PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sarah Northcote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noriaki Ueyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ueyama has chosen Whispered - Blindfold as his entrance music. 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.

Northcote
vs
Ueyama

165 cm
27
138 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

168 cm
23
143 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

KAISER

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 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sarah Northcote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Noriaki Ueyama!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ueyama has Northcote up against the cage in a clinch.
Northcote tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ueyama just stands there and leans against the cage.
Northcote fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Northcote is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ueyama pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sarah Northcote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ueyama misses with an elbow strike.
Ueyama can't get the takedown.
Northcote drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Northcote fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ueyama gets underhooks to prevent Northcote's takedown attempt.
Northcote has Ueyama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ueyama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Northcote drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ueyama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Northcote looks to land a combination but Ueyama avoids it well.
Ueyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Northcote.
Northcote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ueyama counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ueyama.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ueyama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Northcote manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ueyama on his heels. He'll look to pass Ueyama's guard now, I'm sure.
Northcote is looking to advance position but Ueyama has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Northcote wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Ueyama not allowing Northcote to control his hands.
Northcote breaks Ueyama's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Northcote has gone for a leg lock! Ueyama slips out almost immediately though and dives into Northcote's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northcote not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Northcote is really struggling to control Ueyama but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Northcote keeping moving, preventing Ueyama from controlling successfully.
Northcote is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northcote trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sarah Northcote just wasn't active enough.
Northcote displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ueyama.
Northcote moves out of range of the body kick.

Ueyama instigates a clinch.

Ueyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

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.
Northcote walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a kick to the body.
Northcote keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Northcote shoots and misses
and Ueyama counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Northcote will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Northcote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ueyama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ueyama stuns Northcote with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noriaki Ueyama dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ueyama moves into the clinch successfully.
Northcote tries to pull guard but Ueyama won't allow it.
Ueyama lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ueyama is stalling here.

Ueyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ueyama slips a jab and a cross from Northcote.
Northcote misses with a series of wild punches.
Northcote closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ueyama circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Northcote shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Northcoteis looking to pass into half guard but Ueyama pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ueyama is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northcote trying to keep a closed guard but Ueyama is proving a slippery customer.
Ueyama wanted to stand there but Northcote had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ueyama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Northcote works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Northcote wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sarah Northcote.
Northcote circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ueyama pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Northcote moves to clinch but Ueyama breaks away
and Ueyama finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Northcote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ueyama counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sarah Northcote. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ueyama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Northcote tries to clinch

and Ueyama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ueyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ueyama misses with a straight right.
Ueyama misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Northcote is defended easily by Ueyama.
Ueyama is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Northcote rather than just go for the knockout.
Ueyama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ueyama takes a swing at Northcote's ribcage but misses.
Northcote looks for a takedown but Ueyama sprawls well.
Ueyama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Northcote was well out of range. Poor timing from Ueyama.
Ueyama misses with a hook to the body

and Northcote counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ueyama's guard now.
Northcote tries to free his leg and advance position but Ueyama is retaining full guard.
Northcote trying to control but Ueyama is working from the bottom.
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 Sarah Northcote will probably get the nod.
That's time! Northcote's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Northcote shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ueyama defends it nicely.
Northcote tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ueyama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Northcote somewhat.
Horrible takedown by Northcote or perhaps it was just good defense by Ueyama which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sarah Northcote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Northcote tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ueyama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Northcote is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Ueyama.
Sarah Northcote is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Northcote gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Northcote takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A lazy body kick from Northcote

and Ueyama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Northcote goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ueyama prevents it.
Ueyama lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Northcote backwards.

Ueyama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northcote fails with the takedown
and Ueyama counters with a leg kick.

Ueyama clinches with his opponent.

Ueyama manages to break the clinch.
Ueyama just misses with a punch to the body.
Northcote loads up on a big right hand but Ueyama slips the punch.
Northcote falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ueyama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ueyama is pressed up against the cage. Northcote has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ueyama down to the mat. Ueyama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Northcote circles away from the clinch attempt
and Northcote counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ueyama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Northcote.

Northcote shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Northcote goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ueyama is on top in guard.
Ueyama controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northcote trying to keep a closed guard but Ueyama is proving a slippery customer.
Northcote seems keen to control Ueyama's posture.
Northcote working a defensive guard but Ueyama passes into half guard.
Ueyama prevents Northcote from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noriaki Ueyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ueyama 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noriaki Ueyama!