PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Judas Priest (ranked 1865 p4p, 795 weight class) and Akira Maeda (ranked 277 p4p, 119 weight class). Priest comes to the cage accompanied by JiÅ™Ã ProchÃ¡zka Battle Scream. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Priest
vs
Maeda

185 cm
42
224
12 - 7 - 0

192 cm
31
209
17 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm Apparel
Northern Zombie

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Judas Priest!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Maeda!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maeda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Priest.
Priest darts in looking for a takedown but Maeda gets double underhooks and turns Priest into the cage.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maeda! But no joy.
A shot in the inside from Maeda.

It looks like Judas Priest has been cut.
Maeda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Priest backwards.
Maeda tries to throw a body punch but Priest avoids it by throwing Maeda back against the cage.
Maeda is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Priest stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Priest gets underhooks to prevent Maeda's takedown attempt.
Maeda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Priest tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maeda avoids it.
Priest misses with a punch to the body.
Priest has a couple of punches blocked by Maeda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Priest throws a punch but it's blocked by Maeda.
Maeda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Priest manages to get underhooks.
Judas Priest has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Maeda.
Maeda lands an uppercut.
Maeda misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda wants a takedown but no success here.
Maeda misses with a body punch.
Maeda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Priest tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Priest scores with a hook to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Maeda.
Maeda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Maeda lands a left hand that snaps the head of Priest backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Maeda.
Priest tries a body shot but Maeda blocks it.
Maeda scores with a shoulder strike.
Maeda lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Priest backwards.
Maeda has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Priest seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Maeda can turn it around.
Maeda lands with a light punch inside.
Maeda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Priest's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maeda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maeda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maeda tries for a takedown but Priest manages to get underhooks.
Maeda working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Priest blocking some punches.
Priest working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Maeda misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Priest.

Maeda gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Maeda looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maeda looks to land a strike but Priest avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Maeda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maeda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Priest swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Priest's guard.
Maeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maeda controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Priest taking some punishment here, with Maeda in his half guard.
Maeda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Maeda is pressing down on Priest's thigh, looking to free his foot. Priest is holding on for now.
Maeda stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Priest wants to improve his position but Maeda is controlling well.
Maeda takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maeda is trying to control the action in half guard but Priest is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Maeda in particular looking to stall.
Priest is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Animal Fight Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Maeda slips a nice elbow through Priest's hands, connecting with Priest's forehead.
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 Judas Priest's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Priest scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice cross by Maeda.
Maeda misses with a straight right.
Priest drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maeda sprawls and moves away.
Maeda misses the jab.
Priest lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maeda at a distance.
Priest misses with a left hand
and Maeda counters with a straight right hand.
Maeda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Judas Priest seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maeda misses with an uppercut. Priest saw that one coming.

Priest shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maeda manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Priest slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Priest from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda has Priest pulled in close to control his posture.
Priest pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maeda is keeping the position for now.
Maeda keeping moving, preventing Priest from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maeda keeping full guard, as Priest tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Priest shoots in and bounces Maeda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Priest preventing the sweep.
Maeda is pulling down on Priest's head to control his posture.
Maeda wants to sweep but no luck.
Maeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maeda trying to keep a closed guard but Priest is proving a slippery customer.
Priest trying to control but Maeda is working from the bottom.
Priest passes Maeda's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maeda wants to get back to full guard.
Priest throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maeda is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maeda tries to get to full guard but Priest has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maeda throws a hook but Priest blocks it.
Maeda scores with a nice strike.

Priest throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maeda was covering up waiting for the punch and Priest finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Priest preventing the sweep.
Priest pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maeda is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Priest slips nicely into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Judas Priest dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Judas Priest's cut.
That's time! Priest's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Priest scores with a jab.
Priest closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maeda circles away.
No luck for Priest with that takedown attempt.
Priest shoots in and drives through. Maeda sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Judas Priest. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Priest misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Priest shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maeda sprawls well. Maeda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Priest gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maeda throws the left hand but Priest avoids the punch easily.
Maeda moves out of range of the strikes.
Maeda swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Priest misses with an uppercut.
A little jabbing left from Maeda on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maeda connects with a body shot that sends Priest's belly button to the back.
Priest looks to land a right hand but Maeda moved out of range.
Maeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Priest.
Priest takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Maeda looks to land a left hand but Priest moved out of range nicely.
Priest looks for a takedown but Maeda sprawls well.
A left lands for Maeda.
Maeda throws a jab but it's blocked by Priest.
Priest shoots in and drives through. Maeda sprawls well.
Maeda looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Priest lands a body shot.
Priest will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A nice side step and Maeda releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Priest throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Priest takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maeda connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Priest fails with a takedown attempt.
Maeda throws out a counter right but Priest avoids it with no problem.
Maeda lands a two punch combo.
Priest misses the shot to the body.
Akira Maeda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slow jab from Priest misses its intended target.
Maeda connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Maeda throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Priest tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maeda sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Priest somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Maeda. That snapped Priest's head back.
Maeda slips a straight right by Priest.
Maeda lands a jab to the nose.
Maeda misses with an uppercut.
Priest takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Priest shoots in looking for a takedown but Maeda manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Priest's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jab from Maeda.
Priest throws an overhand right that lands on Maeda's shoulder, as Maeda tries to avoid the shot.
Priest avoids the body shot from Maeda.
Priest half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maeda digs a good body shot into Priest's ribs.
Maeda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Priest throws out the jab.
Priest throws a lazy right hand but Maeda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maeda checks a low kick from Priest.
Priest takes one on the button.
Priest looks to score with a jab to the body but Maeda is just out of range.
A little jabbing left from Maeda on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Priest looking to score a takedown here. Maeda is defending well but Priest drives through and ends up in Maeda's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maeda pulls Priest in close to prevent any damage.
Priest trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Priest is fighting to break Maeda's control of his arms but Maeda is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maeda wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Maeda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maeda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Maeda!
Akira Maeda gave a mention to Brooklyn Threads in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).