PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuhiro Ishida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maia
vs
Ishida

176 cm
30
156 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

167 cm
24
153 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mitsuhiro Ishida!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.

Maia closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ishida tries to circle away but Maia has him pinned against the cage.

Ishida breaks the clinch.

Ishida clinches up against the cage.
Ishida tries to break free but Maia pushes him back against the cage.
Ishida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ishida has had enough of the clinch but Maia keeps him there for the moment.
Maia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ishida pulls his leg out and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maia tries for a takedown but Ishida manages to get underhooks.

Ishida gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Ishida 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ishida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Ishida from controlling successfully.
Maia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Maia is working for a kimura but Ishida is defending it quite comfortably.
Ishida looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ishida with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ishida trying to control but Maia postures up.
Ishida might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maia haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Maia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ishida is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maia scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ishida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ishida.

Ishida is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maia is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishida has wrist control.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Maia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ishida looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ishida looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ishida!
Ishida in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Maia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ishida sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ishida pulls his head out easily.
Ishida with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Maia punching from the bottom.
Maia is looking to improve his position.
Ishida is nestled in close to Maia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maia tries to roll over but Ishida keeps him under control.
Well, if Ishida 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mitsuhiro Ishida will probably get the nod.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ishida shoots in looking for a takedown but Maia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ishida's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ishida as he jumps to the side.

Ishida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ishida showed some decent athleticism there.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Ishida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ishida is trying to control the action in half guard but Maia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maia punching from the bottom.
Ishida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mitsuhiro Ishida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ishida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maia shoots for a takedown but Ishida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishida scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ishida misses with a takedown attempt - Maia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia misses with a takedown

and Ishida counters with a single leg into guard. Maia didn't expect that.
Mitsuhiro Ishida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Ishida from controlling successfully.
Ishida won't allow Maia to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishida stands and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ishida tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is being controlled here.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Maia is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Ishida is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Maia is squirming around, avoiding Ishida's attempts to control the action.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia 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.
Ishida controlling the position easily from mount.
Ishida breaks from Maia's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishida working the ground and pound effectively.
Maia working to try and regain half guard.
Ishida content just to control the position here.
Maia gets back to half guard.
Maia is not content to let Ishida control the position.

Ishida is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maia defends it well.
Ishida prevents Maia from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishida trying to pass the guard but Maia defending well.
Ishida trying to control from half guard but Maia is working away.
Ishida tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ishida slips nicely into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maia gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuhiro Ishida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ishida displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maia throws out the jab.

Ishida looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Maia!
Ishida scoring with punches and elbows.
Ishida wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.
Maia tries to bench press Ishida off him but Ishida keeps the position.
Ishida working the body and head with strikes.
Maia tries to bench press Ishida off him but Ishida keeps the position.
Ishida lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Maia down.
Maia is trying to work for a sweep but Ishida has mounted him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ishida prevents Maia from getting the reversal.
Ishida 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 one minute gone in the round.
Maia is in a horrible position here. Ishida smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ishida takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ishida looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Ishida connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ishida prevents Maia from getting the reversal.
Ishida controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishida trying to control but Maia is having none of it.
Maia regains half guard.
Ishida wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mitsuhiro Ishida wasn't active enough on the ground.
Maia lunges at Ishida with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ishida's hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice sprawl there from Ishida as Maia shoots in.

Ishida instigates a clinch.
Maia is looking for a takedown.
Ishida pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Ishida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ishida moves into range and clinches up with Maia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishida stops a takedown attempt from Maia.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maia gets underhooks to prevent Ishida's takedown attempt.
Ishida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ishida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ishida scores with a head kick. Maia tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ishida connects with a body shot that sends Maia's belly button to the back.
John Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia is looking to clinch.
Maia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ishida throws out the jab.
Maia tries to clinch up.
Maia throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Maia with that takedown attempt.
Ishida fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maia avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia thows a body shot but no joy.

Ishida has Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ishida is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ishida blocks a body shot from Maia.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ishida prevents it.
Ishida missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitsuhiro Ishida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ishida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsuhiro Ishida!