PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eleent Bertozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bertozzi comes to the cage accompanied by Ecstasy of Gold - Metallica. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bertozzi
vs
Maeda

176 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eleent Bertozzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bertozzi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maeda.
Maeda throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bertozzi scores with a punch to the head.
Nice shot by Bertozzi.

Maeda gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Maeda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bertozzi tries to kick Maeda off but Maeda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Maeda seems content to control.
Maeda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maeda controlling the pace for now.
Bertozzi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Maeda controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda with a couple of short strikes.
Bertozzi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Maeda takes Bertozzi's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Bertozzi is in trouble.
Maeda has good solid back control here.
I looks like Maeda might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Bertozzi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Maeda is riding his opponent, not letting Bertozzi buck him off.
Bertozzi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Maeda just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mitsuyo Maeda.
Nice defenses there by Maeda.
Bertozzi scores with a nice head shot.
Eleent Bertozzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bertozzi.
Bertozzi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maeda is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda won't allow Bertozzi to get back to his feet.
Maeda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mitsuyo Maeda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bertozzi throws a series of punches but Maeda moves out of range.

Maeda pushes Bertozzi up against the cage in a clinch.
Bertozzi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Maeda to work.

Maeda gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Maeda is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maeda's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bertozzi tries to kick Maeda off but Maeda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maeda slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bertozzi is trying to stand up here but Maeda is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mitsuyo Maeda.
A swing and a miss from Bertozzi.

Maeda drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maeda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bertozzi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maeda is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maeda missing with a left hand there. Bertozzi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maeda on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bertozzi.
Maeda is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bertozzi.
Maeda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bertozzi.
Bertozzi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maeda under the eye.
Bertozzi looks to land a right hand but Maeda moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bertozzi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maeda throws out the jab.

Maeda takes the fight into the clinch.
Bertozzi is trying to push Maeda away but Maeda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Maeda turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maeda manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Maeda advances to full mount.
Maeda sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
BOOM! Maeda connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maeda dominating with strikes here.
Maeda content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maeda with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Maeda controlling his opponent.
Bertozzi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Maeda takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertozzi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Maeda tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maeda landing strikes from the mount.
Maeda controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertozzi'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.
Maeda mounts Bertozzi! Really nice guard pass there!
Bertozzi is trying to stand but he's just given Maeda his back.
Bertozzi holding both Maeda 's hands and preventing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maeda controlling from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maeda drops his hands momentarily and Bertozzi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bertozzi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bertozzi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Maeda throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bertozzi was covering up waiting for the punch and Maeda finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maeda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bertozzi is looking to stand up but Maeda isn't so interested in that idea.
Maeda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bertozzi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maeda is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mitsuyo Maeda.
Bertozzi misses with a straight right.
Bertozzi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good work by Bertozzi as he checks the leg kick.
Bertozzi scores with a jab. Maeda acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Bertozzi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maeda works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Eleent Bertozzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mitsuyo Maeda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertozzi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mitsuyo Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bertozzi is trying to stand back up but Maeda is controlling him
Maeda not doing much here.
Maeda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Maeda controlling from mount.
Maeda takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda has good solid back control here.
Bertozzi is trying to get back to his feet but Maeda has full control of the position and if anything, Bertozzi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Good control from Maeda.
Let's hope that Maeda has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bertozzi is trying to stand back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bertozzi is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mitsuyo Maeda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bertozzi cracks Maeda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Maeda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bertozzi throws a body punch but Maeda moves out of range.
Bertozzi throws a jab but it's blocked by Maeda.
Maeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The fighters circling - Bertozzi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maeda blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitsuyo 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

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