PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zak Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Dragon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zak Maxwell is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Maxwell
vs
Dragon

175 cm
18
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Grappling Pro Gear
Tesla Apparel [Everything $15]

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zak Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Dragon!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maxwell avoids the body shot from Dragon.
Good exchange - Dragon coming out on top.

Maxwell is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dragon's half guard.
Dragon pushes Maxwell off looking to stand but Maxwell dives back in and keeps control.
Dragon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maxwell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maxwell working the head and body with strikes.
Dragon pushes Maxwell off looking to stand but Maxwell dives back in and keeps control.
Maxwell wants to free his trapped foot but Dragon is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Dragon is not content to let Maxwell control the position.
Maxwell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dragon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maxwell.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maxwell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Maxwell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maxwell uses his free foot to push down on Dragon's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dragon.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Dragon is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.
Maxwell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Dragon is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dragon can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maxwell is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Dragon is surviving well by controlling Maxwell's body position as best he can.

Maxwell looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Maxwell landing strikes, looking to finish!
Dragon is trying to stand.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maxwell is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Dragon is surviving well by controlling Maxwell's body position as best he can.
Dragon wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Maxwell with the ground and pound from mount.
Maxwell raining down shots from the mount!
Maxwell controlling the position easily from mount.
Dragon taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Maxwell.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Maxwell looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Maxwell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dragon is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Maxwell cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maxwell goes for an armbar but Dragon turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dragon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Maxwell dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maxwell wants to clinch up but Dragon keeps it at a distance.
Dragon waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Maxwell.
Dragon lands a jab-cross combination.
Dragon displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Maxwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maxwell swats away the attempt to clinch by Dragon.
Dragon fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maxwell tries to keep at a distance but Dragon has taken the fight into the clinch.

Maxwell manages to break the clinch.

Dragon gets a clinch.
Dragon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dragon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Maxwell is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell has Dragon pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Dragon manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Maxwell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maxwell throws a sloppy head kick and Dragon moves out of range easily.
Dragon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dragon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maxwell shoots for a double leg takedown but Dragon sprawls well. He's pushed Maxwell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dragon stuffs the takedown attempt from Maxwell. Maxwell gets slowly back to his feet.
Dragon swinging wilding here.

Dragon pushes Maxwell up against the ropes in a clinch.

Maxwell gets control of Dragon's arms and successfully pulls guard. Maxwell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dragon would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Maxwell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragon wants to get up but he can't break Maxwell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dragon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maxwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maxwell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Dragon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maxwell 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to control the position.
Dragon wants to stand but Maxwell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Maxwell controls Dragon momentarily but Dragon frees himself.
Zak Maxwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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.

Maxwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Maxwell is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Maxwell has picked Dragon up - he's going for a ride! Maxwell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Dragon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maxwell is keen to just control but Dragon is a slippery customer.

Maxwell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dragon won't allow Maxwell to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Maxwell dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Maxwell takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown but Dragon shows good takedown defense.
Maxwell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dragon's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Dragon duly obliges.
Dragon lands a nice shot to the body.
Dragon dips to his left and cracks Maxwell with an uppercut!
Dragon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maxwell.

Maxwell feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Maxwell wants to control from the top but Dragon keeps moving.
Dragon wants to stand and escape but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maxwell trying to control but Dragon is working from the bottom.
Dragon wants to stand up but Maxwell is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dragon but Dragon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dragon misses with the combination.
Dragon leaves Maxwell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dragon slips under a jab from Maxwell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maxwell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dragon tries to avoid it but Maxwell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dragon to the ground. Dragon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maxwell throws a push kick but Dragon slaps the foot to one side.
A combination from Dragon does no damage.

Maxwell feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Maxwell stops Dragon from standing up.
Maxwell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dragon wants to stand but Maxwell is controlling the position.
Dragon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dragon keeping moving, preventing Maxwell from controlling successfully.
Maxwell stands and throws Dragon's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragon wants to get back to his feet but Maxwell drags him back down.
Maxwell advances to mount.
Maxwell with a couple of short strikes.

Maxwell working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Dragon turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Maxwell off and cradles Dragon's limp body as Maxwell celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Zak Maxwell!