PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ko 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.

Stevenson
vs
Maeda

176 cm
23
164 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

168 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ko Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevenson rushes Maeda and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
Maeda avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Maeda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevenson crunches a lovely knee into Maeda's ribcage.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Ko Maeda has been cut.
Stevenson lands an elbow that stopped Maeda in his tracks for a moment.

Stevenson successfully pulls guard.
Maeda wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maeda's guard.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Maeda looks gassed!
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Maeda keeps moving.
Stevenson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control from the top but Maeda keeps moving.
Stevenson passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Stevenson stands up.
Maeda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maeda keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Stevenson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stevenson won't allow Maeda to get back to his feet.
Stevenson passes into half guard.
Stevenson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Stevenson prevents Maeda from standing back up.

Stevenson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stevenson. Stevenson obviously looking to wear him down.

Stevenson clinches with his opponent.
Maeda takes a knee right on the jaw!
Stevenson looking to throw knees to the head but Maeda is blocking nicely.
Stevenson misses with a knee to the head.
Stevenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stevenson lands an elbow that stopped Maeda in his tracks for a moment.
Maeda dodges an elbow strike from Stevenson.
Stevenson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maeda pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stevenson fails with the takedown.
Ricky Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson shoots in and drives through. Maeda sprawls well.
Maeda throws a right hand that Stevenson ducks under and follows up with a left that Stevenson also avoids with ease.
Maeda swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Stevenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maeda!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maeda is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ko Maeda's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maeda looks for the body kick but Stevenson saw that one coming.
Stevenson shoots for a double leg takedown but Maeda sprawls well. He's pushed Stevenson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevenson misses with a takedown
and Maeda counters with a low kick, right behind Stevenson 's knee.
Maeda throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.
Maeda throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stevenson's head.
Maeda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maeda as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stevenson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda tries to clinch up

and Stevenson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maeda trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Maeda manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Stevenson looking to control.
Maeda wants to get up but he can't break Stevenson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stevenson trying to keep a closed guard but Maeda is proving a slippery customer.

Stevenson is looking for a triangle but Maeda pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Stevenson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maeda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maeda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maeda wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda wanted to stand there but Stevenson had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maeda's guard.

Stevenson has gone for a leg lock! Maeda slips out almost immediately though and dives into Stevenson's guard.

Stevenson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Maeda is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stevenson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Maeda's back instead.
Stevenson trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson 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.

Maeda fending off the submission attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson looking to hold on to the position here but Maeda rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Stevenson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maeda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maeda has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ko Maeda's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maeda moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Maeda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Maeda.
Stevenson has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevenson instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stevenson wants the takedown. Maeda is fighting it off but Stevenson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maeda's guard against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stevenson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maeda is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stevenson is controlling him.
Ricky Stevenson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevenson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Stevenson passes Maeda's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stevenson stalling.
Stevenson is trying to control. Maeda wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Stevenson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maeda is just riding it out for now. Stevenson eventually gives up the hold.
Stevenson wants to take a breather but Maeda is having none of it.
Maeda pushes Stevenson off looking to stand but Stevenson dives back in and keeps control.

Stevenson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maeda manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ricky Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maeda looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maeda fails with the takedown

and Stevenson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maeda's guard now.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stevenson is stalling in the full guard.
Ko Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stevenson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Stevenson!