PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Martinez
vs
Maeda

180 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

165 cm
24
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hugo Martinez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Maeda lands an impressive looking overhand right. Martinez doesn't seem phased though.
Maeda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A combination from Martinez does no damage.
Martinez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Both fighters circling a little - Martinez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A swing and a miss from Maeda.
Maeda slips under a jab.

Martinez drives through and clinches with Maeda against the cage.

Martinez manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Martinez misses with a low kick.
Maeda takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Martinez misses with a low kick.
A slow jab from Maeda misses its intended target.
Maeda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Martinez.
Maeda uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Martinez.
Maeda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Martinez slips under a jab.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Martinez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maeda blocks a head kick by Martinez.
Maeda keeps the fight on the outside.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Maeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to work some ground and pound but Martinez has wrist control.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Maeda trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Martinez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Maeda looking for a sweep. Not yet Maeda, not yet.

Maeda is looking for a triangle here but Martinez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Maeda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Martinez off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to control his opponent's hands but Maeda gets his hands free.
Martinez covering up well under a series of strikes from Maeda.
Maeda thows a strike but Martinez uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Martinez as he ends up in Maeda 's guard!
Martinez slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Martinez passes Maeda's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maeda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maeda is pressing down on Martinez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maeda controls Martinez momentarily but Martinez frees himself.
Maeda pulls Martinez in close to his closed guard and prevents Martinez from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a triangle but Martinez pushes his legs off easily.
Maeda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Martinez trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hugo Martinez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maeda throws a body punch but Martinez moves out of range.
Maeda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martinez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Martinez throws a low kick but Maeda moves out of range easily.
Maeda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Martinez.
Maeda connects with a good right hand that stumbles Martinez. Martinez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Martinez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Martinez ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Martinez misses with a hook.
Martinez is looking to chop away at Maeda's legs.
Martinez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maeda misses with a wild combination.
Maeda thuds his right hand into Martinez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Martinez throws a looping overhand right but Maeda ducks down to avoid it.
Maeda throws a hook but Martinez avoids it easily.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martinez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maeda throws an overhand right that lands on Martinez's shoulder, as Martinez tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Martinez misses.
Maeda cracks Martinez with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Maeda avoids them all with ease.
Martinez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Martinez tries to clinch but Maeda moves out of range.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maeda swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Martinez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maeda.
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.
Maeda is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Martinez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Martinez takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Maeda.
Maeda misses with a punch to the body.

Martinez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maeda jabs Martinez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hugo Martinez is winning the standup battle so far.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.

Martinez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maeda sprawls well initially but Martinez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maeda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maeda is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez is thwarting Maeda's attempts to control the position.
Martinez passes into side control, despite Maeda's attempt to control the position.
Maeda can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to reverse the position.
Maeda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Martinez wants to control but Maeda is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez controls the position from side control.

We're going to have a standup here because Hugo Martinez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Martinez scores a takedown into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hugo Martinez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Martinez wants to clinch up but Maeda keeps it at a distance.
Martinez walks into a left hand.
Martinez moves out of range of the strikes.
Martinez throws a lazy right hand but Maeda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Martinez looks to land a combination but Maeda avoids it well.
Hugo Martinez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martinez tried to score with a low kick but Maeda checks it.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Martinez throws out the jab.
Maeda throws a looping overhand right but Martinez ducks down to avoid it.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
Maeda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maeda throws a lazy uppercut
and Martinez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Martinez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Maeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Martinez.
Nice defenses there by Martinez.
Maeda throws a hook but Martinez blocks it.
Maeda lands a nice looking body shot.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maeda counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Martinez misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Martinez throws a sloppy head kick and Maeda moves out of range easily.
Maeda takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Martinez swings for the body but Maeda moves out of range.
Martinez slips a jab from Maeda.
Sloppy strikes from Martinez. Those never looked like landing.
Martinez blocks a jab.
Maeda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Martinez misses with a two punch combination.
Maeda bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Martinez is looking to clinch but Maeda is avoiding it.
Martinez is looking to land body kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Martinez is defended easily by Maeda.
Martinez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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.
Maeda on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Martinez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Martinez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Martinez. Those never looked like landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maeda closes the distance and clinches up with Martinez, looking for a takedown. Maeda pushes Martinez against the cage but Martinez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maeda misses with a looping right.
Maeda gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Martinez slips a straight right by Maeda.
Maeda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maeda throws out a loose jab but Martinez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maeda fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Martinez throws a big shot that misses.
Martinez tries to close the distance and clinch but Maeda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good exchange - Maeda coming out on top.
Martinez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Martinez is looking to clinch but Maeda is avoiding it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maeda!
Maeda gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maeda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maeda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maeda moves out of range of the body kick from Martinez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Maeda.
Martinez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maeda takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Maeda keeps the fight on the outside.
Martinez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch combination from Martinez misses.
Martinez shoots for a double leg takedown but Maeda sprawls well. He's pushed Martinez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jab, jab by Maeda - just one landing.
Martinez feints and then cracks Maeda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maeda down.
Maeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martinez.
Maeda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Martinez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Martinez slips a jab from Maeda.
Maeda loads up on a big right hand but Martinez slips the punch.
Martinez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Martinez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Martinez lands with a cross.
Martinez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Martinez gets caught napping as Maeda dives in and scores a takedown. Martinez manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Martinez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maeda postures up in Martinez's guard and throws a big left but Martinez blocks it.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Martinez keeps moving.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Martinez is keeping the position.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but Martinez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maeda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Hugo Martinez did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

A punch lands to the side of Martinez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Martinez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maeda throws out the jab.
Martinez ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Martinez wants to clinch.
Martinez throws a right and a left that Maeda avoids nicely.

Martinez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but Martinez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Martinez won't allow Maeda to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maeda isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Martinez stacks Maeda on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Martinez!
Maeda is trying to control Martinez's posture but Martinez avoids it.
Martinez is staying tight to Maeda's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is trying to improve his position.
Martinez trying to control the action but Maeda is working from the bottom.
Martinez controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hugo Martinez just wasn't active enough.
Martinez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maeda has time to react.
Martinez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Martinez misses with a body kick.
Martinez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maeda throws out the jab.
Maeda lands with a straight right. Martinez didn't see that one coming.
Martinez looks to land a body kick but Maeda moved away.
Jab from Martinez.
Martinez lands a two punch combo.
Maeda cracks a nice hook into Martinez's ribs.
Martinez is looking to clinch.
Martinez scores with a decent looking hook.
Good leg kick by Maeda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Martinez loads up on a big right hand but Maeda slips the punch.
Maeda on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maeda listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Maeda moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda thows a left - swing and a miss!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maeda checks a leg kick.
Martinez tries to clinch but Maeda moves out of range.
Martinez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Martinez throws a lazy right hand but Maeda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Martinez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Martinez slips under a jab.
A big right from Maeda misses.

Martinez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maeda to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Martinez is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Mitsuyo Maeda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Martinez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Maeda misses.
Maeda slips a jab from Martinez.
Maeda looks to land a left hand but Martinez moved out of range nicely.
Maeda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Martinez.
Maeda staying out of range there.
Martinez throws a nice looking combination but Maeda bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Martinez moves in looking to clinch but Maeda pushes him off.
Maeda jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Martinez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Maeda pivots, looking for a leg kick but Martinez is out of range and Maeda settles back down.
Maeda catches Martinez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Martinez tries to clinch but Maeda is having none of it.
Martinez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maeda moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from Martinez.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Nice sprawl there from Maeda as Martinez shoots in.
Martinez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maeda connects with a body shot.
Maeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Martinez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maeda throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Martinez on the side of the head.

Martinez clinches up with Maeda and pushes him back against the cage.
Maeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Martinez after a bit of a struggle.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Martinez manages to get underhooks.
Martinez tries to score a body lock takedown but Maeda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Martinez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Martinez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maedas head.
Maeda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Martinez obliges.
Maeda is trying to drag Martinez to the mat but Martinez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hugo Martinez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitsuyo Maeda.
Maeda misses with a hook to the ribs.
Martinez is pressed up against the cage. Maeda has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Martinez down to the mat. Martinez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maeda rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Martinez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A punch lands to the side of Maeda 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda walks into a stiff left hand from Martinez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a lazy right hand but Martinez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Martinez misses with a double jab.
Maeda stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martinez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Martinez connects with a nice looking jab.
Maeda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Maeda throws a hook to the side of Martinez's head but Martinez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Maeda misses.
Martinez looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Martinez walks into a left hand.
Martinez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Maeda avoids them all with ease.
Martinez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maeda.
Maeda scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maeda scores with a hook to the body. Martinez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Martinez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Martinez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Martinez throws a push kick but Maeda slaps the foot to one side.
Martinez throws a series of punches but Maeda moves out of range.
Maeda throws a looping overhand right but Martinez ducks down to avoid it.
Maeda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Martinez.
Martinez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maeda counters with a nice uppercut.
Martinez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maeda.
Maeda swats away the attempt to clinch by Martinez.
Mitsuyo Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martinez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Martinez wants to clinch.
Hugo Martinez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Martinez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maeda.
Maeda looks to throw the jab but Martinez is out of range.
A big left from Maeda misses.
Maeda takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Good exchange - Maeda coming out on top.
Maeda throws a poor cross that misses
and Martinez counters with a stiff right hand.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Martinez moves away.

Martinez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maeda misses with some punches.
Maeda misses with the head strike.
Maeda lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Martinez backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right from Maeda.
Maeda swings wildly with an uppercut but Martinez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maeda misses with a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short left from Maeda.
Maeda wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Martinez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mitsuyo Maeda.
I think Martinez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 46:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:49
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 48:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsuyo Maeda!
Mitsuyo Maeda is the new featherweight champion!
Mitsuyo Maeda thanked the fans post fight for their support.