PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Maldini (ranked 1506 p4p, 2509 weight class) and Matthew Fritz (ranked 174 p4p, 266 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maldini
vs
Fritz

181 cm
31
154
13 - 3 - 0

165 cm
26
155
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Maldini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthew Fritz!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fritz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fritz looks to land a left hand but Maldini moved out of range nicely.
Maldini throws a hook to the side of Fritz's head but Fritz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldini jabs at Fritz's body.
Fritz throws a head kick that misses.
Fritz is looking to clinch but Maldini is avoiding it.
Fritz connects with an inside leg kick.
Maldini swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fritz let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Maldini moves out of range as Fritz strikes.
Maldini works over Fritz's head and body with a nice combination.
Maldini throws a jab when Fritz was well out of range.
Fritz misses with a wild body shot.
Maldini connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fritz misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fritz throws a lazy right hand but Maldini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maldini looks to score with a jab to the body but Fritz is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Fritz.
We've been informed that Fritz has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Fritz misses with a head kick.
Maldini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fritz.
Fritz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldini.
Maldini swings widly with a right hand
and Fritz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maldini thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big left from Maldini misses.
Fritz lands with an uppercut that bounces Maldini off the cage and back into range.
Maldini jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fritz lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Fritz.
Fritz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maldini has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fritz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fritz misses with a looping left.
Maldini pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fritz back to the cage. Maldini follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldini throws a body punch but Fritz moves out of range.
Fritz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Maldini blocks a head kick by Fritz.
Fritz misses with an uppercut.
Maldini slips a jab from Fritz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maldini misses with a right hand
enabling Fritz to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldini loads up on a big right hand but Fritz slips the punch.
Fritz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fritz tries to close the distance and clinch but Maldini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fritz misses with an uppercut.
Fritz misses with a leg kick.
Maldini throws a body punch but Fritz moves out of range.
Fritz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maldini stalks Fritz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fritz's face. Fritz staggers backwards, shaken.
Maldini on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fritz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fritz defending well as Maldini loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fritz can pounce on him.
A telegraphed right hand from Fritz misses the target.
Maldini on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fritz. Fritz obviously looking to wear him down.
Maldini lands with a cross.
Maldini misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Maldini slips a jab from Fritz.
Maldini fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fritz on the side of the head.
Fritz ducks under a wild hook from Maldini.
Maldini looks to land a right hand but Fritz moved out of range.
Fritz missing with a left hand there. Maldini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fritz swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Fritz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters circling - Fritz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fritz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fritz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maldini moves out of range of the strikes.
Fritz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fritz throws a shot from downtown. Maldini moves away and avoids it.
Fritz digs a good hook to Maldini's body.
Fritz cracks Maldini with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Fritz throws a shot from downtown. Maldini moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fritz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maldini. Maldini circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Maldini misses with a straight right.
Fritz throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Matthew Fritz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Fritz misses.
It looked like Maldini was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fritz misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldini has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fritz finds it's way round the side to connect with Maldini's head.
Maldini slips a jab from Fritz.
Maldini was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maldini waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fritz.
Fritz scores with a hook.
A punch combination from Fritz misses.
Fritz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Fritz clinches up against the cage.
Maldini is trying to force a seperation but Fritz has the dominant position.
Maldini is looking to break free of the clinch but Fritz has double underhooks.
Maldini has had enough of the clinch but Fritz keeps him there for the moment.
Maldini wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fritz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fritz is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Maldini working hard to break the clinch.
Maldini definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Fritz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maldini swats away the attempt to clinch by Fritz.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fritz.
Fritz blocks a jab.
A head kick from Fritz lands but Maldini takes it in his stride.
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!
Fritz misses with a kick to the body.
Maldini misses with a hook.
Maldini slips a straight right by Fritz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fritz wants to clinch up but Maldini keeps it at a distance.
Fritz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maldini avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maldini!
Maldini misses with a looping left.
Fritz throws a leg kick
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
Fritz throws a jab when Maldini was well out of range.
Fritz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fritz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maldini staying out of range there.
Fritz swings widly with a right hand
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fritz misses with a straight left.
Maldini avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maldini throws a looping overhand right but Fritz ducks down to avoid it.
Maldini keeps the fight on the outside.
Fritz moves away from the strike by Maldini.
Fritz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maldini takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Fritz misses with a hook
and Maldini counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fritz misses with a hook.
Fritz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maldini throws a lazy right hand but Fritz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fritz connects with a right hand. Maldini shakes it off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Fritz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fritz tests Maldini's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fritz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fritz tries to clinch up.
Maldini is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Maldini misses with a few strikes there.
Maldini tests Fritz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fritz looks to land a right hand but Maldini moved out of range.
Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fritz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fritz looks to score with a jab to the body but Maldini is just out of range.
Maldini throwing a counter right hand but Fritz manages to avoid it.
Fritz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maldini counters with a left and a right that stings Fritz.
Fritz defending well as Maldini loads up on a big left hand.
Fritz now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Fritz throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fritz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fritz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maldini.
Fritz misses with a wild body shot.
Maldini is looking to counter punch.
Fritz throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maldini misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fritz.
Fritz throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maldini dodges the punch combination from Fritz.
Maldini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fritz.
Nice shot lands for Fritz.
Maldini slips under a jab.
Fritz thows a leg kick but Maldini checks it
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Matthew Fritz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fritz throws an overhand right that lands on Maldini's shoulder, as Maldini tries to avoid the shot.
Maldini throws a jab when Fritz was well out of range.
Fritz pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Maldini back to the cage. Fritz follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fritz takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fritz swings widly with a right hand
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
Fritz scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maldini connects with the punch.
Maldini throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fritz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fritz with a nice cross.
Fritz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maldini throws a jab when Fritz was well out of range.
Maldini is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fritz throws a sloppy body shot
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini avoids the head kick by Fritz.
Fritz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Fritz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fritz misses with an uppercut. Maldini saw that one coming.
Maldini missing with a left hand there. Fritz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maldini throws a jab when Fritz was well out of range.
Maldini moves forwards but Fritz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fritz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fritz throws a right hand that misses
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fritz takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
Maldini throws a big shot that misses.
Fritz throws a sloppy head kick and Maldini moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fritz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fritz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maldini throws a lazy right hand but Fritz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Maldini backs off Fritz throws a huge counter combo but Maldini manages to avoid it all.
Maldini loads up on a big right hand but Fritz slips the punch.
Paulo Maldini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fritz swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
A big right from Maldini misses.
Fritz lands with a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldini on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fritz. Fritz obviously looking to wear him down.
Fritz misses with a straight right.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matthew Fritz.
Well Fritz 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Matthew Fritz!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Matthew Fritz!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Matthew Fritz!

Matthew Fritz wins by unanimous decision!
Matthew Fritz was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.