PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sora Izanagi (ranked 1836 p4p, 2978 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 249 p4p, 381 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Izanagi
vs
Maeda

190 cm
19
210
3 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
209
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sora Izanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izanagi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maeda checks a leg kick.
Maeda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Izanagi with a body shot.
Izanagi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Maeda misses with a looping left.
Izanagi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Izanagi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maeda.
Maeda lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Izanagi stuns Maeda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maeda has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Izanagi.
Maeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Izanagi manages to avoid it.
Maeda lands a jab to the head.
Izanagi misses with an uppercut.
A nice side step and Maeda releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda throws a sloppy body shot
and Izanagi counters with a stiff right hand.
Maeda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Izanagi lands a leg kick that knocks Maeda off balance momentarily.
Izanagi throws a looping overhand right but Maeda ducks down to avoid it.
Izanagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maeda.
Izanagi cracks Maeda with an open hand slap.
Izanagi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maeda circles away quickly and effectively.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
Izanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Izanagi connects with a right hand. Maeda shakes it off.
That kick from Izanagi tenderised Maeda's leg. Maeda is trying to keep his angry face on.
Izanagi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maeda throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice body kick from Izanagi.
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!
Izanagi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maeda is able to avoid easily.
Maeda throws a body shot but no joy.
Izanagi misses with a looping right.
And Maeda tries to counter it with a takedown but Izanagi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Izanagi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A good leg kick by Izanagi.
Izanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
A countering left hand to the body from Maeda misses.
Maeda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Izanagi.
Izanagi thumps Maeda with a low kick.
Izanagi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Izanagi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Izanagi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maeda misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Izanagi is looking to chop away at Maeda's legs.
Maeda is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Izanagi rather than just go for the knockout.
Izanagi misses with an uppercut. Maeda saw that one coming.
Maeda slips a jab from Izanagi.
Maeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Izanagi.
Maeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maeda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maeda takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Izanagi lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Maeda takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
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!
Maeda walks forward, straight into a front kick from Izanagi.
Maeda looks winded!
Izanagi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maeda looks to land a left hand but Izanagi moved out of range nicely.
Izanagi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Maeda's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Izanagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Izanagi lands a nice hook to Maeda's body. Maeda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Izanagi throws an overhand right that lands on Maeda's shoulder, as Maeda tries to avoid the shot.
Izanagi lands a jab-cross combination.
Izanagi throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sora Izanagi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Izanagi tries a low kick but Maeda avoids it.
A nice side step and Maeda releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Maeda takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Izanagi scores with a shot to the body.
A big left from Izanagi misses.
Izanagi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maeda checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
And Maeda tries to counter it with a takedown but Izanagi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Maeda cracks Izanagi with an open hand slap.
Maeda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Maeda might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Izanagi has got the better of the exchanges.
Maeda blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Izanagi.
Maeda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maeda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Maeda scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sora Izanagi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Izanagi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maeda can do to turn this around?
Izanagi connects with a crisp jab.
Izanagi scores with a head kick.
Izanagi scores with a hook.

Maeda is rocked!
Izanagi connects with a solid leg kick.
Maeda ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maeda tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A nice leg kick from Izanagi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Izanagi cracks Maeda with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maeda is still on wobbly legs! Can Izanagi finish him?
Izanagi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maeda throws a body shot but no joy.
Maeda seems to have recovered his senses.
A head kick misses from Izanagi.
Maeda is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Izanagi with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maeda checks it well.
Izanagi throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Izanagi misses with a kick to the body

and Maeda counters with a single leg into guard. Izanagi didn't expect that.

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

Izanagi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Izanagi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maeda on the side of the head.
Izanagi lands a front kick.
A jab from Izanagi misses.
Maeda feints the counter takedown.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Izanagi manages to avoid it.
Maeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Izanagi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Izanagi connects with a solid leg kick.
Sora Izanagi is winning the standup battle so far.
A good leg kick by Izanagi.
Maeda cracks a nice hook into Izanagi's ribs.
Izanagi connects with an inside leg kick.
Izanagi scores with a body shot.
Izanagi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maeda was well out of range. Poor timing from Izanagi.
Izanagi tries to land a front kick but Maeda steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Maeda changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Izanagi defending well as Maeda loads up on a big left hand.
Izanagi throws a hook but Maeda avoids it easily.
Izanagi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maeda has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Izanagi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi throws an overhand right that lands on Maeda's shoulder, as Maeda tries to avoid the shot.
Maeda checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Izanagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Izanagi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Izanagi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Izanagi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Izanagi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maeda throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Izanagi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Izanagi misses with a hook

and Maeda counters with a shoot takedown. Izanagi fights it but they end up in guard.
Maeda slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sora Izanagi dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Izanagi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Izanagi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Izanagi is looking to chop away at Maeda's legs.
Izanagi throws a shot from downtown. Maeda moves away and avoids it.
Maeda is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Maeda looks to land a left hand but Izanagi moved out of range nicely.
Maeda checks a low kick from Izanagi.
Maeda feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izanagi misses with an uppercut.
Izanagi cracks a nice hook into Maeda's ribs.
Izanagi throws a head kick but Maeda moves out of range.
Maeda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Izanagi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Maeda throws a lazy right hand but Izanagi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Izanagi with the inside leg kick.
Izanagi takes one to the chin there.
You can see that Maeda has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
A big right from Izanagi misses.
Izanagi is looking to chop away at Maeda's legs.
Maeda checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maeda appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maeda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Izanagi manages to avoid it.
Sora Izanagi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Maeda as he checks the leg kick.
Maeda feints the counter takedown.
Decent striking displayed by Maeda there.
Izanagi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maeda.
Izanagi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Izanagi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Izanagi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice jab there from Maeda.
Izanagi slips a jab from Maeda.
A little feinted left hand from Izanagi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Maeda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice defenses there by Izanagi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maeda scores with a jab to the head.
Maeda misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda slips under a jab.
Izanagi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Maeda checks a low kick from Izanagi.
A jab lands there for Izanagi.
A cross from Izanagi lands.
Maeda misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Izanagi.
Izanagi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maeda throws a body punch but Izanagi moves out of range.
Akira Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Izanagi scores with a kick to the body.
Izanagi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maeda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda looks to land a left hand but Izanagi moved out of range nicely.
Izanagi lands a nice hook to Maeda's body. Maeda takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Izanagi scores with a hook.
Maeda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maeda stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Izanagi.
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!
Maeda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Izanagi's waist but Izanagi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maeda off to one side.
No joy there for Izanagi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maeda swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Izanagi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maeda has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Izanagi lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sora Izanagi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Izanagi, 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sora Izanagi!
A very excited looking Sora Izanagi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.