PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between hasan halilbasic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). halilbasic comes to the cage accompanied by bruce lee theme. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

halilbasic
vs
Maeda

185 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, hasan halilbasic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maeda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in halilbasic's half guard.

Maeda seems to be looking for submissions.
halilbasic is trying to control but can't.
Maeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but halilbasic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
halilbasic pushes Maeda off looking to stand but Maeda dives back in and keeps control.
Maeda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maeda wants to control but halilbasic is keeping him busy.
Maeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed halilbasic's head.
Well, if Maeda is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maeda trying to control from half guard but halilbasic is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
halilbasic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maeda.
Horrible takedown by Maeda or perhaps it was just good defense by halilbasic which made him look bad.
Maeda shoots in and drives through. halilbasic sprawls well.
hasan halilbasic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitsuyo Maeda.
halilbasic fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda tries for a takedown but halilbasic circles away easily

and halilbasic counters by clinching up.
halilbasic throws a head punch that misses.
Maeda tries for a takedown but halilbasic manages to get underhooks.
Maeda looks gassed!
halilbasic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Maeda up against the cage.
halilbasic prevents the takedown attempt.
halilbasic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maeda pulls his leg out and moves away.
halilbasic lands a head kick!
Maeda misses with a takedown

and halilbasic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maeda working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
halilbasic is looking to stand up but Maeda won't let him.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maeda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
halilbasic wants to control from the top but Maeda keeps moving.
Maeda looking to control.
halilbasic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maeda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
halilbasic wants to control from the top but Maeda keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
halilbasic works over Maeda's head and body with a nice combination.

halilbasic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
halilbasic trying to control the position but Maeda is working away.
Maeda is trying to control halilbasic's posture but halilbasic avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
halilbasic staying calm.
halilbasic looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maeda is avoiding damage well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maeda has his takedown stuffed

and halilbasic counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maeda!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

halilbasic with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Maeda tries to lock up and control but halilbasic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maeda is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but halilbasic is staying active.
halilbasic looking to ground and pound but Maeda is blocking nicely.
Maeda is in a horrible position here. halilbasic smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The referee warns Maeda that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maeda holds on for dear life.
Maeda tries to lock up and control but halilbasic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

hasan halilbasic dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

halilbasic is looking to clinch but Maeda is avoiding it.
Maeda with a lazy takedown attempt
and halilbasic counters with a series of strikes. Maeda will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt
and halilbasic counters with a lovely shot to the body.

halilbasic clinches up against the cage.

halilbasic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
halilbasic fails in his attempt to clinch.

halilbasic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maeda sprawls well initially but halilbasic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maeda is trying to maintain the position but halilbasic is very close to passing his half guard.
halilbasic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maeda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maeda holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Maeda gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maeda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
halilbasic preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda pulls halilbasic in close to his closed guard and prevents halilbasic from doing any damage or advancing position.
Maeda is trying to control the position but halilbasic postures up.
Maeda is pulling down on halilbasic's head. It's preventing any offense from halilbasic, at least for the moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mitsuyo Maeda just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt

so halilbasic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
hasan halilbasic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitsuyo Maeda.
Maeda pulls halilbasic in close to his closed guard and prevents halilbasic from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda controls halilbasic momentarily but halilbasic frees himself.
Maeda is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
halilbasic with a nice head shot there.
Maeda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
halilbasic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
halilbasic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maeda wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mitsuyo Maeda just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maeda misses with a takedown

and halilbasic counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
halilbasic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

halilbasic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maeda feints and as halilbasic raises his hands in defense, Maeda changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

halilbasic is looking for a triangle but Maeda pushes his legs off easily.
halilbasic keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
halilbasic looking for a sweep. Not yet halilbasic, not yet.
halilbasic trying to keep a closed guard but Maeda is proving a slippery customer.
Maeda trying to control but halilbasic is working from the bottom.
Maeda won't allow halilbasic to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
halilbasic can't keep his opponent in guard - Maeda advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
halilbasic is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maeda with a poor takedown

and halilbasic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maeda's guard now.
Maeda pulls halilbasic in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maeda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

halilbasic has managed to clinch.
Maeda keeps the fight in the clinch, despite halilbasic's efforts to push away.
halilbasic stops a takedown attempt from Maeda.
Maeda tries for a takedown. No joy.
halilbasic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Maeda prevents it.
halilbasic wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
halilbasic's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
halilbasic fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda stops a takedown attempt from halilbasic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for hasan halilbasic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maeda gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, halilbasic regains guard.
Maeda is looking to work some ground and pound but halilbasic has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

halilbasic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maeda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. halilbasic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maeda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maeda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Maeda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maeda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maeda wants to control from the top but halilbasic keeps moving.
hasan halilbasic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
halilbasic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maeda doesn't succeed with the takedown

and halilbasic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maeda trying to control from the bottom.
Maeda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maeda has his hands clasped together around halilbasic's back. He's all about the action.
Maeda trying to control but halilbasic postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is refusing to be controlled, as halilbasic sits in half guard.
Maeda trying to control here.
Ground and pound from halilbasic.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maeda doesn't succeed with the takedown
and halilbasic counters with a good, hard body kick but Maeda shrugs it off.

halilbasic gets caught flat footed, as Maeda shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
halilbasic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
halilbasic keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.

Maeda drops back looking for a leg! halilbasic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and halilbasic manages to kick Maeda off! Maeda jumps back into halilbasic's guard.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but halilbasic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
hasan halilbasic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda advances position into side control!
An elbow from Maeda crashes against the mat.
Maeda is working halilbasic over with some ground and pound from side control.
Maeda in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
halilbasic has one of Maeda's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Maeda fails to land a wild elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to hasan halilbasic.
Well halilbasic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... hasan halilbasic!