PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gus McCrae (ranked 783 p4p, 510 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 104 p4p, 73 weight class). Gus McCrae could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Akira Maeda's chin.

McCrae
vs
Maeda

189 cm
28
203
14 - 6 - 1

192 cm
26
209
10 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gus McCrae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCrae throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maeda counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCrae has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
No joy there for McCrae, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCrae takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maeda slips under a jab.
McCrae avoids the body shot from Maeda.
Maeda throws out a loose jab but McCrae uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCrae takes one on the button.
Maeda clobbers McCrae with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maeda lunges at McCrae with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McCrae's hand.
Nice straight punches there by Maeda. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maeda.
McCrae steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maeda.
McCrae slaps away a takedown attempt from Maeda, before circling back to the center of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCrae throws out the jab.
Maeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gus McCrae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCrae scores with a hook.
McCrae catches Maeda with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae ducks right into an uppercut from Maeda.
McCrae misses with a left hand

and Maeda counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McCrae!
Maeda trying to control the action but McCrae is working from the bottom.
Maeda misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Maeda throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McCrae works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
McCrae wants to control but Maeda is keeping busy.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Maeda working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Maeda winds up and cracks McCrae with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maeda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McCrae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McCrae keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maeda lands a nice short elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maeda working the head and body with strikes.
Maeda working over McCrae with some ground and pound. McCrae looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McCrae blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda thows a huge punch but McCrae dodges it nicely.
McCrae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
McCrae preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Maeda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McCrae keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maeda lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Maeda thows a huge punch but McCrae dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McCrae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Maeda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
McCrae wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
McCrae trying to hold on to Maeda's head to control him but Maeda postures up.
McCrae is refusing to be controlled, as Maeda sits in half guard.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Maeda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McCrae gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maeda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maeda stopping the sweep attempt from McCrae.
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.
Maeda throws a big elbow that misses.
McCrae working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maeda.
Maeda pushes down on McCrae's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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. Maeda connects with a nice short shot to McCrae's temple.
McCrae trying to control from the bottom.
Maeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McCrae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maeda wants to pass the guard but McCrae is defending well.
Maeda is looking to take a break and control but McCrae is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maeda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Maeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maeda trying to pass the guard but McCrae defending well.
Maeda is nestled in close to McCrae, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maeda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maeda thows a huge punch but McCrae dodges it nicely.
Maeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Maeda is looking to advance position but McCrae won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maeda throwing shots but McCrae is blocking nicely.
McCrae avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maeda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda working the head and body with strikes.
Maeda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McCrae blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maeda.
Maeda is looking to take a break and control but McCrae is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maeda takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maeda drops an elbow to the side of McCrae's head.
Maeda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maeda wants to take a breather but McCrae is having none of it.
Maeda is pressing down on McCrae's thigh, looking to free his foot. McCrae is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrae is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maeda scores with a couple of nice shots.
Maeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maeda throwing shots but McCrae is blocking nicely.
Maeda slips a nice elbow through McCrae's hands, connecting with McCrae's forehead.
Maeda thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maeda throwing shots but McCrae is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Maeda wants to control but McCrae is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice strikes from Maeda there.
Maeda takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McCrae taking some punishment here, with Maeda in his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Maeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maeda avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maeda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Maeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Maeda lands in his opponent's guard.
Maeda looking to sit in guard and control but McCrae gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maeda controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCrae's guard.

McCrae keeping moving, preventing Maeda from controlling successfully.
McCrae working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maeda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maeda is in close to McCrae's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Maeda is working McCrae over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maeda throwing strikes but missing.
Maeda in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maeda landing some decent shots from guard.
Maeda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Maeda is looking to work some ground and pound but McCrae has wrist control.
Akira Maeda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda controlling from the top position.
Maeda advances position into side control!
Maeda is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down McCrae's shoulder. That is not cool.
Maeda's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gus McCrae has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Maeda cracks McCrae with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maeda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maeda fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McCrae looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Maeda staying out of range there.
Nice sprawl there from McCrae as Maeda shoots in.

Maeda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

McCrae throws Maeda to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Maeda does it's job there.
Maeda uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCrae.
Gus McCrae is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maeda has a takedown stuffed.
Maeda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gus McCrae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Maeda jabs McCrae right on the nose. McCrae blinks but takes it well.
Maeda scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd cheers as Maeda lands an impressive looking overhand right. McCrae doesn't seem phased though.
McCrae works Maeda's body with a nice hook.
Maeda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCrae throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Maeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maeda 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Maeda!
Akira Maeda really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Brooklyn Threads logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
Gus McCrae spoke after the fight, saying 'Back to the gym.'.