PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez has chosen PELIMUSA as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jose Sanchez enters the cage!

Maeda
vs
Sanchez

170 cm
35
142 lbs
30 - 22 - 0

178 cm
33
153 lbs
22 - 13 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 30 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Mitsuyo Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 2, fighting out of London, Jose Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch but Maeda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez works Maeda's body with a nice hook.

Maeda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanchez sprawls well initially but Maeda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sanchez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maeda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maeda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Maeda throwing strikes from guard but Sanchez blocks nicely.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maeda passes into half guard.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep. Maeda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda winds up and cracks Sanchez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanchez has Maeda pulled in close to control his posture.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jose Sanchez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a right hook to the body.
Maeda avoids a kick to the body.
Sanchez has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Maeda is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sanchez throws an overhand right that lands on Maeda's shoulder, as Maeda tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Maeda with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.
Sanchez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maeda with a poor takedown
and Sanchez counters with a right hand to the body.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sanchez.
Maeda doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanchez counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitsuyo Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanchez makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Maeda really felt that one!
Sanchez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Maeda shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sanchez's guard.
Sanchez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda stands up over Sanchez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanchez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mitsuyo Maeda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Maeda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sanchez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Maeda darts in looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets double underhooks and turns Maeda into the cage.
A short body shot lands from Sanchez as the two fighters clinch.
Sanchez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sanchez throws a punch but it's blocked by Maeda.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Sanchez manages to get underhooks.
Sanchez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maeda.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitsuyo Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sanchez after a bit of a struggle.
Sanchez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maeda up against the cage.
Maeda managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sanchez is defending well.
Sanchez tries to throw a body punch but Maeda avoids it by throwing Sanchez back against the cage.
Sanchez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maedas head.
Maeda looking for a takedown.
A short left from Sanchez.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.
Maeda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Sanchez manages to get underhooks.
Maeda has Sanchez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sanchez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sanchez lands a good knee to the midsection. Maeda won't want to take too many of those.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
Maeda avoiding damage as Sanchez throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sanchez can't fight it off and eventually Maeda manages to take the fight to the floor. Sanchez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sanchez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanchez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sanchez trying to control the position.
Maeda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to work some ground and pound but Sanchez has wrist control.
Mitsuyo Maeda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sanchez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maeda.
Maeda postures up in Sanchez's guard and throws a big left but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanchez has control of Maeda's left arm, preventing Maeda from doing any damage.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jose Sanchez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sanchez looks for the body kick but Maeda saw that one coming.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Sanchez circles away easily
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.

Sanchez has Maeda up against the cage in a clinch.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanchez but Sanchez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sanchez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maeda somewhat.
Jose Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maeda takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanchez stuffs the takedown.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanchez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maeda dives in and grabs Sanchez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sanchez 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.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez misses the shot to the body.
Sanchez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maeda sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maeda.
Maeda goes for a double leg but Sanchez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sanchez continues to drive forward.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sanchez.
Sanchez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Maeda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sanchez can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda cracks Sanchez with a big right hand but Sanchez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sanchez controls the position for a moment.
Maeda misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
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.
Sanchez manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maeda's best efforts.
Sanchez has his hands clasped together around Maeda's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez missing with punches from the bottom.
Maeda tries to pass to full mount but Sanchez defends it.
Sanchez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.
Sanchez trying to get back to full guard but Maeda takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Maeda scoring with strikes but Sanchez is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Maeda landing strikes from the mount.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maeda tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez tries to hold on but Maeda pushes him away.
Maeda raining down shots from the mount!
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sanchez hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda throwing strikes here but Sanchez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sanchez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Maeda.
Maeda lands a heavy elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda breaks from Sanchez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Maeda lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jose Sanchez!
Our winner, Jose Sanchez, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.