PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grey Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gomi
vs
Maynard

173 cm
29
162 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

177 cm
24
159 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite 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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grey Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maynard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Gomi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maynard to the mat! Maynard manages to get full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Maynard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gomi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gomi has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Gomi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maynard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maynard can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gomi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gomi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Gomi moves out of range of the strikes.
A combination from Gomi does no damage.
Maynard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Maynard blocks the leg kick.
Gomi lands a really nice looking cross but Maynard seems unphased.
Gomi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maynard backs up against the ropes.
Maynard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gomi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maynard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gomi circles away.

Gomi gets a clinch.
Gomi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maynard looking for a takedown.
Gomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maynard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gomi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Takanori Gomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grey Maynard.
Gomi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Gomi moves into range and clinches up with Maynard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maynard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gomi lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi connects with a knee to the head.
Gomi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Gomi manages to break the clinch.
Gomi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good exchange - Gomi coming out on top.
Gomi misses with a two punch combination.
Maynard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gomi pinned against the ropes. Gomi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gomi slips under a jab.
No joy there for Maynard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gomi throws a nice looking combination but Maynard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maynard throws out a powerful jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gomi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Gomi.
Maynard has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Takanori Gomi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gomi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Maynard is fending him off so far but Gomi persists. Nope, Maynard circles away and we're back to standing.
Gomi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maynard sprawls well. Maynard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gomi gets slowly back to his feet.
Gomi is breathing heavily.
Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomi tries for a takedown but Maynard circles away easily
and Maynard counters with a series of strikes. Gomi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maynard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi slips under a jab from Maynard.
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gomi lands with a slapping head kick.

Maynard gets caught flat footed, as Gomi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

Maynard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gomi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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.

Gomi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Maynard scores with a takedown into Gomi's guard.
Maynard trying to control but Gomi is working from the bottom.

Gomi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gomi scores with a one two! Maynard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gomi wants to clinch up but Maynard keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gomi looks to land a combination but Maynard avoids it well.
Maynard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gomi circles away.
Gomi moves in looking to clinch but Maynard pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Maynard misses the target.

Gomi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Gomi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maynard backwards.
Maynard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gomi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Maynard jumps guard but Gomi turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.

Gomi tightens his grip and picks Maynard up, before dumping him to the ground. Maynard manages to land in guard.
Gomi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Maynard is looking for a sweep.

Gomi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maynard to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi connects with a single shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maynard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gomi's guard.
Maynard is breathing heavily.

Gomi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maynard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gomi pushes Maynard off and gets back to his feet.
Maynard throws a nice looking combination but Gomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maynard shoots in but no luck this time.
Takanori Gomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grey Maynard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gomi tries to clinch but Maynard moves out of range.
Gomi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gomi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A left and a right from Gomi both land. Nice combination.
Nice defenses there by Gomi.
Gomi scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maynard misses with an uppercut.
Maynard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gomi feints a jab promting Maynard to slip. Gomi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Maynard slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Gomi moves into the clinch.
Gomi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gomi lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Gomi scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Gomi as the two fighters clinch.
Maynard is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Gomi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Maynard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gomi is defending well.
Maynard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gomi gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Gomi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Maynard regains guard immediately.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gomi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maynard 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.
Gomi advances position into side control!

Gomi has hold of Maynard's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Maynard seems comfortable defending it but Gomi has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Maynard is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Maynard is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Gomi couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Takanori Gomi!