PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshima Nagasaki (ranked 764 p4p, 1161 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 124 p4p, 167 weight class). Nagasaki comes into the arena with Ground Zero (MOP) blaring out of the sound system. Hiroshima Nagasaki had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nagasaki
vs
Maeda

193 cm
29
206
16 - 8 - 0

192 cm
32
209
18 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hiroshima Nagasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Maeda.
Maeda stuns Nagasaki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nagasaki throws a hook but Maeda avoids it easily.
We've been told by Nagasaki's head coaches at League of Shadows MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Maeda throws a lazy right hand but Nagasaki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nagasaki tries to score with a low kick but Maeda moves his leg out of the way.
Maeda scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nagasaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maeda.
Maeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maeda throws the left hand but Nagasaki avoids the punch easily.
Nagasaki walks into a straight right hand from Maeda.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maeda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Nagasaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nagasaki jabs Maeda to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nagasaki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maeda doesn't seem bothered though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nagasaki throws a leg kick but Maeda sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagasaki throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jab from Maeda.
Maeda looks to throw the jab but Nagasaki is out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nagasaki.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt - Nagasaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nagasaki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hiroshima Nagasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nagasaki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Good work by Maeda as he checks the leg kick.
Despite the aggression on Maeda's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Maeda rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nagasaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A low kick from Nagasaki misses
and Maeda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagasaki tried to score with a low kick but Maeda checks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nagasaki thuds a left hand into Maeda's body.
Maeda has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nagasaki finds it's way round the side to connect with Maeda's head.
Maeda might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nagasaki lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maeda takes a step back to recover.
Maeda looks winded!
Maeda thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maeda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nagasaki.
Maeda blocks the body kick.
Nagasaki throws a hook but Maeda blocks it.
Nagasaki connects with a leg kick.
Nagasaki feints and then cracks Maeda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maeda down.
Maeda moves out of range of the body kick.
Nagasaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maeda moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagasaki scores with a hook.
Maeda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maeda appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maeda lands a jab to the head.
Maeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Nagasaki misses the target.
Nagasaki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maeda. That did some damage!
Nagasaki throws a leg kick

and Maeda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nagasaki's guard.
Maeda trying to control but Nagasaki is working from the bottom.
Nagasaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maeda controls the pace.
Maeda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nagasaki's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda chips away with some ground and pound.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nagasaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nagasaki controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nagasaki misses with a head kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Maeda misses.
Maeda thuds a left hand into Nagasaki's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Maeda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nagasaki trying to hold on to Maeda's head to control him but Maeda postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nagasaki throws a wild body kick that Maeda sees coming a mile off.

Maeda closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nagasaki did well to prevent Maeda getting side control.
Nagasaki is not content to let Maeda control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nagasaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Maeda not doing much here.
Nagasaki wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nagasaki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maeda loads up on a big right hand but Nagasaki slips the punch.
Nagasaki seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nagasaki cracks Maeda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nagasaki moves away from the strike by Maeda.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nagasaki throws out the jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nagasaki. That's going to slow Maeda down.
Nice shot by Nagasaki.
Maeda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nagasaki. Nagasaki obviously looking to wear him down.
Nagasaki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nagasaki cracks Maeda with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Maeda looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Nagasaki finish him?

Maeda is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nagasaki lands a brutal uppercut that launches Maeda off his feet! Maeda tumbles to the floor, barely conscious - the referee jumps in to save him from a beating! Wow, what an ending!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hiroshima Nagasaki!
After winning the bout, Hiroshima Nagasaki thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.