PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emanoel Moreno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maeda has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mitsuyo Maeda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Moreno
vs
Maeda

185 cm
35
175 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

177 cm
31
168 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emanoel Moreno!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moreno ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Moreno throws a low kick, looking for Maeda's leg but Maeda calmly moves out of range.
Maeda lands a head kick!
Moreno steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Maeda. That one must have hurt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maeda, as that shot connected.
Moreno does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maeda checks a low kick from Moreno.
Moreno thows a leg kick but Maeda checks it

so Maeda counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Moreno wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
Moreno has Maeda pulled in close to control his posture.
Maeda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Emanoel Moreno.
Maeda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maeda connects with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Maeda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maeda lets loose with a powerful body kick. Moreno will feel that in the morning.
Moreno blocks a leg kick.
Moreno misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Maeda throws a head kick but Moreno moves out of range.
Maeda rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Moreno moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Moreno checks a low kick from Maeda.
Moreno throws a head kick that misses.
Moreno throws a leg kick that is checked

and Maeda counters with a single leg into guard. Moreno didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moreno has control of Maeda's left arm, preventing Maeda from doing any damage.
Moreno's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Maeda trying to control but Moreno is working from the bottom.
Moreno looking for a sweep. Not yet Moreno, not yet.
We've been hearing good reports from Moreno's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maeda is fighting to break Moreno's control of his arms but Moreno is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Emanoel Moreno just wasn't active enough.
Maeda falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Maeda looks winded!
Moreno on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Maeda. Maeda obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from Moreno is predictable there

and Maeda counters with a takedown into side control.
Moreno manages to get back to half guard.
Maeda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Moreno is not content to let Maeda control the position.
Maeda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moreno gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreno 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.
Moreno trying to control the position here.
Moreno manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Moreno content just to control the position here.
Moreno tries to control but Maeda wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moreno lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maeda throws a push kick but Moreno slaps the foot to one side.
Moreno wants to slow Maeda down by chopping away at his legs.
Moreno misses with a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Moreno blocks the low kick.
Maeda throws a head kick that misses.
Moreno attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Moreno keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maeda.
Moreno misses with an attempted mid kick.
Moreno thows a leg kick but Maeda checks it

and Maeda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maeda is breathing heavily.
Moreno is refusing to be controlled, as Maeda sits in half guard.
Moreno is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moreno.
Moreno wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Moreno looking to control.
Moreno is pulling down on Maeda's head. It's preventing any offense from Maeda, at least for the moment.

Emanoel Moreno has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A punch combination from Maeda misses.
Maeda misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moreno throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Maeda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A jab from Maeda misses.
Maeda throws a looping overhand right but Moreno ducks down to avoid it.
Maeda throws a sloppy head kick and Moreno moves out of range easily.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Maeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Moreno stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maeda.
Moreno walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maeda checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A leg kick checked by Maeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda pivots, looking for a leg kick but Moreno is out of range and Maeda settles back down.
Mitsuyo Maeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maeda tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maeda walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Moreno checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Moreno moves out of range as Maeda throws a body kick.
Moreno misses with a low kick as Maeda jumps back.
Maeda connects with a high kick.
Maeda tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mitsuyo Maeda seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Moreno.
Maeda loads up on a big right hand but Moreno slips the punch.
A leg kick checked by Moreno.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maeda connects with a leg kick. Moreno looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Maeda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maeda connects with an inside leg kick.
Moreno motions for Maeda to come forward. Moreno throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maeda is looking to chop away at Moreno's legs.
Maeda is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Maeda misses with a double jab.
Maeda throws a hook to the side of Moreno's head but Moreno sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moreno throws a front kick aimed at Maeda's knee but Maeda avoids it well.
Maeda blocks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Maeda lands with a kick to the temple. Moreno shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Maeda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maeda throws a low kick but Moreno moves out of range easily.
Moreno avoids a kick to the body.
Moreno throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Maeda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maeda postures up in Moreno's guard and throws a big left but Moreno blocks it.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Moreno is retaining full guard.
Moreno keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Moreno is pulling down on Maeda's head to control his posture.
Moreno is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moreno is controlling the pace.
Maeda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maeda keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moreno is stalling here. Maeda is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Moreno seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Maeda has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Moreno manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Maeda is looking to advance position but Moreno won't allow it.
Moreno is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maeda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maeda's back!
Maeda prevents Moreno from getting a body triangle.

Moreno is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Maeda defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Emanoel Moreno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Moreno working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mitsuyo Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moreno frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moreno working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Maeda tries to hold on but Moreno postures up.
Maeda tries to reverse the position but Moreno maintains control.
Moreno controlling from mount.
Moreno lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreno tries to control but Maeda wriggling away.
Maeda felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Moreno scoring with strikes but Maeda is staying in there.
Maeda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Moreno jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maeda manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Moreno trying to control the position but Maeda is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda taking a bit of punishment here - Moreno scoring with strikes.
Moreno working the head and body with strikes.
Moreno throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Moreno tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Moreno has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maeda is looking to regain half guard here but Moreno keeps moving and retains side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moreno creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Maeda sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Moreno's best efforts.

Moreno is trying to work for a kimura but Maeda is defending well.
Moreno not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emanoel Moreno showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maeda 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsuyo Maeda!
Mitsuyo Maeda is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Mitsuyo Maeda made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Emanoel Moreno was interviewed post fight and said 'Thanks all. Stepping down from MMA now. You'll still get to see me, and my style, in our grappling tourneys. It was a pleasure.'.