PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peterson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Diamond kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mitsuyo Maeda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maeda
vs
Peterson

165 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
29
140 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mitsuyo Maeda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victor Peterson!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peterson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maeda.
Peterson walks into a left hand.
Maeda lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Peterson just misses with a punch to the body.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Maeda raining down hammerfists from mount.

It looks like Victor Peterson has been cut.
Peterson tries to hold on but Maeda postures up.
Peterson reaches up and holds on to Maeda to control the position.
Maeda can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Peterson is looking to escape.
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!
Maeda avoids the attempt from Peterson to control.
Peterson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Peterson is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Peterson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maeda looking to ground and pound but Peterson is blocking nicely.
Maeda thowing shots but they're missing.
Maeda tries to control but Peterson wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peterson tries to hold on but Maeda pushes him away.
Peterson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maeda punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peterson is trying desperately to improve position.
Peterson regains half guard.
Maeda is thwarting Peterson's attempts to control the position.
Peterson is refusing to be controlled, as Maeda sits in half guard.
Maeda stops Peterson from getting back to his feet.
Maeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Peterson defending well though.
Maeda wants to pass to mount but Peterson is defending the position.
Peterson tries to kick Maeda off but Maeda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Peterson kicks Maeda off and gets back to his feet.
Maeda shoots for a double leg takedown but Peterson sprawls well. He's pushed Maeda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maeda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maeda lunges at Peterson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Peterson's hand.
Peterson misses with a kick to the body.
Maeda throws a good cross that connects.
Maeda misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Peterson to counter with a crisp jab.
Peterson ducks under a wild hook from Maeda.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maeda.
Peterson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Peterson stuffs the takedown.
Peterson moves away from the strike by Maeda.
Peterson stalks Maeda and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maeda's face. Maeda staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maeda misses with a body shot.
Maeda takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Maeda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maeda blocks a head kick by Peterson.
Maeda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitsuyo Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maeda is looking to chop away at Peterson's legs.
Maeda lands a jab to Peterson's midsection.
Peterson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Peterson shoots in looking for a takedown. Maeda tries to sprawl out of it but Peterson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maeda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Peterson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maeda.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Peterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mitsuyo Maeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peterson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maeda lands with a cross.
Maeda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Peterson's hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsuyo Maeda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Peterson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A swing and a miss from Maeda.
Peterson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Maeda.
Peterson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Peterson needs to keep his hands up - Maeda had a free shot at his head there.
Maeda throws an overhand right that lands on Peterson's shoulder, as Peterson tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Maeda misses.

Peterson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maeda sprawls well initially but Peterson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Peterson seems to be working for a kimura but Maeda defends the submission attempt.

Maeda looking for submissions off his back.

Peterson wants to work for an arm triangle but Maeda is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maeda is not content to let Peterson control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Peterson 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.
Maeda gets back to full guard.
Maeda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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.

Peterson is defending against the submission attempts here by Maeda.
Maeda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peterson keeps working.
Mitsuyo Maeda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda misses with a head shot. Peterson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Peterson keeps moving.
Peterson is looking to stand up but Maeda isn't so interested in that idea.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Peterson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Peterson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maeda is working hard here to advance position.
Maeda is squirming around, avoiding Peterson's attempts to control the action.
Peterson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Maeda is trying to escape the mount.
Maeda is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Peterson has control of Maeda's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maeda regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Peterson swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Maeda is now in Peterson's guard. A big mistake from Peterson there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Peterson is retaining full guard.
Peterson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maeda won't allow Peterson to get back to his feet.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but Peterson is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maeda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Peterson's head.

Maeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mitsuyo Maeda will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Victor Peterson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maeda throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Peterson misses with a looping left.
Maeda throws a good cross that connects.
Peterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Peterson lands with a right hand.
Maeda throws a shot from downtown. Peterson moves away and avoids it.
Maeda misses with a straight right.
Peterson tries to clinch up but Maeda circles away and keeps his distance.
Peterson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Peterson wants it to stay on the feet.
Maeda throws a series of punches but Peterson avoids them all with ease.
Maeda misses with a right hand
and Peterson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maeda thinking.
Peterson drops his hands momentarily and Maeda takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Peterson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Peterson lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Peterson.
Maeda throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maeda takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Peterson works Maeda's body with a nice hook.
Maeda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maeda takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maeda fails with a takedown attempt.
Peterson slips under a jab.
No joy there for Maeda, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maeda shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Peterson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mitsuyo Maeda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maeda shoots for a takedown but Peterson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Peterson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Peterson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maeda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peterson misses the shot to the body.
Maeda scores with a sloppy right hand. Peterson should have avoided that one.
Good leg kick by Maeda there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Peterson misses with a straight right.
Peterson swings for the body but Maeda moves out of range.
Peterson throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maeda connects with a single shot there.
Peterson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maeda moves away.
Maeda missing with a left hand there. Peterson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maeda takes one to the side of the head.
Peterson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maeda circles away.
Peterson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maeda throws a right hand that misses

and Peterson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maeda has him pressed against the cage.
Maeda takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maeda lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Peterson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mitsuyo Maeda is winning the standup battle so far.
Maeda fails to land with a series of punches.
Maeda misses with a left hand
and Peterson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maeda lands with a cross.

Peterson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Maeda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maeda trying to hold on to Peterson's head to control him but Peterson postures up.
Maeda is pressing down on Peterson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Peterson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maeda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Peterson has managed to get both his arms back between Maeda's legs - danger averted.
Peterson trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Maeda looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Peterson passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Peterson tries for a kimura but Maeda is defending well.
Maeda gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peterson prevents Maeda from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Victor Peterson just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Victor Peterson's cut.
That's time! Maeda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maeda lands a jab to the head.
Peterson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maeda was well out of range. Poor timing from Peterson.
Peterson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maeda lands with a cross.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maeda, as that shot connected.
Maeda looks to throw the jab but Peterson is out of range.
Peterson slips under a jab.
Peterson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maeda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Peterson.
Maeda looks to land a right hand but Peterson moved out of range.
Maeda lands with a right hand.
Peterson with a jab.
Peterson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maeda misses with a two punch combination.
Peterson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda closes the distance and clinches up with Peterson, looking for a takedown. Maeda pushes Peterson against the cage but Peterson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maeda misses with a hook
and Peterson counters with a nice body shot.
Peterson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Maeda paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maeda shoots in but Peterson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Peterson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Peterson moves into full mount! Maeda won't be happy about that!

Peterson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Maeda to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Maeda shrugs it off.

Peterson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maeda manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Maeda tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Peterson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maeda has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maeda tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Peterson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Peterson is trying to get an arm triangle but Maeda is defending well.
Peterson trying to control the position but Maeda is working away.
Maeda struggling a bit here.
Maeda is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Peterson off and has taken his back!
Peterson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda has Peterson flattened out and is raining down punches.
Maeda missing with strikes from the back.
Maeda has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Peterson.
Peterson is covering up but some of the strikes from Maeda are getting through and doing damage.
Peterson turns into Maeda and is now in his guard.
Peterson stopping the sweep attempt from Maeda.
Peterson trying to control the position from guard on top but Maeda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maeda has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Peterson should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Maeda has tightened it up now! Peterson should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mitsuyo Maeda!
Mitsuyo Maeda is the new bantamweight champion!
A relieved looking Mitsuyo Maeda thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.