PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Huo Yuan Jia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Maeda (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.

Yuan Jia
vs
Maeda

180 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Huo Yuan Jia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda thows a body shot but no joy.
Maeda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maeda doesn't manage to clinch there - Yuan Jia circles away.
Yuan Jia pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Yuan Jia gets a takedown into half guard.

Maeda pushes Yuan Jia off and gets back to his feet.

Maeda scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maeda tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Yuan Jia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maeda is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yuan Jia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yuan Jia.
Maeda won't allow Yuan Jia to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yuan Jia looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Yuan Jia looking for a sweep. Not yet Yuan Jia, not yet.

Yuan Jia uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Maeda on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yuan Jia. Yuan Jia obviously looking to wear him down.
Yuan Jia could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Maeda avoids the head kick by Yuan Jia.
Yuan Jia shoots in but Maeda avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yuan Jia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yuan Jia is breathing heavily.
Maeda shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Yuan Jia counters by clinching up.
Maeda connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuan Jia tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Huo Yuan Jia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maeda pulls Yuan Jia into guard.
Yuan Jia prevents Maeda from getting back to his feet.
Maeda throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Yuan Jia won't allow Maeda to sweep him here.
Maeda wants to stand up but Yuan Jia is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yuan Jia throws and elbow that misses. Maeda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yuan Jia's guard. Nice move by Maeda!

Maeda decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yuan Jia clinches.
Maeda with a knee to the head.
Maeda tries to land a knee to the head but Yuan Jia blocks with his arms.
Yuan Jia is working for takedown but Maeda is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maeda lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Maeda lands a damaging elbow.
Maeda scores with a knee to the head.
Yuan Jia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maeda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yuan Jia prevents the takedown attempt.
Maeda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yuan Jia wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maeda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yuan Jia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maeda lands with a light punch inside.
Maeda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yuan Jia is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maeda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Maeda misses with a knee strike.
Yuan Jia is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maeda lands a knee to the head.

Yuan Jia is rocked!

It looks like Huo Yuan Jia has been cut.
Knees to the body from Maeda.
Oh Yuan Jia is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yuan Jia tries to land knees in the clinch but Maeda avoids the damage to the body.

Maeda manages to break the clinch.
Maeda looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yuan Jia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maeda shoots in for a takedown. Oh, that's a huge slam! Yuan Jia is on queer street and Maeda is pounding down on him with a barage of strikes. The ref is forced to step in and stop the fight. Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:07 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Akira Maeda!