PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeeJay Kawana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasuke Uchica (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Kawana
vs
Uchica

218 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, DeeJay Kawana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sasuke Uchica!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawana throws an overhand right that lands on Uchica's shoulder, as Uchica tries to avoid the shot.
Uchica misses with a head kick.
Kawana really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Uchica plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Kawana is rocked!
Uchica shoots in for a takedown but Kawana shows good takedown defense.
A nice leg kick lands there from Uchica.
Uchica keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Uchica shoots in but Kawana avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kawana moves out of range of the body kick from Uchica.
Kawana doesn't manage to clinch there - Uchica circles away.

Uchica gets the takedown into side control.
Oh Kawana is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Uchica decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kawana seems to have got his legs back now.
Uchica misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Kawana does no damage.
Kawana missing with a left hand there. Uchica was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Kawana has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uchica is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Uchica taking a breather.
Kawana wants to get back to striking at distance but Uchica won't allow it.

Kawana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Uchica takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Uchica looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Uchica throws a head kick but Kawana moves out of range.
Uchica feints and then cracks Kawana's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kawana down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Uchica tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawana swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Uchica throws a head kick that misses.
Uchica lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A nice combination there by Kawana.
Kawana misses with a combination
and Uchica counters with a low kick, right behind Kawana 's knee.

Kawana moves into the clinch.
Uchica wants to break free but Kawana has control.
Uchica tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
DeeJay Kawana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasuke Uchica.
Uchica looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uchica tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kawana just stands there and leans against the cage.
Uchica wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kawana lands a right hand.
Kawana scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kawana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Uchica has him pressed against the cage.
Kawana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kawana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kawana scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kawana wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Uchica has him pressed against the cage.
Kawana has a couple of punches blocked by Uchica.
Uchica tries to break the clinch but Kawana is controlling the position.
Uchica misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Kawana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Uchica looks for a takedown but Kawana sprawls well.
Kawana tries to close the distance and clinch up but Uchica swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawana scores with a nice body kick.
Kawana tries to clinch up
and Uchica counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawana lands with a nice combination. Uchica backs away looking to recover.
Kawana fails with an attempt to clinch.
DeeJay Kawana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawana tries to clinch there but Uchica circles away.
Kawana misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kawana punishes Uchica's body with a nice straight punch.
Uchica fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kawana scores with a jab to the jaw.
Uchica circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kawana misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawana looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good leg kick by Kawana there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Uchica shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kawana's guard.
Uchica has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kawana is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 DeeJay Kawana will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kawana scores with a kick to the body.

Kawana moves into range and clinches up with Uchica.
Uchica landing knees to the body.
Kawana is looking to control Uchica's arms but Uchica gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kawana has his back to the cage.

Uchica pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uchica wants to improve his position but instead Kawana has moved into half guard.
Uchica is trying to stand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Uchica is trying to maintain the position but Kawana is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uchica trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kawana manages to pass to mount!
Kawana content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Kawana goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Uchica is on top in guard.
Uchica prevents Kawana from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uchica wanted to stand there but Kawana had control of the position.
Kawana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Uchica is one step ahead there.
Kawana seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that DeeJay Kawana will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kawana clinches with his opponent.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Uchica landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Uchica throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Kawana.
Kawana wants to break free but Uchica has control.
Kawana scores with a hook to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Uchica.
Uchica wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kawana tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Uchica fails to pull guard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kawana creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawana scores with a shoulder strike.
Kawana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Uchica wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kawana breaks the clinch.
Kawana avoids the head kick by Uchica.
Uchica misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kawana misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawana lands a jab to Uchica's midsection.
Kawana tries to close the distance and clinch but Uchica swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kawana misses with a wild combination.

Kawana forces Uchica back against the cage and clinches.
Uchica wants to break free but Kawana has control.

Kawana breaks the clinch.
Nice shot by Kawana.

Kawana moves into the clinch successfully.
Kawana looking to slow down the pace here.

Uchica breaks the clinch.
Uchica takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kawana fails with an attempt to clinch.

Uchica closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Uchica lands in his opponent's guard.
Uchica won't allow Kawana to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uchica wants to stand but Kawana has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kawana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawana pushes Uchica off and scrambles back to his feet.
Uchica gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kawana.
DeeJay Kawana is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Uchica shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kawana's guard.
Kawana will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kawana will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Uchica wanted to stand there but Kawana had control of the position.
DeeJay Kawana is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawana seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sasuke Uchica has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to DeeJay Kawana.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kawana, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sasuke Uchica!