PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jessie Lordd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazunori Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lordd comes into the arena with Bow Down blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Maeda's choice of entrance music: Gouryella. Kazunori Maeda has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jessie Lordd's chin.

Lordd
vs
Maeda

167 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jessie Lordd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazunori Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lordd looks for a takedown but Maeda sprawls well.
Maeda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maeda throws a right hand that Lordd ducks under and follows up with a left that Lordd also avoids with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Maeda. No joy for Lordd on that attempt.

Lordd has taken the fight to the clinch.

Maeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maeda stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jessie Lordd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda wants to slow Lordd down by chopping away at his legs.

Lordd shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lordd was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lordd 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.
Lordd breaks from Maeda's wrist control and lands an elbow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maeda can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lordd wants to finish this one by submission but Maeda is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lordd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Lordd.
Poor strikes thrown by Lordd there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Lordd unloading with bombs!
Lordd breaks from Maeda's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lordd breaks from Maeda's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lordd throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lordd unloading with bombs!
Lordd landing strikes from the mount.
Maeda is desperately trying to improve his position but Lordd has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lordd lands a big shot there that rocks Maeda but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Lordd has control of Maeda's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maeda regains control of the situation pretty easily.
BOOM! Lordd connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Lordd scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Lordd 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lordd landing strikes from the mount and Maeda is in trouble!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lordd cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Maeda looks gassed!
Lordd punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Lordd.
Maeda is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lordd landing strikes from the mount.
Maeda really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lordd. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A nice elbow there by Lordd.
Lordd landing shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lordd cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lordd landing punches.
Lordd landing strikes from the mount and Maeda is in trouble!
Lordd landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lordd in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Lordd fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is bucking up trying to escape but Lordd cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Lordd is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maeda can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Lordd lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lordd trying to control but Maeda is having none of it.
Lordd lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maeda hang on?

Lordd working for a submission but Maeda is keeping him at bay.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lordd landing strikes from the mount.
Maeda is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessie Lordd dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lordd closes the distance and clinches up with Maeda, looking for a takedown. Lordd pushes Maeda against the cage but Maeda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Lordd shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lordd showed some decent athleticism there.
Jessie Lordd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maeda keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Lordd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lordd prevents Maeda from improving his position.
Maeda trying to control here.
Maeda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lordd thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lordd working the head and body with strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lordd shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maeda pinned against the cage. Maeda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lordd checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Lordd drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lordd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maeda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lordd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lordd won't allow Maeda to sweep him here.
Maeda is breathing heavily.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Lordd from controlling successfully.
Lordd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lordd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lordd throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Lordd closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maeda to the mat! Maeda manages to get full guard.
Lordd trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.
Maeda is trying to keep Lordd in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lordd trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.
Lordd has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lordd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lordd is working Maeda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maeda wants to stand and escape but Lordd is having none of it.
Lordd lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lordd wants to control from the top but Maeda keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lordd uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maeda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Lordd looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maeda!
Lordd connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lordd scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Maeda is squirming around, avoiding Lordd's attempts to control the action.
Lordd fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Lordd looking to control but Maeda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessie Lordd dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Maeda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lordd tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maeda gets underhooks to prevent Lordd's takedown attempt.
Lordd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maeda blocks it with crossed arms.
Lordd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maeda is looking to break free of the clinch but Lordd has double underhooks.
Maeda takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maeda takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maeda scores with a shot to the side of Lordd's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lordd stalling the fight.
Lordd with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lordd keeps control of Maeda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lordd with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Maeda breaks the clinch.
Lordd shoots in for a double leg but Maeda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Maeda.
Maeda stuffs the takedown attempt from Lordd. Lordd gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jessie Lordd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lordd avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maeda tries to bum rush Lordd with a series of wild strikes but Lordd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lordd scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Lordd drops an elbow to the side of Maeda's head.
Lordd not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maeda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lordd.
Lordd lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lordd drops an elbow to the side of Maeda's head.
Maeda taking some punishment here, with Lordd in his half guard.
Lordd lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lordd throwing shots but Maeda is blocking nicely.
Lordd is nestled in close to Maeda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lordd missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lordd stalling.
Maeda is staying active underneath Lordd, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lordd moves into full mount! Maeda won't be happy about that!

Lordd working for a submission but Maeda is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is bucking up trying to escape but Lordd cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maeda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lordd is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maeda can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Maeda tries to hold on but Lordd pushes him away.
Lordd fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Lordd cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Lordd with a couple of short strikes.
Lordd landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lordd lands a big shot there that rocks Maeda but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Maeda avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lordd.
Lordd with the ground and pound from mount.
Lordd lands a big elbow.
Maeda taking shots to the head.
Lordd scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Maeda?
Lordd lands with some strikes.
Lordd is landing with some decent strikes but Maeda is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Lordd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maeda can do to turn this around?
Lordd raining down shots from the mount!
Maeda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jessie Lordd showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lordd, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jessie Lordd!