PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between HIROTA MAEDA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Bolin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Bolin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

MAEDA
vs
Bolin

154 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, HIROTA MAEDA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Bolin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MAEDA shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bolin but Bolin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bolin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
MAEDA fails with a takedown attempt.
Bolin blocks a jab.
Bolin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MAEDA.
MAEDA dives in and grabs Bolin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bolin pushes down on MAEDA's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for HIROTA MAEDA. That's going to take a lot out of him.

MAEDA rushes Bolin and presses him up against the cage.
Bolin tries to break free but MAEDA pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

MAEDA drags the fight down to the ground.
Bolin wants to stand but MAEDA has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on MAEDA, up you get!
Bolin stuffs the takedown attempt from MAEDA. MAEDA gets slowly back to his feet.
Bolin fails in his attempt to clinch.
MAEDA avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
MAEDA shoots for a double leg takedown but Bolin sprawls well. He's pushed MAEDA's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bolin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from MAEDA.
MAEDA changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bolin tries to avoid it but MAEDA manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bolin to the ground. Bolin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
MAEDA swats away the attempt to clinch by Bolin.
Bolin tries to clinch there but MAEDA circles away.

That's two 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 feints and as Bolin raises his hands in defense, MAEDA changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
MAEDA is breathing heavily.
Bolin has a closed guard, preventing MAEDA from standing up.

MAEDA is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst MAEDA is controlling him.
MAEDA might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
MAEDA throws a strike but Bolin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as MAEDA holds on and takes a little breather.
MAEDA wants to sweep but no luck.
Bolin is fighting to break MAEDA's control of his arms but MAEDA is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bolin stopping the sweep attempt from MAEDA.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

MAEDA uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Bolin darts in trying to clinch

and MAEDA counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by MAEDA.
MAEDA is looking to stand up but Bolin won't let him.
Bolin is wriggling around but MAEDA manages to pass to half guard.
Bolin pushes MAEDA off looking to stand but MAEDA dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

HIROTA MAEDA dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bolin slips a straight right by MAEDA.
MAEDA fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bolin slips a jab from MAEDA.

MAEDA scores a takedown into full mount!

MAEDA is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bolin is surviving well by controlling MAEDA's body position as best he can.
MAEDA looking to control and managing it successfully.
You get the feeling that Bolin really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MAEDA controlling the position easily from mount.
Bolin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as MAEDA tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bolin's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
MAEDA controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolin taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Bolin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
MAEDA controlling the pace for now.
MAEDA misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Bolin defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from MAEDA.
MAEDA controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MAEDA punching from mount but Bolin doing a good job of avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

HIROTA MAEDA dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

MAEDA misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters circling - MAEDA throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MAEDA swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
MAEDA throws a hook but Bolin blocks it.
MAEDA throws a hook to the side of Bolin's head but Bolin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jim Bolin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MAEDA fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bolin tries to clinch but MAEDA moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolin ducks under a wild hook from MAEDA.
HIROTA MAEDA seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

MAEDA looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bolin!
MAEDA lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MAEDA with the ground and pound from mount.
MAEDA sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
MAEDA scoring with strikes but Bolin is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MAEDA sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bolin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by MAEDA.
HIROTA MAEDA overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bolin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MAEDA raining down shots from the mount!
MAEDA is in the full mount, landing strikes.
HIROTA MAEDA is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
MAEDA looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jim Bolin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MAEDA postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Bolin looks a forlorn figure.
MAEDA sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MAEDA has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
HIROTA MAEDA showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for MAEDA, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... HIROTA MAEDA!