PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Pitbull (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.

Maeda
vs
Pitbull

177 cm
31
166 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

180 cm
30
152 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitsuyo Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Roy Pitbull!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pitbull sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pitbull fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maeda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pitbull.
Pitbull fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pitbull tries to close the distance and clinch but Maeda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maeda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pitbull moves out of range as Maeda throws a body kick.
Pitbull bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maeda's head.
Pitbull misses with a leg kick

and Maeda counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maeda.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Pitbull looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pitbull wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
Pitbull keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Maeda pushes down on Pitbull's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitbull moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pitbull keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Pitbull is trying to control the position but Maeda postures up.
Pitbull tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pitbull throws his legs up looking for a submission but Maeda uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Pitbull regains half guard.
Pitbull works his way to full guard. Good work.

Pitbull is looking for a triangle but Maeda pushes his legs off easily.
Pitbull working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maeda.
Pitbull is looking to stand up but Maeda isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pitbull wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pitbull is on top in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pitbull missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pitbull stands up over Maeda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pitbull working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maeda's head.
Pitbull tries to free his leg and advance position but Maeda is retaining full guard.
Maeda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maeda prevents Pitbull from getting the reversal.
Pitbull keeps trying to improve his position.

Maeda working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pitbull really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pitbull is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pitbull is squirming around, avoiding Maeda's attempts to control the action.
Pitbull is looking to improve his position but Maeda isn't that keen on the idea.
Maeda raining down shots from the mount!
Maeda landing strikes from the mount and Pitbull is in trouble!
Maeda unloading with bombs!
Maeda landing shots from mount.
Pitbull regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda is looking to advance position but Pitbull won't allow it.
Pitbull wants to get back to full guard.

Pitbull is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maeda pulls his head out easily.
Pitbull slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Maeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pitbull 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.
Maeda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pitbull is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Pitbull escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maeda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Pitbull is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roy Pitbull will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pitbull displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maeda.
Pitbull looks for a takedown but Maeda sprawls well.
Pitbull changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maeda throws a body kick that misses.
Mitsuyo Maeda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maeda misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maeda shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pitbull pinned against the cage. Pitbull gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maeda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pitbull.
Pitbull shoots in for a takedown but Maeda shows good takedown defense.
Pitbull throws a right hand that Maeda ducks under and follows up with a left that Maeda also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pitbull throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pitbull fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maeda avoids the body shot from Pitbull.
A telegraphed right hand from Pitbull misses the target.
Pitbull swings widly with a right hand

and Maeda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pitbull!
Maeda working the ground and pound but Pitbull is defending the strikes.
Pitbull is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Maeda is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pitbull tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mitsuyo Maeda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pitbull regains half guard.
Pitbull tries to roll over but Maeda keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a kimura here.
Maeda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pitbull keeps working.

Pitbull looking for submissions off his back.
Maeda is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pitbull!
Maeda dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda prevents Pitbull from getting the reversal.
Maeda trying to control but Pitbull is having none of it.
Pitbull slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Maeda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pitbull wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Pitbull rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pitbull manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pitbull swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pitbull tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda trying to control but Pitbull is working from the bottom.
Maeda stops Pitbull from standing up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maeda wants to control from the top but Pitbull keeps moving.
Maeda is pushing down on Pitbull's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pitbull is fighting to maintain full guard but Maeda has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maeda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Maeda lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maeda is trying to take his opponent's back.
Pitbull can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pitbull misses with a straight left.
A combination from Maeda does no damage.
Pitbull tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maeda paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pitbull throws a jab but it's blocked by Maeda.
Maeda misses with a body kick.
Pitbull fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maeda manages to avoid it.
Roy Pitbull seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maeda jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pitbull moves out of range as Maeda strikes.
Maeda shoots in but Pitbull avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pitbull throws a body punch but Maeda moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pitbull fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maeda manages to avoid it.

Pitbull moves into the clinch successfully.
Maeda gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pitbull.

Pitbull successfully pulls guard.
Maeda looking to pass the guard.
Maeda preventing the sweep.
Maeda stands and throws Pitbull's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pitbull is looking to regain half guard here but Maeda keeps moving and retains side control.
Maeda trying to control the action but Pitbull is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pitbull is looking to regain half guard here but Maeda keeps moving and retains side control.
Maeda has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pitbull is looking to improve his position but Maeda isn't that keen on the idea.
Maeda wants to take his opponent's back but Pitbull doesn't allow it.

Maeda looking to secure an arm triangle but Pitbull defends it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maeda with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Maeda cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pitbull is desperately trying to improve his position but Maeda has a good base and remains in mount.
Pitbull is still trying to improve position.
Maeda wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Pitbull wants to control but Maeda is having none of it.
Pitbull is looking to get to half guard.
Maeda with good strikes from the mount here!
Pitbull tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pitbull gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Pitbull tries to roll over but Maeda keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Maeda.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda is thwarting Pitbull's attempts to control the position.
Pitbull wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Pitbull takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Maeda is trying to work for a kimura but Pitbull is defending well.
Maeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pitbull defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maeda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pitbull doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maeda.
Pitbull slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitsuyo Maeda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maeda has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsuyo Maeda!
After winning the bout, Mitsuyo Maeda thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.