PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grey Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Namafuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Namafuri has chosen Lacrimosa as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maynard
vs
Namafuri

177 cm
24
164 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grey Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Namafuri!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Namafuri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maynard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Namafuri.
Maynard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Namafuri finds it's way round the side to connect with Maynard's head.
Namafuri throws a right hand that Maynard ducks under and follows up with a left that Maynard also avoids with ease.
Namafuri throws a right and a left that Maynard avoids nicely.
Maynard throws a predictable looking body shot
and Namafuri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Namafuri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maynard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Namafuri circles away quickly and effectively.
Namafuri loads up on a big right hand but Maynard slips the punch.
Namafuri misses with a series of wild punches.

Maynard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Namafuri was covering up waiting for the punch and Maynard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Namafuri is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maynard is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard wants to pass the guard but Namafuri is keeping the position.
Maynard trying to control but Namafuri is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Namafuri is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maynard wants to pass the guard but Namafuri is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Namafuri wants to stand up but Maynard is controlling him.
Maynard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Namafuri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maynard is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Maynard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Maynard jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Namafuri is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Namafuri and Maynard has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Maynard swings around for an armbar but Namafuri sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maynard's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namafuri tries to stand but Maynard is controlling from the bottom.

Maynard isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Namafuri stacks Maynard 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 Namafuri!
Maynard tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maynard is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Namafuri asserts his dominance and retains side control.
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 Grey Maynard will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Namafuri misses with a straight right.

Maynard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maynard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Namafuri rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maynard's guard! Nice work there by Namafuri!
Maynard wants to control but Namafuri passes easily into half guard.

Maynard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maynard is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maynard looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Namafuri pushes past his half guard into mount!
Namafuri is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Maynard tries to reverse the position but Namafuri maintains control.
Maynard is trying to reverse the position but instead Namafuri has taken his back - oops!
You can see the frustration on Maynard's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard trying to control the position but Namafuri manages to sink in the hooks.
Namafuri keeps control of the position as Maynard tries to break free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Namafuri's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Maynard prevents his opponent from getting back to his feet.
Namafuri controlling well, preventing Maynard from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard wants to control his opponent's hands but Namafuri gets his hands free.
I really don't envy Maynard right now.
Namafuri can't escape the position, to get back to his feet.
Namafuri is breathing heavily.
Despite being in a bad position, Maynard is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.
Namafuri keeps control of the position as Maynard tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Namafuri is looking to control Maynard but Maynard is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Maynard looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Namafuri is hanging on to Maynard's back as he tries to escape.
Grey Maynard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grey Maynard dominated that second round.
That's time! Maynard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maynard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Namafuri moves away.
Maynard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Namafuri.
Namafuri misses with a series of wild punches.
Namafuri connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Namafuri throws a jab but it's blocked by Maynard.
Namafuri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Namafuri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Namafuri swinging wildly here.
Maynard throws a series of strikes that have Namafuri backpedaling.
Namafuri misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namafuri throws a nice looking combination but Maynard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Namafuri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Namafuri looks to throw the jab but Maynard is out of range.
Maynard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Namafuri manages to avoid it.
Maynard misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab lands there for Namafuri.
Namafuri moves forwards but Maynard connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Maynard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Namafuri to the ground. Maynard is now in Namafuri's guard.
Maynard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Namafuri is keeping the position for now.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Namafuri keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Grey Maynard wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maynard throws a body punch but Namafuri moves out of range.
Maynard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maynard lands a slapping body shot.
Namafuri throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Namafuri throws a series of punches but Maynard avoids them all with ease.
Kenji Namafuri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namafuri throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Maynard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Maynard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Maynard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maynard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Namafuri keeps moving.
Maynard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maynard 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Grey Maynard wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maynard swings for the body but Namafuri moves out of range.
Namafuri falls off balance throwing a combination

and Maynard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maynard wants to pass the guard but Namafuri is defending well.

Maynard 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.
Grey Maynard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maynard content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grey Maynard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maynard, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grey Maynard!
A pretty intense looking Grey Maynard took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.