PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takuma Uchida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yang Xinhai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Uchida might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Pride. The crowd seem to be enjoying Xinhai's choice of entrance music: Loco. On his way into the cage it seems that Takuma Uchida has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Takuma Uchida seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Uchida
vs
Xinhai

164 cm
21
144 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

169 cm
20
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $75)

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takuma Uchida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yang Xinhai!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xinhai throws a hook to the side of Uchida's head but Uchida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Xinhai cracks Uchida with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Xinhai throws the left hand but Uchida avoids the punch easily.
Xinhai swinging wildly here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Xinhai.
Xinhai checks a leg kick nicely.
Xinhai lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Uchida shoots in for a takedown but Xinhai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Xinhai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Uchida was well out of range. Poor timing from Xinhai.
Xinhai tries to land a leg kick but Uchida saw it coming and moves away.
Yang Xinhai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xinhai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Uchida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Xinhai circles away quickly and effectively.
A clash of legs there as Xinhai blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xinhai misses with a looping left.
Xinhai tries a head kick but it misses.
Xinhai tries a low kick but Uchida avoids it.
Uchida keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Uchida stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Xinhai.
Uchida buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Uchida feints and then cracks Xinhai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Xinhai down.
Uchida on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Xinhai. Xinhai obviously looking to wear him down.

Uchida shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Xinhai wants to control but Uchida is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Uchida seems to be working for a kimura but Xinhai defends the submission attempt.
Xinhai is trying to control but can't.

Uchida is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Xinhai sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Uchida is looking to advance position but Xinhai won't allow it.
Uchida content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Uchida missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Uchida is looking for a kimura here.
Xinhai is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Uchida maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Xinhai could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Uchida has cracked it and Xinhai is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Uchida!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Takuma Uchida!
An out of breath Takuma Uchida thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.