PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grey Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotaro Fuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maynard is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maynard
vs
Fuma

177 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

169 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 11 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grey Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard swings for the body but Fuma moves out of range.
Fuma looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Maynard misses with a two punch combination.
Maynard misses the jab.
A combination from Maynard does no damage.
Fuma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maynard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fuma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maynard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fuma.
Fuma tries to clinch but Maynard moves out of range.

Fuma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maynard, pushing him back against the cage.
Maynard is trying to drag Fuma to the mat but Fuma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Fuma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard misses with a right hand

and Fuma counters with a takedown into side control.
Maynard is looking for a sweep.
Fuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maynard keeps working.
Maynard is trying to get back to half guard.
Maynard is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Fuma is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fuma wants to control the pace but Maynard is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard tries to reverse the position but Fuma maintains control.
Maynard tries to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maynard is desperately trying to improve his position but Fuma has a good base and remains in mount.
Maynard is squirming around, avoiding Fuma's attempts to control the action.
Maynard tries to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuma prevents Maynard from getting the reversal.
Fuma tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maynard tries to reverse the position but Fuma maintains control.
Fuma with the ground and pound from mount.
Maynard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maynard tries to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.
Maynard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuma trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maynard working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maynard tries to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maynard is looking to improve his position but Fuma isn't that keen on the idea.
Maynard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kotaro Fuma will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maynard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fuma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Maynard tries to sprawl but Fuma drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Fuma stands up from half guard.
Nice shot lands for Maynard.
Maynard connects with a jab.
Maynard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice takedown defense from Maynard. No joy for Fuma on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maynard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fuma did well to prevent Maynard getting side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maynard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Fuma has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kotaro Fuma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maynard works his way into side control.

Maynard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Maynard goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fuma has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Maynard but great work by Fuma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Fuma is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fuma wants to control the pace but Maynard is squirming around nicely.
Maynard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maynard is working hard here to advance position.
Maynard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maynard tries to get out of the position.
Maynard wants to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.
Maynard is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard regains half guard.
Maynard wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maynard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fuma is working away from the top position though.
Maynard wants to get back to full guard.

Maynard has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Fuma escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Fuma!
Maynard looks to move to half guard but instead Fuma has passed into mount! Damn!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard can't escape the position.
Fuma tries to control but Maynard wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maynard wants to hold on but Fuma pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grey Maynard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Fuma as Maynard shoots in.
Fuma lands a jab-cross combination.

Maynard gets tackled into the cage by Fuma. Fuma maintains the clinch.
Maynard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fuma has a couple of punches blocked by Maynard.

Fuma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fuma tries to clinch but Maynard moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fuma is looking to land body kicks.
Grey Maynard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maynard throws a series of strikes that have Fuma backpedaling.
Maynard's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fuma under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maynard.
Fuma swinging wildly here.
Fuma on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maynard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fuma moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maynard looks to land a combination but Fuma avoids it well.
Maynard takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maynard with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maynard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fuma's guard.
Maynard looking to sit in guard and control but Fuma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maynard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fuma is aware though and is defending well.

Maynard looking for subs off his back but Fuma has passed one foot through into half guard.

Maynard looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuma trying to pass the guard but Maynard defending well.

Maynard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fuma trying to control the action but Maynard is working from the bottom.
Maynard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fuma is working away from the top position though.
Maynard has a hand on Fuma's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Fuma takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Fuma trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maynard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maynard wants to control but Fuma is having none of it.
Fuma trying to control but Maynard is having none of it.

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 Grey Maynard.
I think Maynard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grey Maynard!
A determined Grey Maynard didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!