PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Maeda (ranked 338 p4p, 378 weight class) and Vinicius Verreira (ranked 48 p4p, 53 weight class). Maeda comes to the cage accompanied by Submission. Vinicius Verreira will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Maeda
vs
Verreira

169 cm
37
164
30 - 19 - 0

180 cm
28
160
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Pound Town INC

Voodoo Nutrition
FUClothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Maeda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinicius Verreira!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda looks to land a combination but Verreira avoids it well.
Maeda uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Verreira has time to react.

Verreira closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Maeda's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Verreira's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Verreira works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maeda is trying to maintain the position but Verreira is very close to passing his half guard.
Maeda throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Verreira is looking to take a break and control but Maeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maeda trying to hold on to Verreira's head to control him but Verreira postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verreira working over Maeda with some ground and pound. Maeda looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maeda wants to improve his position but Verreira is controlling well.
My spies in Gym inform me that Verreira has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Verreira wants to pass the guard but Maeda is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda wants to get back to full guard.
Verreira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Verreira trying to pass the guard but Maeda defending well.
Maeda is looking for a sweep. Verreira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Maeda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maeda tries to roll over but Verreira keeps him under control.

Verreira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maeda is just riding it out for now. Verreira eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maeda taking some punishment here, with Verreira in his half guard.
Verreira is trying to control the action in half guard but Maeda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maeda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Verreira's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Verreira's back!
Maeda lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maeda punishes Verreira with strikes from the back mount.
Verreira staying busy and making it hard for Maeda to control.
Maeda has the hooks in. Verreira is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Verreira trying to control the action but Maeda just sinks the hooks in.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Verreira's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The referee is taking a good look at Verreira as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Maeda!
Verreira looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verreira is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Maeda.
Verreira is trying to break free.
Maeda scores with punches from the back.
Verreira tries to break free.
Maeda has Verreira flattened out and is raining down punches.
I really don't envy Verreira right now.
Verreira trying to control the position but Maeda manages to sink in the hooks.
I really don't envy Verreira right now.
Verreira prevents Maeda from getting a body triangle.

Maeda is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Maeda lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verreira trying to control the position but Maeda manages to sink in the hooks.
Will Maeda go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Verreira is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maeda gets his way!
Verreira wants to escape the position.
Verreira rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Verreira wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Maeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Verreira does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Verreira is in trouble now - Maeda has advanced to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verreira taking shots to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Maeda dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sloppy strikes from Verreira. Those never looked like landing.
Verreira misses with a straight left.
Maeda tries to clinch up but Verreira circles away and keeps his distance.
Vinicius Verreira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda misses with a jab, cross combination.

Verreira closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maeda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Verreira smiles and moves away.
A jab from Verreira does it's job there.
Verreira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomas Maeda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verreira throws a jab when Maeda was well out of range.
Verreira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maeda manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda doesn't manage to clinch there - Verreira circles away.
Verreira appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maeda uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verreira.
Maeda throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little jabbing left from Verreira on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maeda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Verreira can do to turn this around?
Verreira misses with a straight right.
Verreira ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Verreira throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verreira walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Verreira looks to land a right hand but Maeda moved out of range.
Verreira with a nice cross.

Verreira takes the fight into the clinch.

Verreira has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Maeda clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Maeda trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Verreira lands a shot to the head.
Maeda is in bad spot here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Verreira has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maeda has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Maeda looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Verreira is looking to control Maeda but Maeda is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verreira doesn't have the hooks in and Maeda manages to turn into his guard.
Verreira wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
Verreira is still trying to improve position.
Maeda trying to control but Verreira is working from the bottom.
Maeda is pushing down on Verreira's leg trying to pass to half guard. Verreira is fighting to maintain full guard but Maeda has managed to sneak the leg through.
Verreira controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Verreira is defending well.
Verreira tries to get to full guard but Maeda has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a kimura but Verreira is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maeda to get the leverage.
Verreira controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Maeda is thwarting Verreira's attempts to control the position.
Maeda is trying to control the action in half guard but Verreira is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Verreira wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Verreira gets back to full guard.
Maeda slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Maeda in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verreira gets back to half guard.

Verreira actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda is keen to just control but Verreira is a slippery customer.
Verreira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Verreira regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Maeda.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maeda is working hard here to advance position.
Maeda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Verreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Verreira showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Verreira jabs Maeda to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Maeda swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Verreira scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Verreira throws out the jab.
Verreira stuns Maeda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maeda shoots and misses

and Verreira counters by clinching up.
Verreira misses with the head strike.
Verreira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Maeda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Maeda does it's job there.
Maeda lands with a good body shot.
Verreira ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Verreira ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maeda moves away.
It looked like Maeda wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Verreira uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maeda.
Maeda throws a hook but Verreira blocks it.
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!
Verreira works Maeda's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verreira closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Verreira lands in his opponent's guard.
Verreira trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maeda is looking for a triangle but Verreira pushes his legs off easily.
Verreira works over Maeda with some ground and pound from guard.
Maeda seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Maeda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Verreira's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Maeda looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Verreira tries to free his leg and advance position but Maeda is retaining full guard.
Verreira sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maeda's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verreira wants to control but Maeda is keeping him busy.
Verreira looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maeda with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Verreira lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Verreira is nestled in close to Maeda, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Verreira throwing shots but Maeda is blocking nicely.
Vinicius Verreira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maeda won't allow Verreira to pass to mount.

Verreira is looking for a kimura but Maeda is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Verreira to get the leverage.
Verreira is trying to control. Maeda wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Maeda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Verreira tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maeda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Verreira landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verreira stalling.
Maeda tries to get to full guard but Verreira has control of the leg.
Maeda on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Maeda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Verreira is pressing down on Maeda's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maeda is holding on for now.
Verreira passes to full mount!

Verreira jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maeda manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Verreira in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda manages to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Verreira connects with a nice short shot to Maeda's temple.
Maeda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Maeda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Verreira is one step ahead there.
Verreira working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Verreira throwing strikes but missing.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Verreira from controlling successfully.
Maeda controlling Verreira's posture.
Verreira pushing down on Maeda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Verreira really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Verreira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Verreira throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice straight punches there by Verreira. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Verreira.
Verreira throws a hook to the side of Maeda's head but Maeda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Verreira connects with a jab.
Verreira throws out a powerful jab.
Maeda sizes up Verreira with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Maeda throws a jab when Verreira was well out of range.
Maeda throws a body punch but Verreira moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verreira throws a jab but it's blocked by Maeda.
Maeda doesn't manage to clinch there - Verreira circles away.
Maeda looks for a takedown but Verreira sprawls well.
Verreira misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verreira swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maeda misses the jab.
Maeda takes one to the chin there.
Verreira slips a jab from Maeda.
Verreira misses with an uppercut
letting Maeda counter with a right hand.
No joy there for Maeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Verreira throws a combination that misses
and Maeda cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Maeda gets caught flat footed, as Verreira shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Verreira from controlling successfully.

Maeda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Verreira can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Verreira 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.
Verreira tries to free his leg and advance position but Maeda is retaining full guard.
Verreira trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.

Maeda is looking for a triangle but Verreira pushes his legs off easily.
Verreira keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maeda's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Maeda escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Verreira gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Maeda has an active guard here but Verreira has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Verreira moves into full mount! Maeda won't be happy about that!
Maeda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verreira tries to control but Maeda wriggling away.
Verreira lands a couple of good shots and Maeda has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Maeda is trying to break free.
Maeda is trapped and Verreira is scoring with shots to the head and body.
I would not like to be Maeda right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is trying to break free.
Maeda just trying to survive but Verreira is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Verreira tightening his grip on Maeda, looking for the choke.
Maeda tries to escape but Verreira has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Verreira working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Verreira patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verreira wants to control but Maeda is keeping busy.
Maeda is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Verreira dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Verreira has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maeda wants to take the fight to the mat but Verreira manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Verreira takes a shot to the head.
Verreira can't find room to land a body shot as Maeda controls the action.
Maeda misses with a punch to the body.
Verreira lands a nice uppercut.

Verreira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Verreira circles away easily

and Verreira counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Verreira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verreira throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vinicius Verreira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Verreira jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verreira scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Maeda scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Verreira takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maeda throws a series of punches but Verreira avoids them all with ease.

Maeda shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Verreira manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verreira seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Maeda won't allow Verreira to sweep him here.
Maeda with a nice head shot there.

Verreira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maeda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maeda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Verreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but Verreira gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Verreira is working Maeda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Maeda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Verreira defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verreira looking to pass the guard.
Verreira trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maeda wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas Maeda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Verreira not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maeda has his hands on Verreira's head, controlling the position.

Maeda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Vinicius Verreira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Verreira 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a triangle but Verreira pushes his legs off easily.
Verreira is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Maeda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Maeda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Verreira stands and throws Maeda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Maeda is looking to reverse the position.
Verreira in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinicius Verreira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verreira has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 46:49
Judge James Glass scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinicius Verreira!
Vinicius Verreira is the new lightweight champion!
Vinicius Verreira very nearly forgot to thank FUClothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
Thomas Maeda spoke after the fight, saying 'Through Japanese translator to English. "My opponent was better today. I will not underestimate him next time"'.