PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andy Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masakazu Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maeda is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Wandering Star. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bernard
vs
Maeda

190 cm
26
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andy Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masakazu Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maeda shoots in and gets a takedown into Bernard's guard.

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

Bernard looking for a guillotine here but Maeda defends easily.
Maeda controls from within his opponent's guard.
Maeda looking to pass the guard.
Maeda really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bernard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maeda's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Bernard is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.
Bernard misses with a takedown

and Maeda counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bernard wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Bernard is looking to control Maeda's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bernard avoid being mounted?
Maeda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bernard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maeda is looking for a kimura here.
Maeda is pressing down on Bernard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bernard is holding on for now.
Maeda moves into full mount! Bernard won't be happy about that!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bernard stopping the sweep attempt from Maeda.
Maeda is trying to keep Bernard in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maeda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Maeda stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Maeda dominated that round.
That's time! Bernard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bernard closes the distance and clinches.
Maeda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maeda is struggling to control the position.
Maeda tries to work over Bernard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda stops a takedown attempt from Bernard.
Bernard looking for a takedown.
Stalling in the clinch from Maeda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Bernard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.
Bernard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maeda moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bernard can't get the takedown.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bernard looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.

Maeda has managed to clinch.
Maeda stalling against the cage.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.

Maeda has Bernard up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Maeda.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The crowd are getting on Maeda's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masakazu Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maeda tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.
Bernard shoots in for a takedown but Maeda shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maeda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bernard has his takedown stuffed

and Maeda counters by moving into the clinch.
The referee calls for Maeda to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.

Maeda rushes Bernard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bernard tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda slowing the pace effectively.
With the fighters up against the cage, Maeda throws an elbow but misses.
Bernard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maeda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maeda has Bernard pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Masakazu Maeda.
Bernard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maeda scores a takedown into full mount!
Maeda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bernard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda controlling from the full mount.
Maeda is trying to take his opponent's back.
Bernard has given up his back. Will we see Maeda going for some submissions?
Bernard tries to escape but Maeda has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maeda keeps control of the position easily here as Bernard tries to buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Masakazu Maeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maeda 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masakazu Maeda!