PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between manny makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isaiah Maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). makunouchi comes into the arena with sandstorm blaring out of the sound system. Isaiah Maxwell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

makunouchi
vs
Maxwell

170 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

174 cm
21
159 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, manny makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Isaiah Maxwell!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
makunouchi misses with a hook. Maxwell ducked under it nicely.
A combination from makunouchi does no damage.
makunouchi throws a series of punches but Maxwell avoids them all with ease.
makunouchi is looking to clinch but Maxwell is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - makunouchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maxwell dodges the punch combination from makunouchi.
makunouchi thows a body shot but no joy.
Maxwell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but makunouchi avoids it really well and circles away.

Maxwell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Maxwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Maxwell tries for a kimura but makunouchi is defending well.
makunouchi tries to buck Maxwell off but Maxwell is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell tries to score with some ground and pound. makunouchi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Maxwell throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
makunouchi is looking for a sweep.
Maxwell wants to lay and pray for a moment but makunouchi keeps working.

Maxwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.

Maxwell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maxwell wants to lay and pray for a moment but makunouchi keeps working.

Maxwell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
makunouchi is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
makunouchi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Maxwell trying to mount his opponent but makunouchi defends it.

Maxwell is looking for a kimura but makunouchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maxwell to get the leverage.

Maxwell is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, makunouchi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maxwell looks gassed!

Maxwell seems to be working for a kimura but makunouchi defends the submission attempt.
makunouchi looks like he's trying to stand up.

Maxwell is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, makunouchi has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
makunouchi is not content to let Maxwell control the position.

makunouchi actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
makunouchi tries to clinch there but Maxwell circles away.
makunouchi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Maxwell slips a jab from makunouchi.
makunouchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maxwell circles away quickly and effectively.
Maxwell ducks under a wild hook from makunouchi.
makunouchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from makunouchi.
Maxwell shoots for a double leg takedown but makunouchi sprawls well. He's pushed Maxwell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maxwell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but makunouchi avoids it really well and circles away.
manny makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Maxwell.

That's four 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.
makunouchi misses with a two punch combination.

Maxwell drives through with a takedown into guard.
makunouchi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Maxwell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maxwell pushes down on makunouchi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maxwell is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maxwell stops makunouchi from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Maxwell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

makunouchi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Maxwell takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maxwell fails to land the takedown.
makunouchi leaves Maxwell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
manny makunouchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maxwell shoots in but makunouchi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
manny makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Maxwell.
makunouchi tries to score with a low kick but Maxwell moves his leg out of the way.
manny makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
makunouchi throws a right and a left that Maxwell avoids nicely.

Maxwell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maxwell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maxwell is breathing heavily.
Maxwell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maxwell is looking to stall here but makunouchi recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell postures up.

Maxwell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Maxwell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Maxwell got a little sloppy there for a moment and makunouchi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maxwell has managed to get both his arms back between makunouchi's legs - danger averted.

Maxwell drops back looking for a leg! makunouchi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and makunouchi manages to kick Maxwell off! Maxwell jumps back into makunouchi's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maxwell circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two 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.
makunouchi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Maxwell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. makunouchi was covering up waiting for the punch and Maxwell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maxwell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maxwell prevents makunouchi from getting back to his feet.
Maxwell trying to control but makunouchi is working from the bottom.
Maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Maxwell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maxwell postures up.

Maxwell drops back looking for a leg! makunouchi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and makunouchi manages to kick Maxwell off! Maxwell jumps back into makunouchi's guard.

makunouchi looking for a guillotine here but Maxwell defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maxwell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Maxwell shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Maxwell throwing shots but makunouchi is blocking nicely.
makunouchi is looking for a sweep. Maxwell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maxwell tries to pass the half guard into mount. makunouchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maxwell is working for a submission of some sort.

Maxwell 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.

makunouchi pushes Maxwell off and gets back to his feet.
makunouchi scores with a hook.

Maxwell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isaiah Maxwell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Maxwell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Maxwell or perhaps it was just good defense by makunouchi which made him look bad.
makunouchi misses with a few strikes there.
Maxwell takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown but makunouchi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
makunouchi throws a series of punches but Maxwell avoids them all with ease.
Maxwell ducks under a wild hook from makunouchi.
Maxwell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts makunouchi as he jumps to the side.
manny makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isaiah Maxwell.

Maxwell feints and as makunouchi raises his hands in defense, Maxwell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
makunouchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Maxwell drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Maxwell seems to have locked his on tight now - makunouchi screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Maxwell, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Isaiah Maxwell!