PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renato Atunes (ranked 2094 p4p, 3527 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 306 p4p, 475 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Atunes
vs
Maeda

190 cm
22
209
5 - 2 - 0

192 cm
21
209
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Atunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atunes lands with a nice body punch.
Atunes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Atunes tests Maeda's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maeda on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Atunes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maeda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Maeda blocks a head kick by Atunes.

Atunes clinches up with Maeda and pushes him back against the cage.
Atunes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maeda.
Maeda missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda is trying to push Atunes away but Atunes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Atunes after a bit of a struggle.

Maeda breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atunes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maeda, pushing him back against the cage.
Atunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maeda has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Atunes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Renato Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Maeda is trying to force a seperation but Atunes has the dominant position.
Maeda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maeda is pushing Atunes up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Atunes has a couple of punches blocked by Maeda.
Nice elbow from Atunes.
Maeda is pushing Atunes up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Maeda breaks from the clinch.
We've been told by Atunes's head coaches at Gainers that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Renato Atunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atunes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Atunes's corner calls for a 1-2. Atunes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maeda scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maeda has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Atunes finds it's way round the side to connect with Maeda's head.
Atunes wants to clinch up but Maeda keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda throws a body shot but no joy.

Maeda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Atunes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Atunes keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Maeda is looking to take a break and control but Atunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Maeda controlling the pace.
Maeda thows a huge punch but Atunes dodges it nicely.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maeda is nestled in close to Atunes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Atunes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Atunes tries to get out of the position.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atunes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Atunes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.
Atunes tries to get to full guard but Maeda has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atunes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Maeda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Atunes keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Maeda sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Atunes is pressing down on Maeda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Atunes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Atunes is controlling Maeda's posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Atunes dominated that round.
That's time! Atunes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maeda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maeda wants to control but Atunes is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Maeda trying to control the pace.
Atunes is staying active underneath Maeda, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Atunes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atunes trying to control here.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Maeda controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes is trying to control but can't.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Maeda working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Maeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Atunes is staying active underneath Maeda, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atunes's head.
Maeda working over Atunes with some ground and pound. Atunes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atunes's head.
Maeda is looking to take a break and control but Atunes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Maeda.
Atunes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maeda on the ground.
Maeda trying to control the action but Atunes is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda prevents Atunes from improving his position.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Maeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The fighters are battling for position here. Atunes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maeda throwing strikes but missing.
Akira Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maeda looking to pass the guard.
Atunes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Atunes wants to improve his position but instead Maeda has moved into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maeda lands a nice short elbow.
Atunes is refusing to be controlled, as Maeda sits in half guard.
Maeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maeda slips a nice elbow through Atunes's hands, connecting with Atunes's forehead.
Atunes is positioning himself well to prevent Maeda advancing to mount.
Atunes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda drops an elbow to the side of Atunes's head.
Maeda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maeda wants to control but Atunes is keeping him busy.
Maeda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atunes's head.
Atunes tries to roll over but Maeda keeps him under control.
Maeda working the head and body with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maeda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Maeda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Atunes misses with a looping left.
Atunes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maeda with the counter takedown but Atunes avoids it easily.
Atunes scores with a nice right hand.
Atunes throws a body shot but no joy.
Maeda changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Atunes doesn't manage to clinch there - Maeda circles away.
Maeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maeda just misses with a punch to the body.
Atunes was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Atunes misses with a body shot.
Maeda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Maeda keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda throws a body punch but Atunes moves out of range.
Atunes moves in looking to clinch but Maeda pushes him off.
Maeda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Atunes misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Maeda.
Nice shot lands for Atunes.
Maeda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Atunes lands a high kick!
Maeda ducks under a wild hook from Atunes.
Maeda lands a jab to Atunes's midsection.

Atunes darts in and clinches Maeda up against the cage.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Atunes throws a shot to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Atunes!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda throws a shot to the body.
Maeda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maeda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Atunes rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda takes a swing at Atunes's ribcage but misses.
Maeda blocks a head kick by Atunes.
Atunes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maeda cracks Atunes with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maeda slips a straight right by Atunes.
Atunes loads up on a big right hand but Maeda slips the punch.
Atunes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maeda.
Atunes looks to throw the jab but Maeda is out of range.
Atunes avoids the body shot from Maeda.
Atunes looks to land a left hand but Maeda moved out of range nicely.
Maeda slips a jab and a cross from Atunes.
Atunes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Maedas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Maeda looks to move away, Atunes throws a big counter combo but Maeda just gets out of the way.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Atunes manages to avoid it.
Maeda misses with a body shot.
Atunes throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.
Maeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
Atunes is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Atunes lunges at Maeda with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maeda's hand.
Atunes looks to land a right hand but Maeda moved out of range.
Atunes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maeda manages to avoid it.
Maeda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maeda takes one to the side of the head.
Atunes misses with a looping right.
Maeda lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atunes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maeda with the counter takedown but Atunes avoids it easily.
Maeda misses with a body shot.
Atunes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maeda.
Atunes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Atunes throws a hook but Maeda blocks it.
And Maeda tries to counter it with a takedown but Atunes pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atunes throws an overhand right that lands on Maeda's shoulder, as Maeda tries to avoid the shot.
Maeda ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Renato Atunes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Atunes throws out a loose jab but Maeda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atunes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maeda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Atunes scores with a spinning back kick!
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Atunes as he avoids it easily.
Atunes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Atunes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Atunes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!