PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Maeda (ranked 1130 p4p, 1906 weight class) and No Way (ranked 135 p4p, 217 weight class). Maeda comes to the cage accompanied by Submission. Thomas Maeda had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Maeda
vs
Way

169 cm
31
164
23 - 13 - 0

183 cm
29
168
13 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Dangerous GnP
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 23 - 13 - 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 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, No Way!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Way moves in looking to clinch but Maeda pushes him off.
Maeda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Way scores with a jab to the jaw.
Way looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Way darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Maeda waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Way.
Some wild striking there from Way.
No Way seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maeda pushes Way up against the cage in a clinch.
Maeda jumps guard but Way stands there with Maeda around his waist. Maeda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maeda has Way pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Way manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Way after a bit of a struggle.
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 looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Way after a bit of a struggle.
Maeda is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Way pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Maeda has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Way avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maeda prevents Way from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Way prevents the takedown attempt.

Way pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maeda works the jab nicely.
Way swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maeda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maeda just misses with a punch to the body.
Way tries to clinch but Maeda is having none of it.
Maeda lands a jab.
Way pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Maeda back to the cage. Way follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Way moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Maeda is rocked!
Maeda misses with the combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Way uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maeda.
Way unleashes a big counter combination but Maeda bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Way tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maeda wants to land a leg kick but Way is out of range.
Maeda uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Way has time to react.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Way as he jumps to the side.
Maeda shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Way slips under a jab from Maeda.
Way is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Way, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Way fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maeda was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maeda looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Way walks into a stiff left hand from Maeda.
Way misses with a series of wild punches.
Maeda is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Way plants his feet and throws a 3 punch combo. Miss, miss, boom! The third punch, a big right hook, connects right on the temple and drops Maeda to the mat, unconscious! This fight is all over! Maeda just couldn't keep out of the way of the whole flurry of punches!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). No Way!
Jumping up and down and very excited, No Way waved his t-shirt featuring MKFC 's logo in front of the cameras.
The defeated Thomas Maeda had this to say: 'Through Japanese translator to English. "My opponent was better today. I will not underestimate him next time"'.