PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenuichio Harada (ranked 125 p4p, 14 weight class) and Ueda Umanouke (ranked 814 p4p, 104 weight class). Umanouke has chosen Kenji Kawai's Making of a Cyborg as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Harada
vs
Umanouke

199 cm
39
250 lbs
33 - 20 - 1

190 cm
36
280 lbs
30 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 20 - 1, fighting out of London, Kenuichio Harada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Ueda Umanouke!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Umanouke lands with a good body shot.
Harada lands an overhand right.

It looks like Ueda Umanouke has been cut.
Harada tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Umanouke was well out of range. Poor timing from Harada.
Umanouke tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Harada with a jab.
Umanouke throws the left hand but Harada avoids the punch easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harada stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Umanouke successfully pulls guard.

Umanouke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Umanouke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Umanouke keeping moving, preventing Harada from controlling successfully.

Umanouke 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.
Harada looking to pass the guard.

Umanouke is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Harada is aware though and is defending well.

Umanouke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Harada has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Harada is looking to work some ground and pound but Umanouke has wrist control.

Umanouke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Harada trying to control but Umanouke is working from the bottom.

Umanouke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Harada doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Harada manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harada tries to free his leg and advance position but Umanouke is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Umanouke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harada defends well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Harada throwing strikes from guard but Umanouke blocks nicely.
Harada looking to pass the guard.
Harada wants to control from the top but Umanouke keeps moving.
Harada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Umanouke is looking for a triangle here but Harada uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Umanouke manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Harada is looking to advance position but Umanouke won't allow it.
Umanouke moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Umanouke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Harada gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Harada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Umanouke working for a triangle but Harada defends it easily.
Harada is in close to Umanouke's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harada wants to control from the top but Umanouke keeps moving.
Umanouke keeping full guard, as Harada tries to pass.
Harada sitting in guard here, content to control.
Harada throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Umanouke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Harada trying to control the position from guard on top but Umanouke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harada connects with a couple of short punches.
Our spies down at at ~T~ Troid - Gym inform us that Umanouke has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Harada sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Umanouke's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Umanouke tries to get to full guard but Harada has control of the leg.

Umanouke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Harada pulls his head out easily.
Harada missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenuichio Harada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
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.

Harada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Umanouke.
Umanouke keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Umanouke throws a hook but Harada blocks it.
Umanouke scores with a hook.
Umanouke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harada as he jumps to the side.
Harada gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Umanouke.

Umanouke closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Harada quickly recovers to half guard.
Harada slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Harada keeping moving, preventing Umanouke from controlling successfully.
Harada wants to sweep here but Umanouke controlling him for the moment.
Umanouke looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Harada looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Umanouke forces his way into half guard.
Umanouke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Harada is trying to get back to full guard.
Umanouke is looking to take a break and control but Harada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umanouke tries to pass the half guard into mount. Harada knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Harada is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harada is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Umanouke scores with a couple of nice shots.
Umanouke moves into full mount! Harada won't be happy about that!
Harada manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Harada is trying to get back to full guard.

Harada looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Umanouke works his way into full mount!
Umanouke can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harada is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harada is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Umanouke cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Umanouke wants to take his opponent's back but Harada doesn't allow it.
Harada is working to get back to half guard.
Harada is squirming around, avoiding Umanouke's attempts to control the action.
Harada regains half guard.
Harada wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harada makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Harada.
Harada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Umanouke is one step ahead there.
Umanouke passes Harada's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Umanouke frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Umanouke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Umanouke is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Umanouke is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Harada can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ueda Umanouke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Harada defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Umanouke.
A punch lands to the side of Harada 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Umanouke misses with a looping left.
Nice defenses there by Harada.
Umanouke throws an overhand right that lands on Harada's shoulder, as Harada tries to avoid the shot.
Harada misses with a straight left.
Harada bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That has opened up Ueda Umanouke's cut even more.
Umanouke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harada has time to react.
Umanouke lands with a shot to the body.

Umanouke moves into range and clinches up with Harada.
Harada blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Harada.
Harada misses with a punch to the body.
Umanouke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Umanouke tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Harada just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Umanouke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Harada blocks a body shot from Umanouke.
Harada tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Harada lands a body punch.
Umanouke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Umanouke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harada tries to throw a body punch but Umanouke avoids it by throwing Harada back against the cage.
Harada misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Harada.
Umanouke lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Harada is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Umanouke can't fight it off and eventually Harada manages to take the fight to the floor. Umanouke looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Harada is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Umanouke has an active guard here but Harada has managed to pass into half guard.
Ueda Umanouke has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Harada lands a nice short elbow.
Harada is looking to take a break and control but Umanouke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umanouke moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harada trying to control but Umanouke is working from the bottom.

The cut above Ueda Umanouke's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ueda Umanouke's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kenuichio Harada!
Kenuichio Harada looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Who's next!!! I want that money fight now!'.
In defeat, Ueda Umanouke stepped up to the mic, saying 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You can't do anything without risking something. I will be back to avenge my honor.'.