PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Okongwu (ranked 837 p4p, 838 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 111 p4p, 112 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Okongwu might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Killin Dem (ft. Zlatan) - Burna Boy. Isaiah Okongwu could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Akira Maeda's chin.

Okongwu
vs
Maeda

180 cm
25
222
7 - 5 - 0

192 cm
25
209
7 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Okongwu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maeda scores with a takedown into Okongwu's guard.

Okongwu has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maeda off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Okongwu manages to avoid it.

Maeda looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Okongwu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda cracks Okongwu with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Okongwu's coaches at Xtreme Black House have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Okongwu tries to improve position but can't.
Maeda is putting a hurting on Okongwu here, landing some big shots from side control.
Maeda grinds an elbow into Okongwu's temple.
Maeda lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maeda wants to control but Okongwu is keeping him busy.
Maeda controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda trying to control the position but Okongwu is working away.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Maeda working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Maeda happy to just control the position for now.
Okongwu struggling a bit here.
Maeda in the domination position with Okongwu hanging on.
Maeda throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two 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.
Okongwu wants to get back to his feet but Maeda drags him back down.
Okongwu is trying to get back to half guard.
Maeda cracks Okongwu with a big elbow.
Okongwu managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Maeda.
Okongwu dodges the ground and pound from Maeda.
Maeda trying to control the action but Okongwu is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Maeda.
Okongwu takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The referee asks Maeda politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Maeda prefers to stall for the moment though.
Maeda trying to control the position but Okongwu is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maeda has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Maeda working the body and head with strikes.
Okongwu struggling a bit here.
Okongwu is working to avoid the ground and pound but Maeda connects with a decent elbow.
Maeda postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Maeda throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Okongwu avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maeda.
Okongwu tries to bench press Maeda off him but Maeda keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu is trying to control Maeda's posture but Maeda avoids it.
Maeda working the ground and pound but Okongwu is defending the strikes.
Okongwu defending against the ground and pound.
Okongwu is looking to reverse the position.
Okongwu is trying to buck Maeda off.
Maeda staying calm.
Okongwu tries to improve position but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Maeda dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maeda shoots in for a takedown but Okongwu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Okongwu as he jumps to the side.
Maeda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Okongwu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maeda checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda blocks a jab.
Okongwu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Okongwu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Okongwu stuffs the takedown.
Isaiah Okongwu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Okongwu's half guard.

Okongwu kicks off Maeda and gets to his feet.
Okongwu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Okongwu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maeda misses with a wild body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Okongwu. No joy for Maeda on that attempt.
Maeda stuns Okongwu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt
and Okongwu counters with a low kick, right behind Maeda 's knee.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okongwu throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.
Isaiah Okongwu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Okongwu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Okongwu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Okongwu. No joy for Maeda on that attempt.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Okongwu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maeda blocks a leg kick.
Okongwu throws a body punch but Maeda moves out of range.
Maeda feints the counter takedown.
Maeda lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Okongwu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maeda checks it well.
Maeda takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Okongwu looks to land a left hand but Maeda moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maeda.
Okongwu is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Okongwu is looking to chop away at Maeda's legs.
Okongwu pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maeda is out of range and Okongwu settles back down.

Maeda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Okongwu's half guard.
Maeda scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maeda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maeda lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu is controlling Maeda's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Akira Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maeda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Okongwu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Maeda is taking a breather. Okongwu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Okongwu regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Maeda.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Okongwu dominated that second round.
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!

Okongwu misses with a low kick.
Okongwu with a nice calf kick.
Maeda lands a nice looking body shot.
Okongwu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Okongwu misses with a leg kick.
Okongwu misses with a low kick as Maeda jumps back.
Maeda blocks a head kick by Okongwu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda thuds a left hand into Okongwu's body.
Maeda lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Okongwu at a distance.
A shot to the liver by Maeda. Beautiful body shot.
Isaiah Okongwu is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okongwu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maeda manages to avoid it.
Maeda lands a slapping body shot.
Maeda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Okongwu avoids it really well and circles away.
Okongwu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Maeda with the counter takedown but Okongwu avoids it easily.
Maeda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Okongwu connects with a solid leg kick.
Okongwu takes a swing at Maeda's ribcage but misses.

Maeda shoots in and gets a takedown into Okongwu's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throwing strikes from guard but Okongwu blocks nicely.
Maeda works over Okongwu with some ground and pound from guard.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Okongwu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Okongwu is trying to control the position but Maeda postures up.
Maeda trying to control but Okongwu is working from the bottom.
Maeda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Okongwu keeps moving.
Maeda content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Okongwu keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Okongwu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Okongwu sprawls well. Okongwu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maeda gets slowly back to his feet.
Isaiah Okongwu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.

Maeda dives in and scores a takedown into Okongwu's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda stops Okongwu from standing up.
Okongwu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maeda trying to control but Okongwu is working from the bottom.
Maeda throwing strikes but missing.
Maeda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Okongwu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Okongwu is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akira Maeda.
I think Maeda 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Isaiah Okongwu!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Isaiah Okongwu!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Akira Maeda!

Isaiah Okongwu wins by split decision!
A victorious Isaiah Okongwu thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.