PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Hentschel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takuma Uchida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uchida has chosen Pride as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hentschel
vs
Uchida

174 cm
25
146 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

164 cm
21
144 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stefan Hentschel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takuma Uchida!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uchida looks for the body kick but Hentschel saw that one coming.
Uchida throws a leg kick but Hentschel sees it coming and moves out of range.
Uchida tries for a takedown but Hentschel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Uchida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Uchida fails with the takedown.
A head kick by Uchida misses
and Hentschel counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hentschel is looking to slow Uchida down with leg kicks.
Uchida throws a lazy body kick
and Hentschel counters with a stiff right hand.
Uchida takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A cross from Hentschel lands.
Uchida throws a head kick but Hentschel moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uchida shoots and misses
and Hentschel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stefan Hentschel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takuma Uchida.

Uchida shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hentschel napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hentschel tries to escape but Uchida is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hentschel dodges the ground and pound from Uchida.
Hentschel pushes Uchida away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Uchida gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Uchida tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hentschel regains half guard there - taking advantage of Uchida's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Hentschel is defending against the submission attempts here by Uchida.
Uchida seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uchida is looking to take a break and control but Hentschel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Uchida trying to control from Hentschel's half guard. Hentschel has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Uchida trying to control the position from guard on top but Hentschel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uchida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Uchida is looking to pass into half guard but Hentschel pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hentschel is in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hentschel lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hentschel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Uchida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hentschel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hentschel trying to control but Uchida is working from the bottom.
Hentschel throwing strikes from guard but Uchida blocks nicely.

Uchida is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hentschel is aware though and is defending well.
Hentschel cracks Uchida with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Uchida working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hentschel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hentschel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hentschel pushes down on Uchida's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Uchida wants to control the action here but instead Hentschel manages to pass to full mount!
Uchida is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hentschel landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hentschel scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Uchida tries to lock up and control but Hentschel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hentschel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Uchida is in all sorts of trouble here.
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 Stefan Hentschel will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Uchida on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hentschel fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Uchida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hentschel avoids it really well and circles away.
Hentschel scoring well with a low kick there.
Hentschel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hentschel wants it to stay on the feet.
Hentschel cracks Uchida with a good jab.
Uchida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hentschel's jab looks to have found its range, popping Uchida under the eye.
Hentschel pushes Uchida away with a front kick.
Hentschel misses with the combination.
Stefan Hentschel is winning the standup battle so far.

Hentschel feints and as Uchida raises his hands in defense, Hentschel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uchida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hentschel with a nice head shot there.
Hentschel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hentschel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hentschel throws an elbow that misses. Uchida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hentschel's guard. Nice move by Uchida!
Hentschel wants to sweep here but Uchida controlling him for the moment.
Uchida works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uchida passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hentschel!
Uchida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hentschel's face.
Hentschel avoids a series of strikes thrown by Uchida.
Hentschel tries to hold on but Uchida pushes him away.
Hentschel is squirming around, avoiding Uchida's attempts to control the action.
Hentschel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Uchida tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uchida tries to control but Hentschel wriggling away.
Uchida looking to control and managing it successfully.
Uchida can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hentschel is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Uchida is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hentschel has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hentschel!
Hentschel postures up.
Hentschel stopping the sweep attempt from Uchida.

Uchida looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hentschel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Hentschel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hentschel lands a jab-cross combination.
Uchida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hentschel lands a jab to Uchida's midsection.
Hentschel misses with a kick to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hentschel.
Hentschel working the ground and pound but Uchida is defending the strikes.
Hentschel working the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Uchida tries to improve position but can't.
Uchida taking a bit of punishment here - Hentschel scoring with strikes.
Uchida taking a bit of punishment here - Hentschel scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hentschel working the head with strikes.
Uchida tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hentschel presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Uchida sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hentschel is trying to control. Uchida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hentschel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Uchida is trying to get back to full guard.
Uchida is staying active underneath Hentschel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hentschel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hentschel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Takuma Uchida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uchida trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Uchida is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Hentschel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hentschel raining down shots from the mount!
Uchida is trying desperately to improve position.
Uchida tries to hold on but Hentschel postures up.
Hentschel working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hentschel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Uchida working to try and regain half guard.
Hentschel landing shots from mount.
Hentschel working the ground and pound effectively.
Hentschel is landing with some decent strikes but Uchida is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hentschel tries to control but Uchida wriggling away.
Hentschel landing strikes from the mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hentschel landing punches.
Hentschel landing shots from mount.
Uchida is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stefan Hentschel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uchida is working to get back to half guard.
Uchida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Uchida wants to hold on but Hentschel pushes him away.
Stefan Hentschel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hentschel controlling the pace for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hentschel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Hentschel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hentschel 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Hentschel!
Stefan Hentschel decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.