PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sharven Sheven (ranked 1937 p4p, 2403 weight class) and Moonlight Maze (ranked 239 p4p, 297 weight class). Maze has chosen Winger Can't Get Enough as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sheven
vs
Maze

187 cm
30
185
8 - 8 - 0

189 cm
34
190
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sharven Sheven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Moonlight Maze!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maze shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sheven is trying to defend but Maze finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Maze is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sheven sees it coming and defends easily.
Sheven regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sheven is keeping the position for now.
Sheven is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maze passes Sheven's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Maze is working for an americana but Sheven has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Maze was thinking about the submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheven wants to sweep but no luck.
Sheven trying to keep a closed guard but Maze is proving a slippery customer.
Maze looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maze keeps trying to improve his position.
Maze slips nicely into half guard.
Sheven's coaches at Temple of Illumination have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Maze is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Maze is trying to work for a kimura but Sheven is defending well.

Maze is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sheven has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheven has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maze is working away from the top position though.
Sheven gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sheven is keeping the position for now.
Maze won't allow Sheven to sweep him here.
Maze wants to pass the guard but Sheven is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sheven is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maze trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sheven manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Sheven pushing down on Maze's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sheven prevents Maze from improving his position.

Maze looking for submissions off his back.

Sheven is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maze sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maze is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sheven pulls his head out easily.
Sheven lands strikes from half guard.
Sheven wants to pass to mount but Maze is defending the position.
Maze gets back to full guard.
Sheven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maze is keeping the position for now.
Sheven wants to control from the top but Maze keeps moving.
Sheven distracts Maze with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Our spies down at at Navy Street MMA inform us that Maze has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Maze had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sheven defends it easily.

Maze working for a triangle but Sheven defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maze keeping full guard, as Sheven tries to pass.
Sheven passes into half guard.

Maze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maze tries to roll over but Sheven keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Maze is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sheven pulls his head out easily.
Sheven content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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 Sharven Sheven will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maze tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sheven sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maze somewhat.
Maze wants to clinch.
Maze dives in for a single leg takedown but Sheven sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sheven was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sheven connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Maze's hands.

Maze gets a double leg takedown into Sheven's guard.

Sheven has his feet on Maze's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
No luck for Maze with that takedown attempt.
Sharven Sheven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moonlight Maze.
Sheven connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maze goes for a double leg but Sheven avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sheven continues to drive forward.
Sheven fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maze just manages to avoid it.
Sheven feints and then cracks Maze's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maze down.
Sheven throws a right and a left that Maze avoids nicely.
Sheven lands a right hook to the body.
Maze is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maze wants to clinch.

Sheven looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Maze has hold of Sheven's hands but Sheven slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sharven Sheven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maze is in trouble now - Sheven has advanced to mount!
Sheven lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sheven scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Maze is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sheven lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheven lands a big elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maze has given up his back.
Sheven is punishing Maze with some ground and pound.

Maze is rocked!
Maze looking very determined here, making life difficult for Sheven.
Maze is trapped and Sheven is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Maze is still in real trouble! Can Sheven finish him?
Maze is in bad spot here.
Maze seems to have recovered his senses.
Sheven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maze can do to turn this around?

Sheven working for a choke but Maze is defending well.
Maze is trying to break free.
Sheven slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Maze can't escape the position.

Sheven is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Maze with him. Maze is trying to defend but Sheven has an arm under the chin now! Maze grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sharven Sheven!
A very excited looking Sharven Sheven made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Moonlight Maze had this to say: 'blessed'.