position but Flare is controlling well.

Uppercut is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flare pulls his head out easily.
Flare thows a huge punch but Uppercut dodges it nicely.
Flare is nestled in close to Uppercut, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Flare missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Uppercut is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Flare's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Flare's back!

Uppercut working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flare avoids the strikes from Uppercut.

Uppercut looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Flare is controlling Uppercut 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

Uppercut throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Flare looking to pass the guard.
Uppercut is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Flare with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flare missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Flare is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Uppercut has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Flare can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Flare looking to sit in guard and control but Uppercut gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Flare keeping moving, preventing Uppercut from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uppercut tries to free his leg and advance position but Flare is retaining full guard.

Flare had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Uppercut defends it easily.
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 Rick Flare will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Flare drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Uppercut gets back to half guard.
Flare throwing shots but Uppercut is blocking nicely.
Flare not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Flare lands strikes from half guard.
Uppercut keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Flare sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Uppercut defending well though.
Uppercut moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Uppercut is trying to control the position but Flare postures up.

Uppercut is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uppercut manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Flare manages to get himself to full guard.
Flare has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Uppercut has passed into side control.
Flare controls the position for a moment.
Flare is trying to get back to half guard.
Uppercut wants to control but Flare is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Uppercut is looking to take a break and control but Flare is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Flare sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Uppercut wants to pass to mount but Flare is defending the position.
Flare gets back to full guard.
Flare bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Uppercut's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Uppercut working for a triangle but Flare defends it easily.
Flare wants to control from the top but Uppercut keeps moving.
Flare stands and throws Uppercut's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Uppercut is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The ground and pound from Flare seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The strikes coming from Flare are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Uppercut tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Uppercut manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flare perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Uppercut is staying active underneath Flare, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rick Flare overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Flare is looking for a kimura here.
Flare throwing shots but Uppercut is blocking nicely.
Flare landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Flare seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Uppercut on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Uppercut is positioning himself well to prevent Flare advancing to mount.
Nice strikes from Flare there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uppercut gets back to full guard.
Flare cracks Uppercut with a solid left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Flare showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flare has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Flare!
A very excited looking Rick Flare rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.