PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hironobu Uematsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Soendergaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uematsu comes into the arena with Primus - Laquer Head blaring out of the sound system. This should be fireworks!

Uematsu
vs
Soendergaard

188 cm
21
203 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
33
195 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hironobu Uematsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Soendergaard!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soendergaard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Uematsu is looking to improve his position.
Soendergaard is keen to just control but Uematsu is a slippery customer.

Soendergaard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Uematsu trying to hold on to Soendergaard's head to control him but Soendergaard postures up.
Uematsu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soendergaard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soendergaard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Uematsu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Uematsu is trying to get back to full guard.
Soendergaard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Uematsu is trying to stand.
Soendergaard trying to pass the guard but Uematsu defending well.
Soendergaard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soendergaard is looking to stall here but Uematsu recovers full guard.
Soendergaard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Uematsu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soendergaard on the ground.
Soendergaard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Soendergaard trying to control the position from guard on top but Uematsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soendergaard throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soendergaard throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soendergaard passes Uematsu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Uematsu moves into full guard.
Uematsu keeping full guard, as Soendergaard tries to pass.
Soendergaard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Uematsu keeping moving, preventing Soendergaard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Christian Soendergaard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Soendergaard slips a jab from Uematsu.
Uematsu slips a jab from Soendergaard.
Uematsu misses the jab.
Uematsu dips to his left and cracks Soendergaard with an uppercut!
Soendergaard closes the distance and clinches up with Uematsu, looking for a takedown. Soendergaard pushes Uematsu against the cage but Uematsu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Soendergaard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Uematsu avoids it really well and circles away.
Uematsu wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uematsu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soendergaard moves away.
Soendergaard defending well as Uematsu loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Soendergaard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Soendergaard.
Soendergaard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Uematsu as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soendergaard.
Uematsu jabs at Soendergaard's body.
Uematsu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Soendergaard.
Hironobu Uematsu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Soendergaard.
Soendergaard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Uematsu sprawls well. Uematsu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Soendergaard gets slowly back to his feet.
Soendergaard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Uematsu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Uematsu with a hook.

Soendergaard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Uematsu to the ground. Soendergaard is now in Uematsu's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soendergaard trying to control the position from guard on top but Uematsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soendergaard is looking to work some ground and pound but Uematsu has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soendergaard trying to control but Uematsu is working from the bottom.
Soendergaard is fighting to break Uematsu's control of his arms but Uematsu is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Soendergaard postures up in Uematsu's guard and throws a big left but Uematsu blocks it.
Uematsu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Uematsu 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.
Uematsu is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Uematsu as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soendergaard looks for a takedown but Uematsu sprawls well.
Soendergaard shoots in looking for a takedown but Uematsu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Soendergaard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Uematsu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soendergaard.
A slow jab from Uematsu misses its intended target.

Soendergaard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Uematsu lands a hook that snaps the head of Soendergaard backwards.
Uematsu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Uematsu trying to control the position but instead, Soendergaard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Uematsu into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uematsu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Soendergaard has Uematsu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Uematsu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soendergaard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Uematsu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Soendergaard prevents a body shot from Uematsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uematsu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Uematsu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Soendergaard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Uematsu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Soendergaard pulls guard effortlessly.
Christian Soendergaard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Soendergaard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Uematsu defends it easily.
Uematsu throws an elbow that misses. Soendergaard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Uematsu's guard. Nice move by Soendergaard!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Uematsu holds on and takes a little breather.
Soendergaard throws a strike but Uematsu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uematsu controls from within his opponent's guard.
Soendergaard 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.
Uematsu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soendergaard wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Hironobu Uematsu will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Soendergaard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Uematsu's waist but Uematsu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Soendergaard off to one side.
Uematsu swings for the body but Soendergaard moves out of range.
Soendergaard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Donk. Uematsu catches Soendergaard right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Christian Soendergaard has been cut.
Uematsu slaps away a takedown attempt from Soendergaard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Soendergaard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hironobu Uematsu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Soendergaard.
Soendergaard shoots in and drives through. Uematsu sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Uematsu. No joy for Soendergaard on that attempt.
Jab, jab by Uematsu - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Uematsu.
Uematsu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Soendergaard dives in and grabs Uematsu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Uematsu pushes down on Soendergaard's head and hops out.
Soendergaard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Uematsu circles away.
Uematsu Rushes Soendergaard and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Soendergaard is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Uematsu Piles on the pressure and Soendergaard crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hironobu Uematsu!
Hironobu Uematsu seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.