PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Le Blanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le Blanc is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I Know It's Over - By The Smiths. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maeda
vs
Le Blanc

170 cm
31
142 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

170 cm
34
136 lbs
24 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ultra Fight Gear

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsuyo Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kyle Le Blanc!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Le Blanc missing with a left hand there. Maeda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Le Blanc tries to land a front kick but Maeda steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Le Blanc keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Le Blanc misses with a wild body shot.
Maeda with a poor takedown
and Maeda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Le Blanc lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Maeda shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Le Blanc's guard.
Maeda lands a couple of digs.
Maeda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Le Blanc pulls Maeda in to control the position.
Le Blanc manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maeda is wriggling around trying to escape.
Le Blanc content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is trying desperately to improve position.
Maeda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maeda is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Le Blanc in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda wants to improve his position but Le Blanc is controlling well.
Le Blanc sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maeda wants to improve his position but Le Blanc is controlling well.
Maeda is not content to let Le Blanc control the position.
Le Blanc performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kyle Le Blanc.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda dives in and grabs Le Blanc's left leg, looking for a takedown. Le Blanc pushes down on Maeda's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitsuyo Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le Blanc misses with a straight left.
Le Blanc takes a swing at Maeda's ribcage but misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maeda checks a leg kick.
Maeda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Le Blanc scores with a kick to the body.
Le Blanc stuffs the takedown.
Maeda shoots in but no luck this time.
Le Blanc stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Le Blanc wants it to stay on the feet.
Maeda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Le Blanc. Le Blanc obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda ducks under a wild hook from Le Blanc.
Kyle Le Blanc is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maeda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Le Blanc pinned against the cage. Le Blanc gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Le Blanc fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maeda on the side of the head.
Maeda on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Le Blanc swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Le Blanc tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maeda was well out of range. Poor timing from Le Blanc.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Le Blanc sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Le Blanc displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maeda.
Le Blanc loads up on a big right hand but Maeda slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Le Blanc dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Le Blanc misses with a low kick.
Maeda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maeda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Le Blanc.
Le Blanc fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maeda on the side of the head.
Kyle Le Blanc seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maeda gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Le Blanc counter with a right hand.
Some bone on bone action there as Maeda checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maeda walks into a straight right hand from Le Blanc.
Le Blanc swings for the body but Maeda moves out of range.
Le Blanc is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Le Blanc throws out the jab.
Maeda blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda moves out of range as Le Blanc strikes.
Le Blanc throws a hook to the side of Maeda's head but Maeda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Le Blanc lands with a cross.
Maeda has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Le Blanc.

Maeda shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maeda showed some decent athleticism there.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Le Blanc wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Maeda wants to free his trapped foot but Le Blanc is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Le Blanc gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Blanc avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maeda 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.
Le Blanc looking for a sweep. Not yet Le Blanc, not yet.
Le Blanc looking to control.
Maeda scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda postures up in Le Blanc's guard and throws a big left but Le Blanc blocks it.
Mitsuyo Maeda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Le Blanc not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Le Blanc looking for a sweep. Not yet Le Blanc, not yet.
Maeda won't allow Le Blanc to get back to his feet.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Maeda is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Le Blanc has Maeda pulled in close to control his posture.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Maeda throws an elbow that misses. Le Blanc uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maeda's guard. Nice move by Le Blanc!
Maeda 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.
Le Blanc trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.
Le Blanc is stalling in the full guard.
Le Blanc must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Le Blanc stopping the sweep attempt from Maeda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Le Blanc's guard.
Le Blanc is controlling Maeda's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kyle Le Blanc was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Le Blanc tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maeda was well out of range. Poor timing from Le Blanc.
Le Blanc lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Le Blanc buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Le Blanc tries to land a body kick

and Maeda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maeda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Maeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyle Le Blanc will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Maeda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Maeda.
Maeda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Le Blanc lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Le Blanc.

It looks like Mitsuyo Maeda has been cut.
Le Blanc tries to land a leg kick but Maeda saw it coming and moves away.
Le Blanc stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Le Blanc wants it to stay on the feet.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maeda thows a huge punch but Le Blanc dodges it nicely.
Maeda is thwarting Le Blanc's attempts to control the position.
Le Blanc keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Blanc wants to get back to full guard.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Le Blanc works his way to full guard. Good work.
Maeda postures up.
Maeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maeda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Le Blanc is keeping the position for now.
Maeda preventing the sweep.
Le Blanc looking to control.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maeda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maeda preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Blanc utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maeda is fighting to break Le Blanc's control of his arms but Le Blanc is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Le Blanc preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maeda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Le Blanc's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Le Blanc is keeping the position.
Maeda postures up in Le Blanc's guard and throws a big left but Le Blanc blocks it.
Le Blanc manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maeda manages to get himself to full guard.
Le Blanc trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Le Blanc's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Le Blanc's guard.
Maeda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Le Blanc is keeping the position for now.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Maeda preventing the sweep.
Le Blanc trying to keep a closed guard but Maeda is proving a slippery customer.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Maeda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Le Blanc looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maeda is one step ahead there.
Maeda throws an elbow that misses. Le Blanc uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maeda's guard. Nice move by Le Blanc!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Le Blanc trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Le Blanc sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maeda tries to strike from the bottom.
Maeda wants to sweep here but Le Blanc controlling him for the moment.
Kyle Le Blanc is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Le Blanc advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda is looking to regain half guard here but Le Blanc keeps moving and retains side control.
Le Blanc wants to control but Maeda is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mitsuyo Maeda.
I think Le Blanc has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Le Blanc!
Kyle Le Blanc seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.