PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sven Dufva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (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.

Dufva
vs
Maeda

189 cm
30
177 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

177 cm
34
178 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

VIRAL COMBAT
Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sven Dufva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dufva on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Dufva tries to sprawl but Maeda drives through with a takedown into half guard.
My spies in Brazilian Elite Team inform me that Maeda has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Dufva is trying to get back to full guard.
Maeda is pressing down on Dufva's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dufva is holding on for now.
Dufva is looking to control Maeda's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dufva avoid being mounted?
Maeda has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dufva tries to hold on but Maeda pushes him away.
Maeda lands a couple of good shots and Dufva has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is trying to stick to Dufva's back but Dufva is turning into Maeda. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Maeda's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dufva.
Dufva throwing strikes from guard but Maeda blocks nicely.
Dufva postures up in Maeda's guard and throws a big left but Maeda blocks it.
Maeda is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dufva lands a couple of elbows.
Dufva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dufva preventing the sweep.
Dufva wants to pass the guard but Maeda is keeping the position.
Dufva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maeda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dufva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dufva wants to pass the guard but Maeda is keeping the position.
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.
Dufva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dufva throws a strike but Maeda rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dufva is trying to keep Maeda in close.
Maeda landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dufva is trying to keep Maeda in close.
Maeda with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dufva has control of Maeda's left arm, preventing Maeda from doing any damage.
Dufva can't keep his opponent in guard - Maeda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Maeda uses his free foot to push down on Dufva's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dufva.
Dufva is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maeda trying to control but Dufva is having none of it.
Maeda pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dufva tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maeda is landing with some decent strikes but Dufva is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Dufva that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maeda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Maeda there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Maeda prevents Dufva from getting the reversal.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maeda postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dufva looks a forlorn figure.
Maeda working Dufva over with strikes here.
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 the left hand but Dufva avoids the punch easily.
Maeda misses with a leg kick.
Dufva misses with a leg kick.
Dufva misses with a kick to the body.
Dufva just misses with a punch to the body.
Maeda swings widly with a right hand

and Dufva counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dufva.
Dufva misses with a knee to the head.
Maeda lands a nice uppercut.
Maeda pushes Dufva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maeda can't find room to land a body shot as Dufva controls the action.
A right handed body shot lands from Dufva.

Maeda turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maeda manages to end up in side control.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maeda wants to control but Dufva is keeping him busy.
Dufva is looking to regain half guard here but Maeda keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dufva defending against the ground and pound.
Dufva is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Maeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dufva manages to get to full guard.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Dufva keeps moving.
Maeda looking to pass the guard.
Dufva wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda slips nicely into half guard.
Dufva manages to get to full guard.
Dufva has his hands on Maeda's head, controlling the position.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dufva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maeda tries to hold on but Dufva pushes him away.
Dufva misses with a head shot.
Maeda is working to get back to half guard.
Maeda is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Dufva looking to secure an arm triangle but Maeda defends it well.
Mitsuyo Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maeda working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dufva.
Maeda wants to hold on but Dufva pushes him away.
Maeda holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dufva tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dufva throwing strikes but Maeda recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Dufva is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dufva wants to control but Maeda is keeping him busy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dufva throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Maeda to regain full guard.
Maeda controlling Dufva's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dufva.
Dufva with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Dufva dominated that second 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.

Maeda lands with a nice body punch.
Dufva throws a leg kick that is checked

and Maeda counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dufva's guard now.
Dufva 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.
Dufva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dufva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dufva's guard.
Maeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dufva's head.
Dufva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dufva.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Dufva keeping full guard, as Maeda tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maeda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dufva has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maeda has managed to get both his arms back between Dufva's legs - danger averted.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but Dufva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maeda wants to sweep here but Dufva controlling him for the moment.
Maeda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Maeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dufva is controlling Maeda's trapped leg to prevent Maeda from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Maeda 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.
Dufva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.
Maeda misses with a head shot. Dufva uses the momentum to regain guard.
Maeda trying to control but Dufva is working from the bottom.
Maeda won't allow Dufva to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda postures up.

Maeda looking to improve position, pressing down on Dufva's thigh with his hand. Dufva seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Maeda paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Maeda's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Dufva picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sven Dufva!
A victorious Sven Dufva thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.