PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Morgan Wade (ranked 764 p4p, 607 weight class) and Ephram Urani (ranked 96 p4p, 74 weight class). Wade kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Bleeding. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Wade
vs
Urani

175 cm
37
163
33 - 22 - 3

165 cm
33
158
24 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 22 - 3, fighting out of New York, Morgan Wade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ephram Urani!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wade has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Urani.
A big left from Urani misses.
Urani has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Some wild striking there from Urani.
Nice defenses there by Wade.
Urani ducks under a wild hook from Wade.
Wade shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Urani fails to land with a series of punches.
Wade takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wade throws a series of strikes that have Urani backpedaling.

It looks like Ephram Urani has been cut.
Wade misses with a hook.
Urani appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Urani pushes Wade away with a front kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Urani.
A good leg kick by Urani.
Urani throws a wild body kick that Wade sees coming a mile off.
A cross from Urani lands.
Wade throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've been told by Wade's head coaches at Rickys House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Urani throws a sloppy head kick and Wade moves out of range easily.
Wade throws a lazy right hand but Urani sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Urani unleashes a big counter combination but Wade bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A bone on bone clash there as Urani blocks the leg kick.
Urani checks a leg kick.
Wade with a nice cross.
Jab, jab by Urani - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wade throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little jabbing left from Urani on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Wade misses with a looping left.
Wade slips under a jab.
Urani darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Urani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Morgan Wade seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wade throws a lazy right hand but Urani sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wade missing with a left hand there. Urani was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Urani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wade misses with an uppercut.
Urani throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Wade's head.
Wade throws a leg kick
enabling Urani to counter with a crisp jab.
Urani smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wade misses the shot to the body.
Urani clobbers Wade with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wade uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Urani.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wade looks to land a left hand but Urani moved out of range nicely.
Wade lands a jab.
Wade throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wade fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A big right from Urani misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wade bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Urani avoids the body shot from Wade.
Urani throws out a counter right but Wade avoids it with no problem.
Urani takes a swing at Wade's ribcage but misses.
Urani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wade.
Urani scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Urani stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Urani is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Wade had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Wade shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Urani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wade manages to avoid it.
Wade throws a leg kick that is checked
and Urani counters with a left to the body.
Urani throws a wild body kick that Wade sees coming a mile off.
Urani thuds a left hand into Wade's body.
Wade doesn't manage to clinch there - Urani circles away.
Wade misses the jab.
Wade lands with a right hand.
Wade moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Urani lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Urani throws out a loose jab but Wade uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wade swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wade scores with a push kick.
Urani is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wade swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wade loads up on a big right hand but Urani slips the punch.
Wade fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.
Urani tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wade was well out of range. Poor timing from Urani.
Wade takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wade waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Urani.
Wade has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Urani.
Wade needs to keep his hands up - Urani had a free shot at his head there.
Urani throws a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Wade misses the target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Urani! But no joy.
Wade moves away from the strike by Urani.
Urani connects with a right hand. Wade shakes it off.
Wade misses with a straight right.
Wade misses with a straight left.
Wade drops his hands momentarily and Urani takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wade on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Urani. Urani obviously looking to wear him down.
Wade misses with a hook. Urani ducked under it nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice defenses there by Urani.
Urani checks a low kick from Wade.
Urani slips a straight right by Wade.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urani lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Urani lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Urani has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wade.
A big right from Urani misses.
Urani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wade.
Urani appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Wade throws a front kick that sends Urani stumbling back into the cage.
Nice uppercut lands for Wade. That snapped Urani's head back.
Urani connects with a body shot that sends Wade's belly button to the back.
Wade turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wade misses with a two punch combination.
Wade is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Urani.
Wade lands with an overhand left.
Urani throws a jab but it's blocked by Wade.
Wade lands a body shot.
Wade misses the jab.
Urani follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Urani slips under a jab from Wade.
Wade misses with an uppercut.
Urani lands a nice shot that snaps Wade's head back.
Wade blocks a head kick by Urani.
A good leg kick by Urani.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ephram Urani will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ephram Urani's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Urani lands a really nice looking cross but Wade seems unphased.
Wade tries to land a leg kick but Urani saw it coming and moves away.
A big left from Urani misses.
Urani staying out of range there.
Urani slips a straight right by Wade.
Wade catches Urani with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Urani stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wade is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Wade listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Urani listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Urani moves away from the strike by Wade.
Urani ducks under a wild hook from Wade.
Urani looks to score with a jab to the body but Wade is just out of range.
Urani moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wade throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Urani swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Wade.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some bone on bone action there as Urani checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Wade tries to bum rush Urani with a series of wild strikes but Urani uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wade blocks a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Wade darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Urani lands a nice shot that snaps Wade's head back.
Ephram Urani seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wade misses with a left hand
and Urani counters with a nice leg kick.
Wade walks into a left hand.
Wade looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Wade throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Urani sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A low kick lands for Wade.
Wade fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wade misses with a hook. Urani ducked under it nicely.
Wade misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wade avoids a kick to the body.
Urani blocks a jab.
Wade lands with a thumping leg kick.
Urani bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Urani moves into the clinch.

Wade breaks from the clinch.
Urani has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Urani there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wade looks to land a right hand but Urani moved out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Urani lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Urani paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wade throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Urani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Urani scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wade stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Urani.
A leg kick checked by Urani.
Wade avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Wade looks to score with a jab to the body but Urani is just out of range.
Urani swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice straight punches there by Wade. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Wade.
Wade fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Urani checks it well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Urani! But no joy.
Wade throws a front kick that sends Urani stumbling back into the cage.

Urani closes the distance and clinches.
Wade has had enough of the clinch but Urani keeps him there for the moment.
Urani lands a right hand.
A frustrated look appears on Wade's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wade misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wade.
Urani misses with the head strike.
Wade is trying to break free.

Wade escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Urani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wade fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Urani checks it well.
Wade just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Urani walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wade throws the kick towards the body but Urani avoids it.
Urani throws out a counter right but Wade avoids it with no problem.
Urani is looking to land body kicks.
Wade changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wade on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Urani scores with a nice strike.
Wade is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Urani.
Wade on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wade looks to land a left hand but Urani moved out of range nicely.
Urani looks to score with a jab to the body but Wade is just out of range.
Wade drops his hands momentarily and Urani takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Wade misses with an uppercut. Urani saw that one coming.
Urani looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Wade changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Urani with a nice cross.
Jab, jab by Wade - just one landing.
Wade lands a glancing blow to the side of Urani's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Urani misses the target.
Wade lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Urani circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wade throws a series of punches but Urani avoids them all with ease.
Wade throws a hook to the side of Urani's head but Urani sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Urani checks the leg kick nicely there.
A little jabbing left from Urani on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Wade throws a jab but it's blocked by Urani.
A head kick misses from Wade.
Urani works Wade's body with a nice hook.
Wade tries to clinch but Urani is having none of it.
Nice defenses there by Urani.
Decent striking displayed by Wade there.
Wade misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wade tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Urani is able to avoid easily.
A nice side step and Urani releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Urani is looking to clinch.
Urani lands a leg kick that knocks Wade off balance momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An inside leg kick lands from Urani.
Wade wants to land a leg kick but Urani is out of range.
Wade tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Urani is able to avoid easily.
The fighters circling - Wade throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Urani looks to land a right hand but Wade moved out of range.
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 Morgan Wade will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ephram Urani's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Wade throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A leg kick checked by Urani.
Urani jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wade misses with an uppercut.
Wade pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Urani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Urani looks to throw the jab but Wade is out of range.
Wade throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Urani fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Wade is out of range.
Wade misses with a hook. Urani ducked under it nicely.
Urani's jab looks to have found its range, popping Wade under the eye.
Wade takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wade is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Urani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Wade.
Nice defenses there by Wade.
Wade keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Urani.
Wade checks a leg kick.
Wade lands with a nice body punch.
Urani moves away from the strike by Wade.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wade fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urani feints and then cracks Wade's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Wade down.
Urani checks a low kick from Wade.
Urani misses the shot to the body.
Urani thows a leg kick but Wade checks it
and Wade counters with a straight right hand.
Urani misses the jab.
Wade throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wade dips to his left and cracks Urani with an uppercut!
Urani misses with a few strikes there.
Wade needs to keep his hands up - Urani had a free shot at his head there.
Urani displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wade throws out the jab.
Wade misses with a two punch combination.
A big right from Wade misses.
An inside leg kick from Wade misses.
Wade tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Urani was well out of range. Poor timing from Wade.
Urani swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Urani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Urani misses with a wild combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Urani throws out a loose jab but Wade uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Wade crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Urani - the referee stops the clock and Wade gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Urani. Wade manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Wade throws a body shot but no joy.
A swing and a miss from Wade.
Urani throws the left hand but Wade avoids the punch easily.
Urani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Urani lands with a good body shot.
Urani gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Urani tries to clinch but Wade is having none of it.
Wade fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Urani manages to avoid it.
Wade throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Urani jabs at Wade's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wade throws a poor cross that misses
and Urani cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wade lands a glancing blow to the side of Urani's head.
Wade scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Wade misses its intended target.
Wade throws the left hand but Urani avoids the punch easily.
Wade throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Urani to counter with a crisp jab.
Urani scores with a nice strike.
Urani throws a right and a left that Wade avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Urani closes the distance and clinches.
Wade misses with a punch to the body.
Urani misses with a hook to the ribs.
Urani is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Urani.
Urani lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wade is trying to break the clinch but Urani has him pressed against the cage.
Wade blocks a body shot from Urani.
Urani pushes Wade back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Urani.
Urani is stalling here.
Nice body punch from Urani - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Urani.
Still in the clinch, Urani scores with a nice short uppercut.
Urani lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Urani on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Urani lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Wade or not.
Wade letting Urani take a breather here.
Urani jumps guard but Wade turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Urani stalling the fight.
Urani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wade is looking to break free of the clinch but Urani has double underhooks.
Urani has Wade pressed against the cage, preventing Wade from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Wade escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Wade misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Urani.
Wade drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wade throws the left hand but Urani avoids the punch easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ephram Urani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Urani has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ephram Urani!