PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jobson Richie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitsuyo Maeda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richie
vs
Maeda

150 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jobson Richie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maeda sprawls well initially but Richie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Richie prevents Maeda from improving his position.

Richie is working for a submission of some sort.
Maeda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Richie slips nicely into half guard.
Maeda desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Maeda has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Mitsuyo Maeda has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Richie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Richie showed some decent athleticism there.
Maeda tries to get to full guard but Richie has control of the leg.

Maeda is defending against the submission attempts here by Richie.
Maeda is controlling Richie's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Maeda pushes Richie off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maeda rushes Richie and presses him up against the cage.
Maeda looking to slow down the pace here.

Richie jumps guard and drags Maeda to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Maeda 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.
Richie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Richie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Richie looking for a guillotine here but Maeda defends easily.

Maeda stands up from Richie's guard - Maeda perhaps looking for a knockout.

Richie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richie wants to advance to full mount but Maeda doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Maeda has his feet on Richie's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Maeda dives in and scores a takedown into Richie's guard.

Richie 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 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.

Richie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Maeda passes into half guard.
Richie tries to roll over but Maeda keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda stalling.

Richie actively working from the bottom here.
Maeda controlling the action here.
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!

Richie actively working from the bottom here.
Maeda tries to pass to full mount but Richie defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maeda wants to work for an arm triangle but Richie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Richie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mitsuyo Maeda will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maeda has managed to clinch.
Maeda working hard to break the clinch.

Richie pulls guard successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Richie is looking for a triangle but Maeda pushes his legs off easily.
Maeda slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Richie looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Maeda has picked Richie up and slammed him! Richie can't keep hold of the triangle and Maeda manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richie tries to buck Maeda off but Maeda is having none of it.
Richie being controlled for a moment.
Richie is looking to reverse the position.
Richie is working hard here to advance position.
Maeda moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mitsuyo Maeda wasn't active enough on the ground.

Richie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maeda was covering up waiting for the punch and Richie finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Richie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maeda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maeda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maeda!
Richie is looking for a sweep.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maeda is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Richie's shoulder. That is not cool.
Maeda passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Richie!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda prevents Richie from getting the reversal.
Maeda controlling the pace for now.
Richie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mitsuyo Maeda has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mitsuyo Maeda.

Maeda has Richie up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maeda wants the takedown. Richie is fighting it off but Maeda persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Richie's guard against the cage.
Maeda is pushing down on Richie's leg trying to pass to half guard. Richie is fighting to maintain full guard but Maeda has managed to sneak the leg through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda not doing much here.

Richie looking for submissions off his back.
Maeda content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but Richie defending well.

Richie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maeda dives in and scores a takedown into Richie's guard.
Maeda 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.

Richie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Maeda passes into half guard.

Richie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Richie actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, Maeda seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maeda pulls his head out easily.
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.

Mitsuyo Maeda has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Richie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Maeda regains full guard. Nicely done.

Maeda wriggles free and stands up.

Richie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jobson Richie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maeda is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Richie asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Richie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maeda wants to control but Richie postures up.

Richie swings around for an armbar but Maeda sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Richie's guard.
Richie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Richie looking for subs off his back but Maeda has passed one foot through into half guard.
Maeda stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mitsuyo Maeda hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maeda enables Richie to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maeda manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Maeda keeping full guard, as Richie tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda has his hands on Richie's head, controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Richie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Maeda manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Richie drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maeda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maeda looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Richie 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.
Mitsuyo Maeda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Maeda pushes Richie off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mitsuyo Maeda.
I've got Maeda winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

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