PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Merel (ranked 599 p4p, 79 weight class) and Kagekatsu Uesugi (ranked 248 p4p, 39 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Merel
vs
Uesugi

181 cm
27
177 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

182 cm
26
174 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Merel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kagekatsu Uesugi!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Merel misses
and Uesugi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Merel looks to land a left hand but Uesugi moved out of range nicely.
Merel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Merel.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jack Merel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uesugi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Merel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Uesugi looks to land a right hand but Merel moved out of range.
Merel half committed to a counter leg kick.
Uesugi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Merel cracks Uesugi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Merel thumps Uesugi with a low kick.
Merel has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Damage Inc. in the buildup to the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Merel is looking to chop away at Uesugi's legs.
Uesugi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Uesugi lands a nice shot that snaps Merel's head back.
Uesugi fails to land with a series of punches.
Merel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Uesugi doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Merel was well out of range. Poor timing from Uesugi.
Uesugi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A counter left hand to the body from Merel misses its target.
Merel listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Merel looks to score with a jab to the body but Uesugi is just out of range.
Uesugi moves away from the strike by Merel.
Merel misses with a low kick.
Merel misses with a looping right.
Uesugi clobbers Merel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Uesugi misses with an uppercut
and Merel counters with a nice uppercut.
Uesugi moves in looking to clinch but Merel pushes him off.
Uesugi thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Uesugi misses the target.
Merel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Uesugi throws a body punch but Merel moves out of range.
Uesugi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Uesugi just misses with a punch to the body.
Merel appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Merel slips a straight right by Uesugi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi misses with a hook. Merel ducked under it nicely.
Merel fires out a quick counter leg kick but Uesugi just manages to avoid it.
Uesugi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Merel to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merel misses with a shot to the body
and Uesugi counters with a straight right hand.
Uesugi slips a jab from Merel.
Uesugi wants to clinch up but Merel keeps it at a distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Merel, as that shot connected.
Merel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Uesugi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Uesugi misses with a hook
and Merel counters with a nice uppercut.
A cross from Uesugi lands.
Uesugi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merel tries a head kick but it misses.
Uesugi misses with a body shot.
Uesugi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Uesugi misses with a body shot.

Uesugi closes the distance and clinches.
Uesugi misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Merels head.

Merel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Merel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by Merel there.
Merel looks to score with a jab to the body but Uesugi is just out of range.
Uesugi throws out a loose jab but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Uesugi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Uesugi looks to throw the jab but Merel is out of range.
Merel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uesugi moves out of range as Merel strikes.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merel's jab looks to have found its range, popping Uesugi under the eye.
Merel takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
That kick from Merel tenderised Uesugi's leg. Uesugi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Uesugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Uesugi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi misses the body punch
and Merel counters with a slapping leg kick.
Uesugi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Uesugi.
Merel takes a swing at Uesugi's ribcage but misses.
Merel uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Uesugi has time to react.
Merel jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Merel takes one on the button.
Merel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Merel throws a jab but it's blocked by Uesugi.
Uesugi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Uesugi looks to score with a jab to the body but Merel is just out of range.
Merel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Uesugi's head backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uesugi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Uesugi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Merel doesn't seem bothered though.
Uesugi catches Merel with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Merel tries to score with a low kick but Uesugi moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Merel will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Merel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Uesugi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Merel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Uesugi was well out of range. Poor timing from Merel.
Uesugi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merel.
Merel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Uesugi.
Merel misses with a leg kick
and Uesugi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Uesugi swings for the body but Merel moves out of range.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Uesugi.
Merel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Uesugi.
Uesugi lands with a good body shot.
Merel just misses with a punch to the body.
Uesugi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Merel throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi lands with a cross.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Uesugi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Uesugi.
Merel misses with a right hand

and Uesugi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Uesugi.
Uesugi tries to work over Merel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Merel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merel cracks Uesugi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Uesugi tries to bum rush Merel with a series of wild strikes but Merel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Merel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Uesugi misses with a hook.
Merel looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Merel misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Uesugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Merel throws a body shot but no joy.
Merel scores with a hook to the body. Uesugi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Uesugi takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi misses with a left hand
and Merel counters with a left to the body.
Uesugi defending well as Merel loads up on a big left hand.
Merel misses with a wild body shot.

Uesugi pushes Merel up against the cage in a clinch.
Uesugi works on Merel's body with a couple of short punches.
Merel is looking to break free of the clinch but Uesugi has double underhooks.
Merel wants to get back to striking at distance but Uesugi won't allow it.
Uesugi misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Uesugi.
Merel misses with a punch to the body.
Uesugi scores with a hook to the body.
Merel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Uesugi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Good body shot from Uesugi.
A shot in the inside from Uesugi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Uesugi.
Merel lands a right hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Uesugi lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Merel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Uesugi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Uesugi misses with a punch to the body.
Uesugi just leaning against Merel, taking a breather.
Merel misses with a punch to the body.
Uesugi tries a body shot but Merel blocks it.
Uesugi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Merel prevents a body shot from Uesugi.
Uesugi swings wildly with an uppercut but Merel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Uesugi's elbow.
Merel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Merel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Merel looks to throw the jab but Uesugi is out of range.
Merel misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Uesugi moves into the clinch.
Merel misses with a punch on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel is looking to break free of the clinch but Uesugi has double underhooks.
Merel wants to get back to striking at distance but Uesugi won't allow it.

Merel's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Uesugi misses with a wild body shot.
Merel seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Merel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Uesugi.
Uesugi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Merel lands a nice hook to Uesugi's body. Uesugi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Merel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Uesugi.
Uesugi misses with an uppercut. Merel saw that one coming.
Uesugi throws a looping overhand right but Merel ducks down to avoid it.
Merel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Uesugi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Uesugi loads up on a big right hand but Merel slips the punch.
Merel scores with a jab. Uesugi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Merel gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slow jab from Uesugi misses its intended target.
Merel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Uesugi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kagekatsu Uesugi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Uesugi cracks a nice hook into Merel's ribs.
Merel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Uesugi swings for the body but Merel moves out of range.
Merel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merel misses with a hook.
Merel misses with a body punch
and Uesugi counters with a nice uppercut.
Jack Merel is winning the standup battle so far.
Uesugi misses with a hook to the body
and Merel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Merel stuns Uesugi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Merel darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Uesugi misses with a hook.
Uesugi throws an overhand right that lands on Merel's shoulder, as Merel tries to avoid the shot.
Uesugi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Merel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uesugi connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uesugi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Merel swings for the body but Uesugi moves out of range.
Merel misses with a body shot.
Uesugi throws a body punch but Merel moves out of range.
Merel was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Merel is looking to wear down Uesugi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Merel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merel has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Uesugi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Merel throws a body shot but no joy.
Uesugi moves away from the strike by Merel.
Uesugi misses with a wild body shot.
Merel scores with a nice right hand.
Merel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Uesugi manages to avoid it.
Uesugi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Uesugi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Merel gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Uesugi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Uesugi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Merel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Uesugi.
Uesugi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Merel misses the target.
Merel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Merel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Uesugi.
Merel lands with an overhand left.
Merel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Uesugi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Merel throws a right hand that misses
and Uesugi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Merel ducks under a wild hook from Uesugi.
Merel slips under a jab from Uesugi.
Uesugi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel scores with a body shot.
Uesugi looks to throw the jab but Merel is out of range.
Merel is looking to counter with head kicks.
Merel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Uesugi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Merel digs a good body shot into Uesugi's ribs.
Merel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Uesugi throws the left hand but Merel avoids the punch easily.
Uesugi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uesugi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Merel lands a right hook to the body.
Merel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Uesugi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Uesugi.
Uesugi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Merel staying out of range there.
Uesugi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merel drops his hands momentarily and Uesugi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Uesugi moves away.
A swing and a miss from Uesugi.

Uesugi closes the distance and clinches.

Merel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Uesugi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Merel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Uesugi doesn't seem bothered though.
Uesugi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merel misses with a body shot.
Uesugi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merel.
Uesugi throws a series of strikes that have Merel backpedaling.
Uesugi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merel.
Uesugi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Merel lands with a right hand.
Merel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Uesugi moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kagekatsu Uesugi.
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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kagekatsu Uesugi!
An out of breath and clearly excited Kagekatsu Uesugi thanked Vikai Gear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).