PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kagekatsu Uesugi (ranked 615 p4p, 801 weight class) and Lazuran Riku (ranked 85 p4p, 105 weight class). 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?

Uesugi
vs
Riku

182 cm
37
166
32 - 16 - 0

175 cm
44
163
45 - 17 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 32 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kagekatsu Uesugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 45 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lazuran Riku!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Uesugi.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Uesugi finds it's way through Riku's defenses.
Uesugi loads up on a big right hand but Riku slips the punch.
Riku replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Uesugi blocks it well.
Riku misses with a jab to the body
and Uesugi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Uesugi takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Uesugi.
Uesugi lands a body shot.
Uesugi tries to throw a body punch but Riku avoids it by throwing Uesugi back against the cage.
Riku tries to break free but Uesugi pushes him back against the cage.
Riku lands a hook to the side of the head.

Riku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uesugi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Riku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Uesugi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riku.
Uesugi misses with a straight left.
Uesugi connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riku misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riku slips under a jab from Uesugi.
Riku looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kagekatsu Uesugi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uesugi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Riku throws out the jab.
Good work by Uesugi as he checks the leg kick.
Uesugi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riku manages to avoid it.
Uesugi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riku was well out of range. Poor timing from Uesugi.
Uesugi lands with a cross.
Uesugi connects with a right hand. Riku shakes it off.
Riku on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Uesugi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Uesugi connects with a body shot that sends Riku's belly button to the back.
Uesugi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Uesugi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Uesugi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Uesugi.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Uesugi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Riku throws a fast counter high kick but Uesugi manages to duck under it in time.
Nice jab there from Uesugi.
Riku slips under a jab from Uesugi.
Riku takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Uesugi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riku moves away.
Uesugi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Uesugi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Uesugi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Uesugi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Uesugi. Riku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riku was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Uesugi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Riku counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Riku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Uesugi.
Riku takes one on the button.
Riku connects with an inside leg kick.
Uesugi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Uesugi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Uesugi looks to throw the jab but Riku is out of range.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A big left from Uesugi misses.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Riku with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Uesugi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Uesugi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Riku.
Riku looks to score with a jab to the body but Uesugi is just out of range.
Uesugi misses with a straight left.
Riku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Uesugi misses the body punch
and Riku counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Riku misses the target.
Uesugi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Uesugi works the jab nicely.
Uesugi takes a swing at Riku's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Uesugi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jab from Riku.
Riku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Uesugi manages to avoid it.
Uesugi loads up on a big right hand but Riku slips the punch.
Riku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uesugi jabs Riku right on the nose. Riku blinks but takes it well.
Riku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Uesugi lands a slapping body shot.
Uesugi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Uesugi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Riku looks to land a body kick but Uesugi moved away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kagekatsu Uesugi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Uesugi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Riku takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Uesugi moves into the clinch successfully.
Riku blocks a body shot from Uesugi.
Riku throws a punch but it's blocked by Uesugi.
Riku blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Riku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kagekatsu Uesugi is winning the standup battle so far.
Riku slips under a jab.
Riku tries a quick counter leg kick but Uesugi is wise to it.
Riku scores with a body shot.
Riku throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Uesugi scores with a decent looking hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uesugi misses with a body punch
and Riku counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Uesugi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Uesugi misses.
Uesugi tests Riku's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riku throws a looping overhand right but Uesugi ducks down to avoid it.
Riku takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Uesugi throws a body punch but Riku moves out of range.
Riku tries to land a leg kick but Uesugi saw it coming and moves away.
The fighters circling - Uesugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Uesugi connects with a jab.
Uesugi misses the shot to the body.
Uesugi cracks Riku with a right hand to the side of the head.
Uesugi throws a right hand that misses
and Riku counters with a stiff right hand.
Riku throws an off balance right hand
and Uesugi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Uesugi lands with a nice body punch.
Uesugi works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Uesugi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Riku counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circle momentarily. Riku darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Riku throws a hook but Uesugi blocks it.
Riku throws a sloppy head kick and Uesugi moves out of range easily.
Uesugi just misses with a punch to the body.
Uesugi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Riku counters with a head kick. That will keep Uesugi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Riku has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Uesugi misses with a hook.
Uesugi slips under a jab from Riku.
Uesugi misses with a straight right.
Riku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Riku misses with a shot to the body
and Uesugi counters with a stiff right hand.
Uesugi throws the left hand but Riku avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uesugi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riku.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Uesugi.
Riku lands a nice looking body shot.

Uesugi rushes Riku and presses him up against the cage.
Uesugi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Riku is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Uesugi is keeping busy.
Uesugi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Riku can do to turn this around?
Uesugi has a couple of punches blocked by Riku.
Uesugi tries to pull guard but Riku won't allow it.

Riku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Uesugi dives in for a single leg takedown but Riku sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Riku! But no joy.

Uesugi pulls Riku into guard.
Uesugi wants to sweep but no luck.
Riku controls from within his opponent's guard.

Uesugi is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Riku rolls with it to try and escape but Uesugi cranks on the arm and Riku is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kagekatsu Uesugi!
An out of breath Kagekatsu Uesugi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.