PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny English (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maia
vs
English

183 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny English!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
English will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
English swinging wilding here.
Johnny English seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
English lands a left and a right that sends Maia crashing to the canvas! English dives into mount looking to finish!

It looks like Demian Maia has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
English wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

English goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Maia is on top in guard.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

English is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English is trying to keep Maia in close.

Maia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maia trying to control but English is working from the bottom.

English is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maia defends well.
English controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. English swivels though and keeps the full guard.
English looking to control.
English keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia forces his way into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
English is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maia pulls his head out easily.
English is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
English looks gassed!
English is pressing down on Maia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maia trying to control but English is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
English can't keep his opponent in guard - Maia advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
English has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maia is working away from the top position though.
Maia wants to pass the guard but English is defending well.

Maia is working for a kimura but English is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but English does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
English has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maia is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

English is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maia pulls his head out easily.
English trying to control but Maia postures up.

Maia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
English misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny English dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Demian Maia's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

English lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.

Maia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
English is trying to control but can't.
English tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Maia has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
English tries to reverse the position but Maia maintains control.
English is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
English wants to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
English is just holding on here. Maia manages to take his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, English has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Maia is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
English wants to escape the position.

English showing good submission defense here.
I really don't envy English right now.

English showing good submission defense here.
English controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
English tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
English working to try and regain half guard.
English is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
English wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
English trying to control but not successfully.
Maia keeps control of the position as English tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but English has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
English tries to roll but Maia sticks to his back.
English trying to control but not successfully.
English turns into Maia and is now in his guard.
Maia on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maia tries to get out of the position.
English wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

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.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and English defends well.

Maia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. English doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. English manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
English moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Demian Maia's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maia shoots in for a takedown but English shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
English throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Demian Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
English scores with a body shot.
English doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Maia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

English escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but English is retaining full guard.

English is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! English is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and English manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into English's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
English lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maia!
English controlling the pace for now.

English moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Maia has worked his arm free - good work by Maia!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to improve position but can't.

English tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
English is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to bench press English off him but English keeps the position.
Maia prevents English from improving position.
Maia gets back to half guard.
English is trying to control the action in half guard but Maia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Demian Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
English might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maia kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.
English is looking to pass Maia's guard but actually Maia recovers to full guard.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but English can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
English trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
English looking to sit in guard and control but Maia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny English comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think English 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny English!