PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sig Sauer (ranked 23852 p4p, 3642 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 703 p4p, 483 weight class). Sig Sauer could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Akira Maeda's chin.

Sauer
vs
Maeda

185 cm
22
218
3 - 8 - 0

192 cm
21
209
2 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sig Sauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda misses the shot to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Sauer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maeda.

It looks like Sig Sauer has been cut.

Maeda closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maeda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Maeda lands a takedown into guard.

Sauer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Maeda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maeda is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sauer can't fight it off and eventually Maeda manages to take the fight to the floor. Sauer looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sauer looking for a sweep. Not yet Sauer, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda works over Sauer with some ground and pound from guard.
Maeda works over Sauer with some ground and pound from guard.
Sauer looking to control.
Maeda with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sauer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maeda distracts Sauer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Sauer 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 trying to control but Sauer is working from the bottom.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sauer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maeda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maeda makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but Sauer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maeda keeping full guard, as Sauer tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sauer manages to get himself to full guard.

Maeda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sauer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maeda distracts Sauer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sauer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maeda is one step ahead there.
Maeda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sauer's head.

Sauer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sauer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maeda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sauer looking for a sweep. Not yet Sauer, not yet.
Maeda stands up over Sauer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maeda is working Sauer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maeda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sauer's head.
Maeda landing some decent shots from guard.
Maeda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maeda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Maeda throwing strikes but missing.
Maeda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sauer's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sauer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maeda with a nice head shot there.
Maeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Sauer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maeda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sauer's head.
Sauer keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
Maeda landing with the ground and pound.

Sauer is looking for a triangle but Maeda pushes his legs off easily.
Maeda throws a big right hand that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Maeda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sig Sauer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sauer tries to move into range but Maeda moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Maeda takes a swing at Sauer's ribcage but misses.
Nice uppercut there from Maeda.
Sauer has a takedown stuffed.
Maeda fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Sauer is rocked!
We've been told by Sauer's head coaches at Average Joe�s Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Sauer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sauers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Oh Sauer is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maeda bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sauer's head.
Maeda cracks Sauer on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Sauer falls backwards against the cage. Maeda follows up with more strikes that drop Sauer to his knees. Maeda keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Sauer! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Akira Maeda!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Akira Maeda waved his t-shirt featuring 160Q Energy for $150's logo in front of the cameras.