PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Maeda (ranked 975 p4p, 1466 weight class) and Kurt Jackson (ranked 132 p4p, 179 weight class). Maeda comes to the cage accompanied by Submission. Jackson has chosen Ladies & Gentlemen as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Maeda
vs
Jackson

169 cm
30
164
21 - 11 - 0

177 cm
24
166
7 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Kore Fight Nutrition

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Maeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kurt Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jackson circles away.
Maeda tries to clinch but Jackson moves out of range.
Maeda definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Maeda changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maeda throws a body punch but Jackson moves out of range.
Maeda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jackson wants to counter the offense by Maeda and move into the clinch position.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Good shot there by Maeda.
Maeda defending well as Jackson loads up on a big left hand.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
Maeda scores with a body shot.
Jab, jab by Jackson - just one landing.
Thomas Maeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda misses the body punch
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.
Jackson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maeda.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda scores with a decent looking hook.
Jackson slips under a jab.

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

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Maeda jumps guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jackson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maeda tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually Maeda drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maeda has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jackson is trying to keep an underhook but Maeda manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Maeda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jackson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jackson is trying to stand up here but Maeda is controlling him well.

Maeda seems to be working for a kimura but Jackson defends the submission attempt.
Maeda prevents Jackson from improving his position.
Maeda is nestled in close to Jackson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda prevents Jackson from improving his position.
Jackson has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maeda lands a nice short elbow.

Maeda wants to work for an arm triangle but Jackson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jackson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda is trying to control. Jackson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Maeda is working for a kimura but Jackson is defending it quite comfortably.

Maeda is trying to work for a kimura but Jackson is defending well.

Maeda is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maeda slips a nice elbow through Jackson's hands, connecting with Jackson's forehead.
Maeda scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maeda wants to work for an arm triangle but Jackson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maeda wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.
Maeda is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jackson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Maeda looks to land a strike but Jackson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Maeda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maeda landing some decent shots from guard.
Jackson is pulling down on Maeda's head to control his posture.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to advance position but Jackson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Maeda can't escape the position.
Maeda is working hard here to advance position.
Maeda wants to hold on but Jackson pushes him away.
Maeda sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Maeda actively working from the bottom here.
Maeda trying to control here.
Jackson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Maeda controls his leg.
Maeda tries to roll over but Jackson keeps him under control.
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 Thomas Maeda will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Maeda saw that one coming.
Maeda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jackson.
Maeda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jackson.
Jackson connects with a right hand. Maeda shakes it off.
Maeda works the jab nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Jackson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maeda closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jackson to the mat! Jackson manages to get full guard.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson, not yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jackson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maeda is aware though and is defending well.
Maeda is in close to Jackson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to keep Maeda in close.
Maeda is in close to Jackson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maeda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Maeda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Maeda isn't so interested in that idea.
Jackson keeping full guard, as Maeda tries to pass.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maeda is fighting to break Jackson's control of his arms but Jackson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Maeda trying to move into half guard but instead Jackson has managed to sweep!

Jackson wants to stand but Maeda is controlling his posture from full guard.

Maeda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jackson content to stall in guard here.
Jackson throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jackson postures up.

Jackson gets to his feet - Maeda follows without any prompting.
Kurt Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maeda connects with a looping right hand.
Jackson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maeda connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jackson momentarily.
Maeda throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jackson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maeda misses with a double jab.
Jackson throws a head kick that half lands.
Kurt Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda just misses with a punch to the body.
Jackson throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.
Kurt Jackson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maeda walks into a stiff left hand from Jackson.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Maeda misses the target.
Jackson is looking for the big counter here.
Maeda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jacksons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A looping hook to the body misses from Maeda. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maeda counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maeda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Jackson throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Jackson.
Jackson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maeda.
Jackson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Maeda will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Maeda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maeda.
Maeda moves away from the strike by Jackson.
Jackson takes one on the button.
Maeda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Maeda was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Jackson.
Maeda lands a body shot.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Jackson is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
Jackson connects with a looping right hand.
Maeda lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson throws a right and a left that Maeda avoids nicely.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Jackson kicks Maeda off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to wear down Jackson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Maeda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maeda lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maeda fails to land the takedown.
Maeda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson throws a body shot but no joy.
Jackson throws a hook but Maeda avoids it easily.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maeda. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maeda throws a lazy right hand but Jackson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maeda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Maeda misses with a straight left.
Maeda just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jackson misses with a few strikes there.
Maeda slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.
Jackson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Maeda finds it's way round the side to connect with Jackson's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.
Kurt Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maeda fails to land the takedown.
Jackson scores with a decent looking hook.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Jackson.

Maeda closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jackson to the mat! Jackson manages to get full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Jackson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Maeda has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jackson uses from the top position.
Maeda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Maeda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jackson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jackson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Maeda pushes a forearm under Jackson's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Jackson is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thomas Maeda!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Thomas Maeda waved his t-shirt featuring Kore Fight Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.