PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Nate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maldonado
vs
Nate

177 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Nate!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nate fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maldonado, pushing him back against the cage.
Nate wants to break free but Maldonado has control.

Nate's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nate takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maldonado tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nate swivels and escapes.

Nate clinches up against the cage.

Nate decides to pull guard.
Maldonado wants to control from the top but Nate keeps moving.
Maldonado pushes down on Nate's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maldonado throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Maldonado is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nate has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado is pressing down on Nate's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nate is holding on for now.

Nate is defending against the submission attempts here by Maldonado.
Maldonado thows a huge punch but Nate dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Maldonado is trying to control the action in half guard but Nate is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maldonado is really struggling to control Nate but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Michael Maldonado has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maldonado keeps the fight on the outside.

Nate has managed to clinch.
Nate struggles to land a body shot inside as Maldonado controls his hands.

Maldonado jumps guard and drags Nate to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nate must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maldonado is looking to stand up but Nate isn't so interested in that idea.
Nate postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nate distracts Maldonado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maldonado might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maldonado being controlled here, momentarily.
Nate content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nate connects with a couple of short punches.
Maldonado is breathing heavily.
Nate makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nate cracks Maldonado with a solid left hand.
Nate distracts Maldonado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nate distracts Maldonado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nate lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nate lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nate is working Maldonado over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nate stands and steps away. Maldonado gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Nate closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maldonado to the mat! Maldonado manages to get full guard.
Nate lands a couple of elbows.
Maldonado working a defensive guard here.
Nate is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nate working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nate landing with the ground and pound.
Nate working some strikes from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nate content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nate scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nate distracts Maldonado with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Nate dominated that round.
That's time! Maldonado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nate shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Nate stands up and beckons Maldonado to join him on the feet.
Nate feints and then cracks Maldonado's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maldonado down.
Nate keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Nate gets a double leg takedown into Maldonado's guard.
Maldonado is trying to control the position but Nate postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nate's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nate stands and steps away. Maldonado gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Nate moves into range and clinches up with Maldonado.
Nate throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maldonado blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nate manages to pull guard.
Nate wants to stand but Maldonado is controlling the position.
Nate keeping moving, preventing Maldonado from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nate lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maldonado!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nate cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado is desperately trying to improve his position but Nate has a good base and remains in mount.
Maldonado is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maldonado is bucking up trying to escape but Nate cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maldonado taking shots to the head.
Nate with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nate lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Nate scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Nate breaks from Maldonado's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nate cracks Maldonado with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nate working the ground and pound effectively.
Nate looking to finish Maldonado with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maldonado!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nate avoids the attempt from Maldonado to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Nate cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Nate scoring with strikes but Maldonado is staying in there.
Nate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maldonado is trying to stand.
Nate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nate putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The referee warns Maldonado that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nate really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maldonado. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nate looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nate lands a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nate cracks Maldonado with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Maldonado in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nate is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Nate landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maldonado working to try and regain half guard.
Nate trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nate landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nate lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nate scoring with strikes but Maldonado is staying in there.
Nate avoids the attempt from Maldonado to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Nate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Maldonado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nate rushes Maldonado and presses him up against the cage.

Nate lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nate connects with a nice short shot to Maldonado's temple.
Maldonado taking some punishment here, with Nate in his half guard.
Nice strikes from Nate there.
Nate lands with a punch from half guard.
Nate lands with a punch from half guard.
Maldonado punching from the bottom.
Jim Nate has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nate trying to control from half guard but Maldonado is working away.
Nate missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nate blocks the strikes from Maldonado.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nate sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maldonado defending well though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldonado pushes Nate off looking to stand but Nate dives back in and keeps control.
Nate winds up and cracks Maldonado with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nate slips a nice elbow through Maldonado's hands, connecting with Maldonado's forehead.
Nate lands strikes from half guard.
Nate scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nate working over Maldonado with some ground and pound. Maldonado looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nate lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nate seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nate takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nate working over Maldonado with some ground and pound. Maldonado looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nate is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nate drops an elbow to the side of Maldonado's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nate lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nate is trying to control the action in half guard but Maldonado is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nate might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maldonado kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nate drops an elbow to the side of Maldonado's head.
Nate scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nate trying to control from half guard but Maldonado is working away.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nate lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado trying to control but Nate postures up.
Nate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maldonado does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nate scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nate drops an elbow to the side of Maldonado's head.
Ground and pound from Nate.
Maldonado on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nate lands a nice short elbow.
Maldonado pushes Nate off looking to stand but Nate dives back in and keeps control.
Nate is keen to just control but Maldonado is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Nate there.
Nate slips a nice elbow through Maldonado's hands, connecting with Maldonado's forehead.
Nate scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nate slips a nice elbow through Maldonado's hands, connecting with Maldonado's forehead.
Nice strikes from Nate there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maldonado keeps working.
Maldonado is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nate takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maldonado is looking to improve his position.
Michael Maldonado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim Nate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nate lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Nate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nate 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Nate!