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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Minoru Uesugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uesugi comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Fuel. Santa Cruz has chosen 50 cent P.I.M.P as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!
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| 177 cm
28
178 lbs
5 - 3 - 0 |
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180 cm
22
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin |
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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
5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Minoru Uesugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Franklyn Lucas.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uesugi throws a leg kick
and Santa Cruz counters with a slapping leg kick.
Uesugi misses with a two punch combination.
Uesugi takes a swing at Santa Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Santa Cruz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Uesugi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Santa Cruz avoids the body shot from Uesugi.
Uesugi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Uesugi avoids the head kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz scores with a spinning back kick!
Uesugi looks to score with a jab to the body but Santa Cruz is just out of range.
Santa Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
No joy there for Uesugi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A good leg kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uesugi throws a series of punches but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Uesugi throws an overhand right that lands on Santa Cruz's shoulder, as Santa Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Donk. Uesugi catches Santa Cruz right on the button with a cross.
Uesugi swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Uesugi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Uesugi misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The fighters circling - Uesugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Uesugi throws a series of punches but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Santa Cruz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Santa Cruz scores with a head kick. Uesugi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Uesugi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Uesugi wants to take a breather but Santa Cruz is having none of it.
Santa Cruz trying to control but Uesugi postures up.
Uesugi trying to control from half guard but Santa Cruz is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Santa Cruz trying to hold on to Uesugi's head to control him but Uesugi postures up.
Santa Cruz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Santa Cruz is staying active underneath Uesugi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santa Cruz gets back to full guard.
Uesugi wants to control from the top but Santa Cruz keeps moving.
Uesugi passes Santa Cruz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Santa Cruz trying to hold on to Uesugi's head to control him but Uesugi postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz won't allow Uesugi to pass to mount.
Uesugi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santa Cruz is not content to let Uesugi control the position.
Santa Cruz desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Uesugi trying to control the action but Santa Cruz is working from the bottom.
Uesugi uses his free foot to push down on Santa Cruz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz working to try and regain half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz tries to hold on but Uesugi pushes him away.
Uesugi wants to control the pace but Santa Cruz is squirming around nicely.
Santa Cruz is trying desperately to improve position.
Uesugi avoids the attempt from Santa Cruz to control.
Uesugi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Santa Cruz is looking to escape.
Santa Cruz is in a horrible position here. Uesugi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Minoru Uesugi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Uesugi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rafael Santa Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Santa Cruz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Santa Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Uesugi.
Uesugi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Santa Cruz circles away quickly and effectively.
Uesugi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Uesugi is looking to wear down Santa Cruz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Uesugi checks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Uesugi moves out of range easily.
Uesugi misses with a two punch combination.
Uesugi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Uesugi cracks a nice hook into Santa Cruz's ribs.
Minoru Uesugi is winning the standup battle so far.
Uesugi's corner calls for a 1-2. Uesugi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Uesugi looks to score with a jab to the body but Santa Cruz is just out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Santa Cruz, right into the meat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Santa Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Uesugi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santa Cruz.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Santa Cruz in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Santa Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Uesugi.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Uesugi's front leg but catches the back leg as Uesugi tries to avoid it.
Santa Cruz moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Santa Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Uesugi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Uesugi misses with a right hand
and Santa Cruz makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Uesugi misses with a left hand
and Santa Cruz counters with a thumping low kick.
Uesugi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Santa Cruz as he avoids it easily.
Uesugi lands a jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
That kick from Santa Cruz tenderised Uesugi's leg. Uesugi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Uesugi throws a combination that misses
and Santa Cruz counters with a low kick, right behind Uesugi 's knee.
A telegraphed right hand from Uesugi misses the target.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Uesugi in the body.
Minoru Uesugi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santa Cruz misses with a head kick.
Uesugi blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Uesugi misses with a double jab
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santa Cruz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Uesugi's head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Santa Cruz misses.
Santa Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uesugi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Santa Cruz.
Uesugi misses with an uppercut
and Santa Cruz counters with a low kick, right behind Uesugi 's knee.
Uesugi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santa Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santa Cruz moves out of range as Uesugi strikes.
Uesugi connects with a body shot.
Uesugi scores with a sloppy right hand. Santa Cruz should have avoided that one.
Santa Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Santa Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uesugi throws a lazy uppercut
and Santa Cruz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Uesugi dips to his left and cracks Santa Cruz with an uppercut!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi swings for the body but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz blocks a low kick nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Santa Cruz.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Uesugi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santa Cruz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Uesugi throws a jab when Santa Cruz was well out of range.
Uesugi misses with a straight right.
Santa Cruz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Uesugi misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz scores with a push kick.
Santa Cruz fakes the leg kick and cracks Uesugi in the body.
A head kick from Santa Cruz lands but Uesugi takes it in his stride.
Uesugi dives in and grabs Santa Cruz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Santa Cruz pushes down on Uesugi's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Santa Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Santa Cruz 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.
Santa Cruz paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Uesugi. Santa Cruz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santa Cruz feints and then cracks Uesugi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Uesugi down.
Uesugi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Uesugi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Santa Cruz scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Uesugi throws an overhand right that lands on Santa Cruz's shoulder, as Santa Cruz tries to avoid the shot.
Uesugi lands with a nice combination. Santa Cruz backs away looking to recover.
Uesugi misses with an uppercut. Santa Cruz saw that one coming.
Uesugi swings widly with a right hand
and Santa Cruz counters with a left to the body.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uesugi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santa Cruz can pounce on him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santa Cruz ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Santa Cruz drops his hands momentarily and Uesugi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rafael Santa Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Uesugi throws a lazy uppercut
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
Uesugi thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
A jab from Santa Cruz finds it's way through Uesugi's defenses.
No joy there for Uesugi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Uesugi misses with a looping right.
Santa Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Santa Cruz.
Uesugi throws a shot to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Uesugi looks to land a left hand but Santa Cruz moved out of range nicely.
Santa Cruz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Santa Cruz lands a really nice looking cross but Uesugi seems unphased.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz misses with a body shot.
Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Uesugi.
Uesugi misses with a left hand
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice leg kick.
Santa Cruz slips under a jab from Uesugi.
Santa Cruz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Uesugi lands a glancing blow to the side of Santa Cruz's head.
A combination from Uesugi does no damage.
Santa Cruz lands with a kick to the temple. Uesugi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking kick to the body. Uesugi takes a step back to recover.
Uesugi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Santa Cruz counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Santa Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Uesugi misses with a combination
and Santa Cruz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Uesugi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Santa Cruz misses with a head kick.
Uesugi throws an off balance right hand
and Santa Cruz finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Uesugi takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Uesugi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Uesugi misses with a series of wild punches.
Uesugi thows a body shot but no joy.
Santa Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santa Cruz lands a head kick. Uesugi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Santa Cruz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
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!
Santa Cruz 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.
Uesugi missing with a left hand there. Santa Cruz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Uesugi throws a poor cross that misses
and Santa Cruz counters with a nice body kick.
Santa Cruz lands with a slapping head kick.
Uesugi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Uesugi with a poor takedown
and Santa Cruz counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Uesugi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Uesugi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Santa Cruz scores with a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice defenses there by Santa Cruz.
Uesugi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Uesugi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Santa Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santa Cruz 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Santa Cruz!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Rafael Santa Cruz waved his t-shirt featuring [WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)'s logo in front of the cameras.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
83% |
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