PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zak Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenji Ueda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ueda has chosen Requiem for a Dream as his entrance music. Zak Maxwell is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Maxwell
vs
Ueda

175 cm
19
167 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
161 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Grappling Pro Gear
Grappling Pro Gear

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zak Maxwell!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jenji Ueda!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maxwell slaps away a takedown attempt from Ueda, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maxwell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ueda counters with a series of strikes. Maxwell will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maxwell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maxwell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ueda misses with a straight left.
Ueda is looking to clinch but Maxwell is avoiding it.
Maxwell throws a chopping leg kick but Ueda manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maxwell with a poor takedown

and Ueda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ueda tries to stand but Maxwell is controlling from the bottom.
Maxwell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Maxwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ueda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Maxwell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ueda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ueda 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.

Maxwell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maxwell is breathing heavily.

Ueda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ueda thows a big elbow that misses.
Ueda wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ueda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ueda wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.
Ueda is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Maxwell looking to control.
Maxwell looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Maxwell working a defensive guard here.
Ueda trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.

Maxwell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ueda defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ueda tries to clinch up but Maxwell circles away and keeps his distance.
Ueda lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Zak Maxwell has been cut.
Maxwell has his takedown stuffed

and Ueda counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Maxwell is rocked!
Ueda 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.
Oh Maxwell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ueda trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ueda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maxwell seems to have got his legs back now.
Ueda with a flurry of punches that miss.

Maxwell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ueda postures up.
Ueda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maxwell is keeping the position for now.

Maxwell throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ueda uses it to pass to side control.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ueda scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maxwell to see if he's OK.
Ueda in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ueda wants to control but Maxwell is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenji Ueda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zak Maxwell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ueda.
Ueda fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ueda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maxwell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maxwell shoots in and drives through. Ueda sprawls well.
Maxwell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ueda pinned against the cage. Ueda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maxwell tries for a takedown but Ueda circles away easily
and Ueda counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Maxwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ueda shoots and misses

and Maxwell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maxwell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maxwell tries to pass to full mount but Ueda defends it.
Maxwell is trying to control the action in half guard but Ueda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell passes the guard and advances to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maxwell punching from mount but Ueda doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Ueda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maxwell is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ueda can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Maxwell trying to control but Ueda is having none of it.
Ueda is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maxwell avoids the attempt from Ueda to control.
Maxwell unloading with bombs!
Ueda is looking to improve his position but Maxwell isn't that keen on the idea.

Maxwell goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ueda is on top in guard.

Maxwell throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ueda escapes and throws Maxwell's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ueda is looking to take a break and control but Maxwell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ueda misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Maxwell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ueda off and has taken his back!
Ueda is trying to stand back up.
Ueda is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Maxwell wants to control but Ueda manages to buck him off and is now in Maxwell's guard! Nice work there by Ueda!

Ueda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ueda wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.
Ueda tries to free his leg and advance position but Maxwell is retaining full guard.
Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.
Ueda thows a big elbow that misses.
Maxwell looking to control.
Ueda trying to control the position from guard on top but Maxwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maxwell with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ueda counters with a nice uppercut.

Ueda shoots in and bounces Maxwell off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ueda trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jenji Ueda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zak Maxwell's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maxwell misses with a takedown attempt

and Ueda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ueda wants to take a breather but Maxwell is having none of it.
Maxwell regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ueda.
Maxwell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Maxwell has his foot on Ueda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ueda works his way back into a safe position though.
Ueda lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maxwell is trying to keep Ueda in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell has control of Ueda's left arm, preventing Ueda from doing any damage.
Ueda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maxwell is keeping the position for now.
Ueda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ueda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ueda tries to free his leg and advance position but Maxwell is retaining full guard.
Ueda trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.
Ueda thows a big elbow that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maxwell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Maxwell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ueda wants to stand and escape but Maxwell is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ueda can't keep his opponent in guard - Maxwell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ueda is trying to get back to full guard.
Maxwell wants to control but Ueda is keeping him busy.
Jenji Ueda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ueda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maxwell.
Maxwell looks to land a strike but Ueda avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Maxwell is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ueda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ueda has escaped and now he's on top!
Ueda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell keeping moving, preventing Ueda from controlling successfully.
Maxwell is trying to control the position but Ueda postures up.
Maxwell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Maxwell is looking for a triangle but Ueda pushes his legs off easily.

Maxwell working for a triangle but Ueda defends it easily.
Ueda throwing strikes from guard but Maxwell blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ueda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maxwell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Ueda darts in trying to clinch

and Maxwell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ueda's guard now.
Maxwell trying to move into half guard but instead Ueda has managed to sweep!
Ueda trying to control but Maxwell is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jenji Ueda just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Zak Maxwell's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maxwell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ueda moves out of range of the leg kick from Maxwell.
Jenji Ueda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Maxwell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maxwell preventing the sweep.
Ueda keeping moving, preventing Maxwell from controlling successfully.
Maxwell passes Ueda's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ueda wants to get back to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Maxwell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ueda blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maxwell.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ueda is defending against the submission attempts here by Maxwell.
Maxwell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ueda controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Maxwell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Maxwell is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maxwell is just content to waste time from the top position. Ueda takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Maxwell wants to control from the top but Ueda keeps moving.
Maxwell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ueda is keeping the position for now.

Maxwell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ueda dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maxwell working a defensive guard here.
Ueda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ueda wants to stand but Maxwell is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ueda wants to control from the top but Maxwell keeps moving.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maxwell keeping full guard, as Ueda tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maxwell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Maxwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maxwell.
Maxwell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maxwell has his takedown stuffed

and Ueda moves into the clinch.
Ueda stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenji Ueda dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Zak Maxwell's cut.
That's time! Maxwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ueda throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ueda dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maxwell with a poor takedown
and Ueda counters with a huge head kick that drops Maxwell! The ref dives in to stop the fight and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jenji Ueda!
Jenji Ueda is the new lightweight champion!