PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Noriaki Ueyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morgan Bunch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ueyama kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Whispered - Blindfold. This should be fireworks!

Ueyama
vs
Bunch

168 cm
25
143 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

164 cm
29
141 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Noriaki Ueyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Morgan Bunch!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bunch looks to land a left hand but Ueyama moved out of range nicely.
Bunch takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ueyama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bunch misses with an uppercut
and Ueyama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bunch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ueyama.
Ueyama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bunch misses with an uppercut.
Ueyama drops his hands momentarily and Bunch takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ueyama swings for the body but Bunch moves out of range.
Ueyama jabs at Bunch's body.
Bunch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Morgan Bunch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Bunch misses.
Ueyama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bunch throws out the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bunch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ueyama takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice body punch from Ueyama.
Ueyama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bunch.
Bunch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ueyama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ueyama.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.
Bunch misses with a right hand
and Ueyama counters with a nice body shot.
Ueyama scores with a leg kick.
Bunch looks gassed!
Bunch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bunch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bunch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ueyama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ueyama connects with an inside leg kick.
Bunch throws a jab but it's blocked by Ueyama.
A lazy left from Ueyama finds it's target.
Ueyama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bunch throws a big shot that misses.
Bunch moves forwards but Ueyama connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Good shot there by Ueyama.
Ueyama works Bunch's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama throws out a powerful jab.
Ueyama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ueyama digs a good hook to Bunch's body.
Ueyama is looking to wear down Bunch with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ueyama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ueyama blocks a jab.
Ueyama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bunch might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ueyama connects with a body shot.
Bunch ducks right into an uppercut from Ueyama.
Bunch takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bunch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ueyama sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ueyama throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bunch's head.
Ueyama moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ueyama scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bunch doesn't seem bothered though.
Ueyama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ueyama thuds a left hand into Bunch's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama scores with a nice strike.
Ueyama lands with a shot to the body.
Bunch throws an off balance right hand
and Ueyama counters with a head kick.
Bunch takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ueyama lands a nice shot to the body.
Ueyama cracks a nice hook into Bunch's ribs.
Ueyama throws a head kick that misses.
Ueyama throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice inside leg kick there by Ueyama. That's going to slow Bunch down.
Ueyama keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ueyama scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a head kick.
Ueyama sizes up Bunch with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunch wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bunch with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ueyama to score with a decent uppercut.
A big right from Bunch misses.
Ueyama bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bunch's head.
Ueyama throws a head kick that misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Ueyama as he connects with a hook.
A big right from Bunch misses.
Ueyama connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Bunch thows a body shot but no joy.
Bunch connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ueyama thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bunch swinging wildly here.
Ueyama defending well as Bunch loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noriaki Ueyama dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ueyama is looking to score with low kicks.
Bunch swings widly with a right hand
and Ueyama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bunch tries to move into range but Ueyama moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice body kick there by Ueyama.
Bunch moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bunch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ueyama.
Bunch throws a hook but Ueyama avoids it easily.
Bunch fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ueyama on the side of the head.
Ueyama looks to score with a jab to the body but Bunch is just out of range.
Bunch slips a jab and a cross from Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a body punch
and Bunch counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bunch is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bunch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bunch misses with a looping left.
Ueyama pushes Bunch away with a front kick.
Bunch is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ueyama lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bunch's sensitive parts.
Noriaki Ueyama is winning the standup battle so far.
Ueyama throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bunch stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A punch combination from Ueyama misses.
Bunch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ueyama.
Ueyama blocks a jab.
Ueyama has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Bunch looks to land a right hand but Ueyama moved out of range.
Bunch checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ueyama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bunch.
A big left from Bunch misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Bunch misses the target.
Ueyama connects with a body shot that sends Bunch's belly button to the back.
Bunch misses with a hook to the body
and Ueyama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bunch's knee momentarily.
Ueyama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ueyama misses with a wild body shot.
Bunch lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ueyama.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bunch connects with a crisp jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Ueyama.
Ueyama lands a nice hook to Bunch's body. Bunch takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ueyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bunch.
Bunch throws a hook but Ueyama blocks it.
Ueyama lands a high kick!
Ueyama connects with an inside leg kick.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.
Bunch misses with a hook.
Ueyama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice cross by Bunch.
Ueyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama scores with a nice strike.
A big left from Bunch misses.
Bunch avoids the head kick by Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a series of wild punches.
Bunch lands with a nice body punch.
Ueyama moves out of range of the strikes.
Ueyama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bunch was well out of range. Poor timing from Ueyama.
Ueyama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bunch throws a looping overhand right but Ueyama ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Bunch misses.
Bunch lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bunch throws a right and a left that Ueyama avoids nicely.
Bunch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunch misses with a left hand
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Ueyama counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ueyama scores with a head kick. Bunch tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ueyama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bunch.
Bunch throws a combination that misses
and Ueyama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ueyama scores with a leg kick.
Ueyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bunch.
Ueyama ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bunch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ueyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ueyama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bunch checks a low kick from Ueyama.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circling - Bunch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bunch misses with a left hand
and Ueyama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bunch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noriaki Ueyama dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bunch takes a swing at Ueyama's ribcage but misses.
Bunch misses with a straight left.
Bunch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ueyama throws out the jab.
Bunch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ueyama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bunch is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bunch thuds a left hand into Ueyama's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ueyama. Bunch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bunch misses the jab.
Bunch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ueyama manages to avoid it.
Ueyama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bunch misses with a hook. Ueyama ducked under it nicely.
Bunch cracks Ueyama with an open hand slap.
Bunch throws a body punch but Ueyama moves out of range.
Bunch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ueyama lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bunch throws a hook but Ueyama avoids it easily.
Bunch takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ueyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bunch. Ueyama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bunch cracks Ueyama with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ueyama uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bunch.
Jab, jab by Ueyama - just one landing.
Bunch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bunch throws a lazy right hand but Ueyama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bunch thows a body shot but no joy.
Ueyama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ueyama lands with a cross.
Bunch throws a poor cross that misses
and Ueyama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ueyama lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama throws a shot to the body.
Bunch blocks a jab.
Ueyama thumps Bunch with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Ueyama lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bunch doesn't seem phased though.
Bunch has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.
Ueyama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bunch can do to turn this around?
Ueyama walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bunch checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ueyama connects with an inside leg kick.
Ueyama scores with a jab to the body.
Ueyama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bunch.
Bunch misses with a hook. Ueyama ducked under it nicely.
Ueyama misses with a head kick.
Bunch misses with a lunging right hand
and Ueyama counters with a low kick, right behind Bunch 's knee.
Bunch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ueyama.
Ueyama scores with a sloppy right hand. Bunch should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama takes one to the chin there.
Ueyama tries a low kick but Bunch avoids it.
Ueyama misses with a left hand
and Bunch counters with a straight right hand.
Bunch swings for the body but Ueyama moves out of range.
Ueyama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slow jab from Bunch misses its intended target.
Bunch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bunch cracks Ueyama with a good jab.
Bunch misses with an uppercut. Ueyama saw that one coming.
Ueyama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ueyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bunch.
Bunch misses with a double jab.
Ueyama scores with a hook.
Noriaki Ueyama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ueyama.
Bunch avoids the body shot from Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a wild body shot.
Bunch thows a body shot but no joy.
Ueyama lands a jab to the head.
Bunch looks to throw the jab but Ueyama is out of range.
Bunch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ueyama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bunch has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bunch throws a poor cross that misses
and Ueyama counters with a nice uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ueyama.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ueyama pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bunch back to the cage. Ueyama follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ueyama lands a leg kick that knocks Bunch off balance momentarily.
Ueyama just misses with a punch to the body.
Morgan Bunch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ueyama lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bunch at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noriaki Ueyama showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ueyama has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noriaki Ueyama!