PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuki Nakai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitsuyo Maeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nakai
vs
Maeda

170 cm
31
154 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

170 cm
30
142 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

A.C: Awesome Clothing
Brute

Ultra Fight Gear
CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Nakai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsuyo Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maeda shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nakai gets back to full guard.
Nakai is pulling down on Maeda's head to control his posture.
Nakai 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.
Nakai looking to control.
Maeda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakai looking to control.
Nakai pulls Maeda in close to prevent any damage.
Maeda connects with a couple of short punches.
Nakai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakai working a defensive guard here.
Nakai is adopting a defensive guard.
Maeda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Nakai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nakai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maeda's guard.
Maeda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakai is one step ahead there.
Nakai slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maeda keeps working.
Nakai trying to mount his opponent but Maeda defends it.
Nakai is looking to stall here but Maeda recovers full guard.
Nakai works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nakai wants to free his trapped foot but Maeda is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Nakai is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakai is trying to control the action in half guard but Maeda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maeda moves into full guard.
Maeda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nakai stands and throws Maeda's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nakai has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakai seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Maeda is holding on tight.
Maeda is working to get back to half guard.
Maeda gets back to half guard.
Nakai slows the pace down in half guard.
Nakai seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Maeda for as long as he can get away with.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nakai is stalling here. Maeda is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Nakai seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Maeda has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Nakai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nakai manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nakai is taking a breather. Maeda says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maeda manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nakai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakai looking to sit in guard and control but Maeda gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maeda lands a couple of digs.
Nakai is trying to control the position but Maeda postures up.
Maeda preventing the sweep.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
Maeda works over Nakai with some ground and pound from guard.
Nakai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maeda chips away with some ground and pound.
Maeda won't allow Nakai to sweep him here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Maeda works over Nakai with some ground and pound from guard.
Nakai wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Maeda is now in half guard.
Maeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nakai defending well though.
Nakai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maeda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nakai controls Maeda momentarily but Maeda frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maeda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maeda throwing strikes from guard but Nakai blocks nicely.
Nakai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maeda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nakai's head.

Nakai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maeda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maeda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maeda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nakai controls Maeda momentarily but Maeda frees himself.
Maeda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maeda stopping the sweep attempt from Nakai.
Nakai controlling the position.
Nakai is trying to control the position but Maeda postures up.
Nakai 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 is staying active underneath Nakai, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nakai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nakai's back!
Maeda avoiding Nakai 's attempts to control his hands.
Maeda lands with a hammerfist to the side of Nakai's head.
Nakai tries to escape the position.
Nakai manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maeda's guard. Nice work there by Nakai.
Maeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakai's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nakai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maeda wants to control from the top but Nakai keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yuki Nakai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakai throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maeda tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nakai is in Maeda's guard.
Nakai showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Nakai from controlling successfully.

Nakai is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maeda is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maeda has escaped and now he's on top!
Nakai is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yuki Nakai has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nakai wants to clinch.

Maeda shoots in and bounces Nakai off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maeda controlling from the top position.

Nakai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maeda can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maeda with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nakai looking to control but Maeda passes into half guard.
Nakai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nakai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maeda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Nakai working for a triangle but Maeda defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda trying to control but Nakai is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda scoring with some ground and pound.
Maeda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nakai wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakai is trying to keep Maeda in close.
Maeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakai is retaining full guard.
Nakai looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakai, not yet.
Maeda distracts Nakai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maeda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maeda throwing strikes from guard but Nakai blocks nicely.
Nakai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maeda.
Nakai looking for a sweep. Not yet Nakai, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakai is trying to control the position but Maeda postures up.
Nakai wants to sweep here but Maeda controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maeda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maeda throwing strikes from guard but Nakai blocks nicely.
Maeda landing with the ground and pound.
Maeda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maeda is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maeda's guard.
Maeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakai's guard.
Nakai keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Nakai trying to keep a closed guard but Maeda is proving a slippery customer.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nakai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nakai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maeda is looking to escape.
Nakai mounts Maeda! Really nice guard pass there!
Nakai wants to control the pace but Maeda is squirming around nicely.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Maeda is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Maeda prevents Nakai from taking his back.
Yuki Nakai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nakai looking to control but Maeda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Nakai moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Maeda has worked his arm free - good work by Maeda!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries to improve position but can't.
Maeda manages to get back to half guard.

Nakai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maeda has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nakai frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nakai trying to control but Maeda is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Nakai is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Maeda has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Maeda!
Nakai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maeda manages to get himself to full guard.
Nakai looking to pass the guard.
Nakai passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nakai is looking to take a break and control but Maeda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maeda is looking to regain half guard here but Nakai keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

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 Yuki Nakai.
Well Nakai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Mitsuyo Maeda!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Yuki Nakai!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Yuki Nakai!

Yuki Nakai wins by split decision!
In his post fight interview, Yuki Nakai gave a big smile as he said 'Everyone knows that my contract expired last month and that I could have gone to Hollywood. I mean they needed a new James Bond and I was their man! (Stands Proudly) But Im not threw with you Santoro, Im gona be sitting cage side next, goodluck.'.