PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Caldeira (ranked 584 p4p, 570 weight class) and Thomas Maeda (ranked 80 p4p, 76 weight class). Maeda is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Submission. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Caldeira
vs
Maeda

176 cm
29
162
9 - 1 - 0

169 cm
34
164
27 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Arturo Caldeira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caldeira throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like Maeda was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Caldeira.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maeda.

It looks like Arturo Caldeira has been cut.
Caldeira has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Roosters Coop in the buildup to the fight.
Caldeira throws out a loose jab but Maeda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maeda takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Maeda goes for a double leg but Caldeira avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Caldeira continues to drive forward.
No joy there for Maeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Caldeira tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maeda manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Caldeira wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maeda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Caldeira does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maeda misses with a jab, cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maeda avoids the head kick by Caldeira.
Caldeira pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maeda is out of range and Caldeira settles back down.
Caldeira misses with an uppercut
and Maeda counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maeda circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Maeda to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caldeira takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maeda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Caldeira throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Maeda drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Caldeira defends it well.
Caldeira wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Maeda drops Caldeira with a nice combination! Maeda dives into Caldeira's guard, looking to finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caldeira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maeda forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caldeira punching from the bottom.

Maeda looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Maeda is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caldeira makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Caldeira.
Maeda connects with a couple of short punches.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Caldeira swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Caldeira trying to keep a closed guard but Maeda is proving a slippery customer.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Caldeira is keeping the position.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Caldeira keeps moving.
Maeda stands and throws Caldeira's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Caldeira!

Maeda moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Caldeira has worked his arm free - good work by Caldeira!
Maeda lands a decent elbow from side control.
Caldeira is looking for a sweep.
Maeda wants to control but Caldeira is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Caldeira's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Caldeira on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Caldeira is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maeda's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Caldeira is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caldeira is trying to maintain the position but Maeda is very close to passing his half guard.

Maeda wants to work for an arm triangle but Caldeira is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Caldeira moves into full guard.
Maeda trying to control but Caldeira is working from the bottom.
Caldeira looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maeda trying to control but Caldeira is working from the bottom.
Maeda preventing the sweep.

Maeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Maeda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arturo Caldeira's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maeda checks a low kick from Caldeira.
Maeda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Caldeira looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Maeda closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Caldeira's guard.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Caldeira wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
Caldeira keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Caldeira swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda stopping the sweep attempt from Caldeira.
Caldeira wants to stand but Maeda is controlling the position.
Maeda working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda trying to control but Caldeira is working from the bottom.

Caldeira looking for a guillotine here but Maeda defends easily.
Caldeira working a defensive guard here.
Maeda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Maeda passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maeda lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caldeira struggling a bit here.
Maeda working the ground and pound from side control.
Maeda scores with a couple of short elbows.
Caldeira is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Maeda lands an elbow.
Check out the look on Maeda's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Maeda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maeda working the ground and pound.
Caldeira seems a little lost for a moment, as Maeda dominates the positioning.
Maeda working the ground and pound.
Caldeira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is trying to get back to full guard.

Maeda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Caldeira trying to control the pace.
Caldeira is keen to just control but Maeda is a slippery customer.
Thomas Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.

Caldeira is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Caldeira is looking to stall in half guard but Maeda is in no mood to hang around. He's locked up a Kimura from the bottom and has used it to sweep! He's held on to the kimura and is looking to finish here... will he get it... YES! Caldeira taps out and the crowd goes crazy! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thomas Maeda!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Thomas Maeda made sure he mentioned Kore Fight Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.