PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jim Morrissey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazunori Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maeda's choice of entrance music: Gouryella. 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?

Morrissey
vs
Maeda

175 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
157 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Morrissey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazunori Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morrissey forces Maeda back against the ropes and clinches.
Morrissey looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Maeda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maeda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Morrissey throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maeda.
Maeda scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maeda misses with the combination.

Maeda instigates a clinch.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maeda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morrissey.
Maeda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morrissey.
Morrissey throws a big shot that misses.
Maeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Morrissey blocks a head kick by Maeda.
Maeda misses with a two punch combination.
Maeda chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Maeda lands a front kick.
Maeda throws a quick inside leg kick.
Morrissey chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maeda can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maeda. That's going to slow Morrissey down.
Maeda scores with a body shot.
Morrissey slips a jab and a cross from Maeda.
Nice uppercut there from Maeda.

Maeda darts in and clinches Morrissey up against the ropes.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Morrissey avoids a punch combination nicely.
Morrissey tries to land a body kick
and Maeda counters with a nice leg kick.
Maeda misses with a double jab.
Maeda connects with a high kick.
Morrissey takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maeda throws a right hand that Morrissey ducks under and follows up with a left that Morrissey also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Maeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maeda swinging wilding here.
Morrissey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maeda.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maeda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morrissey looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Morrissey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morrissey tries to keep at a distance but Maeda has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kazunori Maeda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Maeda has Morrissey up against the ropes in a clinch.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A right-left combo lands from Maeda.
Maeda scoring well with a low kick there.
Maeda lands a jab-cross combination.
Maeda keeps Morrissey at a distance using the push kick.
Morrissey is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Maeda.
Maeda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maeda throws a series of punches but Morrissey avoids them all with ease.
Maeda scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Maeda scores with a four punch combination!
Maeda misses with the combination.
Maeda is working the combinations to good effect here.
Maeda fails to land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Maeda both land. Nice combination.
Morrissey has his takedown stuffed
and Maeda counters with a left and a right that stings Morrissey.
A left and a right from Maeda both land. Nice combination.
Maeda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Morrissey.
Morrissey tries to clinch but Maeda moves away
and Maeda counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Morrissey misses with a combination

and Maeda moves into the clinch.

Maeda breaks the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Morrissey.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maeda counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrissey connects with a solid leg kick.
Maeda misses with a series of wild punches.
Maeda misses with a combination
and Morrissey connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Morrissey gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maeda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice sprawl there from Maeda as Morrissey shoots in.
Morrissey is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Maeda looks to land a combination but Morrissey avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morrissey misses with a series of wild punches.

Maeda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Maeda escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morrissey closes the distance but Maeda moves to the side
and Maeda counters with a thumping low kick.

Maeda pushes Morrissey up against the ropes in a clinch.
Morrissey trying to control the position but instead, Maeda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Morrissey into the ropes.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazunori Maeda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maeda takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maeda fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Morrissey.
Maeda misses with a double jab

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

Maeda manages to break the clinch.
Maeda scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maeda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Morrissey has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Maeda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maeda with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morrissey throws out the jab.
Maeda misses with a wild combination.
Morrissey dodges the punch combination from Maeda.
Maeda fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Morrissey.
Maeda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maeda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maeda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Morrissey lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maeda slips a jab from Morrissey.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maeda!
Morrissey tries to clinch up
and Maeda counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maeda swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Morrissey counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maeda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Morrissey throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Morrissey has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Morrissey throws a head kick that misses
and Maeda counters with a good low kick that Morrissey was not able to check.
Morrissey tries to clinch
and Maeda counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Maeda on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Morrissey misses with a body kick.
Morrissey throws a series of punches but Maeda avoids them all with ease.
Morrissey shoots in for a takedown but Maeda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Morrissey misses with a takedown attempt - Maeda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maeda with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Morrissey looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morrissey looks to clinch
and Maeda counters with a nice low kick that buckles Morrissey's knee momentarily.
Morrissey showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maeda.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maeda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Morrissey shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Morrissey misses with a head shot.
Morrissey trying to control but Maeda is having none of it.
Morrissey punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morrissey tries to control but Maeda wriggling away.
Morrissey avoids the attempt from Maeda to control.
Morrissey punching from mount but Maeda doing a good job of avoiding damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maeda can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maeda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Morrissey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Morrissey throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maeda counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maeda.
Morrissey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maeda walks away with a smile on his face. Morrissey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maeda.
Maeda lands a jab-cross combination.
Maeda scores with a crisp jab that stopped Morrissey in his tracks.
Morrissey chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maeda can pounce on him.
Maeda throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maeda tries to bum rush Morrissey with a series of wild strikes but Morrissey uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Maeda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morrissey circles away quickly and effectively.
Maeda lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Morrissey circles away quickly and effectively.
Maeda throws a left and a right that both miss
and Morrissey counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Maeda is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Morrissey ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maeda moves away.
Morrissey dodges the punch combination from Maeda.
Maeda throws a right and a left that Morrissey avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda lands a nice looking kick to the body. Morrissey takes a step back to recover.
Morrissey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maeda counters with a straight right hand.
Morrissey throws a jab but it's blocked by Maeda.
Morrissey with a poor takedown
and Maeda counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Morrissey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda throws a leg kick which misses Morrissey's front leg but catches the back leg as Morrissey tries to avoid it.
Maeda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Maeda throws a body punch but Morrissey moves out of range.
Morrissey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maeda sprawls well. Maeda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morrissey gets slowly back to his feet.
Maeda throws a right hand that Morrissey ducks under and follows up with a left that Morrissey also avoids with ease.
Maeda misses with a two punch combination.
Morrissey looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Morrissey jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Morrissey throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.

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.
Morrissey jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maeda connects with a solid leg kick.
Maeda throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Morrissey.
Morrissey darts in trying to clinch
and Maeda counters with a series of strikes. Morrissey will be more careful next time no doubt.
Morrissey shoots in looking for a takedown. Maeda tries to sprawl out of it but Morrissey keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Maeda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maeda scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Morrissey throws a big shot that misses.
Morrissey has his takedown stuffed
and Maeda counters with a nice leg kick.
Morrissey misses with a wild body shot.
Maeda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Morrissey sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Morrissey moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maeda looks to land a combination but Morrissey avoids it well.
Morrissey clinches but Maeda breaks the clinch
and Maeda counters with a three punch combo that has Morrissey backing up. Morrissey nods at Maeda to acknowledge the strikes.
Maeda throws a series of punches but Morrissey moves out of range.
Maeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Morrissey.
A solid leg kick lands there for Maeda.
Maeda slaps away a takedown attempt from Morrissey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maeda misses with a double jab
and Morrissey counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maeda moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Morrissey wants to clinch
and Maeda counters with a big head kick but Morrissey shrugs it off.
Morrissey dives in and grabs Maeda's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maeda pushes down on Morrissey's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maeda checks a leg kick.
Maeda throws a right and a left that both miss.
Morrissey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maeda circles away.
Maeda connects with a solid leg kick.
Morrissey fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maeda closes the distance and clinches.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Morrissey misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maeda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Morrissey tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Maeda counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Morrissey is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Maeda throws a right and a left that Morrissey avoids nicely.
Morrissey closes the distance and clinches up with Maeda, looking for a takedown. Morrissey pushes Maeda against the ropes but Maeda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jim Morrissey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazunori Maeda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maeda throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazunori Maeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maeda winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazunori Maeda!