PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Karjalainen (ranked 2695 p4p, 3487 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 337 p4p, 430 weight class). Akira Maeda has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Karjalainen
vs
Maeda

187 cm
23
211
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
209
3 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Karjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karjalainen moves away from the strike by Maeda.
Maeda shoots for a takedown but Karjalainen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good work by Maeda as he checks the leg kick.
Maeda bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Karjalainen misses with a body shot.
Karjalainen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown but Karjalainen shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed right hand from Maeda misses the target.
Karjalainen is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karjalainen misses with a hook. Maeda ducked under it nicely.

Karjalainen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Karjalainen has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Maeda has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karjalainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karjalainen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maeda backwards.
Karjalainen tries to throw a body punch but Maeda avoids it by throwing Karjalainen back against the cage.
Maeda slows down the pace here.
Karjalainen misses with a punch to the body.
Maeda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Karjalainen walks away with a smile on his face. Maeda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Karl Karjalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Karjalainen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A jab lands there for Karjalainen.

Maeda is rocked!
Karl Karjalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karjalainen drops Maeda with a huge uppercut! Maeda drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Karjalainen is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karl Karjalainen!
After the fight, Karl Karjalainen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.