PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Esai Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shang Tsung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsung is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Tiefutu - Tiefutu. Shang Tsung has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maeda
vs
Tsung

176 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Win Nutritional RJ - lowest prices on the market

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esai Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shang Tsung!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsung tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maeda tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tsung swivels and escapes.
Esai Maeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda misses with a two punch combination.
Maeda tries to bum rush Tsung with a series of wild strikes but Tsung uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Tsung moves into the clinch.
Tsung has Maeda pushed against the cage.
Tsung misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsung putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maeda in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tsung using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maeda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tsung misses with a knee strike.
Tsung with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tsung with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tsung looking to throw knees to the head but Maeda is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsung misses with a knee to the head.
Tsung with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but Maeda blocks with his arms.
Tsung scores with a knee to the head.
Tsung blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tsung with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tsung looks gassed!
Tsung tries to land knees in the clinch but Maeda avoids the damage to the body.
Tsung misses with a knee to the head.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maeda tries to score a body lock takedown but Tsung shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tsung with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Tsung.
Tsung holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tsung stalling in the clinch.
Maeda wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esai Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tsung just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but Maeda blocks it.
Tsung throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maeda as Tsung tries to tie him up.
Maeda fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tsung misses with a knee strike.
Tsung misses with a knee strike.
Maeda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maeda working hard to break the clinch.
Tsung using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maeda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tsung gets underhooks to prevent Maeda's takedown attempt.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but Maeda blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries to pull guard but Tsung holds him up against the cage and eventually Maeda drops back down to his feet.
Maeda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tsung throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maeda blocks it with crossed arms.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maeda taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tsung gets underhooks to prevent Maeda's takedown attempt.
Maeda drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tsung throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tsung misses with a knee strike.
Maeda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maeda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tsung avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tsung throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but Maeda blocks with his arms.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tsung tries a knee to the head but Maeda blocks it.
Maeda tries to break the clinch but Tsung is controlling the position.
Tsung trying to control the position but instead, Maeda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tsung into the cage.
Tsung looking to throw knees to the head but Maeda is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maeda fails to pull guard.
Tsung tries to land a knee to the head but Maeda blocks with his arms.
Tsung keeps control of Maeda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tsung with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shang Tsung dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tsung fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maeda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Maeda is looking to advance position but Tsung won't allow it.

Maeda is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maeda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maeda is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tsung has managed to free his arm - good work.

Maeda is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tsung defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tsung pushes Maeda off looking to stand but Maeda dives back in and keeps control.
Maeda trying to control the action but Tsung is working from the bottom.

Maeda is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tsung sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tsung tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tsung is looking to clinch but Maeda is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tsung looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tsung ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Esai Maeda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maeda swats away the attempt to clinch by Tsung.

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.
Tsung tries to clinch there but Maeda circles away.
Tsung uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maeda.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Maeda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tsung fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esai Maeda dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maeda throws a jab when Tsung was well out of range.
Maeda shoots in looking for a takedown. Tsung tries to sprawl out of it but Maeda keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tsung manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maeda swats away the attempt to clinch by Tsung.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsung tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda throws an overhand right that lands on Tsung's shoulder, as Tsung tries to avoid the shot.
Tsung is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tsung tries to clinch up.
Tsung takes one on the button.
Shang Tsung is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tsung dodges the punch combination from Maeda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tsung is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Tsung. No joy for Maeda on that attempt.
Maeda fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esai Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tsung tries to clinch there but Maeda circles away.
Tsung tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maeda swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tsung ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maeda fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tsung fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tsung uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maeda.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maeda fails to land the takedown.
Tsung tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tsung tries to clinch up but Maeda circles away and keeps his distance.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tsung fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tsung tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shang Tsung comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tsung 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shang Tsung!