PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Daniels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles Daniels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Daniels

183 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Charles Daniels!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Daniels gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Daniels looking to control.
Daniels doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maia advances position into side control!

Maia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Daniels knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Daniels regains half guard.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Daniels has managed to free his arm - good work.
Daniels wants to control but Maia is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Daniels is holding on to half guard well.

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.
Daniels trying to hold on to Maia's head to control him but Maia postures up.

Daniels makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Daniels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Daniels misses with a takedown
and Maia counters with a good, hard body kick but Daniels shrugs it off.

Maia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Maia lands in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Daniels is on top in guard.
Maia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Daniels passes into half guard.
Maia is breathing heavily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Daniels pulls his head out easily.
Daniels is controlling the pace.
Daniels trying to pass the guard but Maia defending well.
Maia is in trouble now - Daniels has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Daniels looking to control but Maia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Maia is desperately trying to improve his position but Daniels has a good base and remains in mount.
Daniels landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Maia is in all sorts of trouble here.
Daniels tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maia is looking to get to half guard.
Daniels trying to control but Maia is having none of it.
Maia working to try and regain half guard.
Daniels takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Daniels fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
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 Demian Maia 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.

Maia pushes Daniels up against the cage in a clinch.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Daniels shoots and misses

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Daniels just stands there and leans against the cage.

Maia manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maia can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Daniels controls the pace.
Maia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daniels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels is pushing down on Maia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maia is fighting to maintain full guard but Daniels has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Daniels passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daniels is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.
Maia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maia working for a triangle but Daniels defends it easily.
Daniels advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to improve his position.
Maia is not content to let Daniels control the position.
Maia wants to improve his position but Daniels is controlling well.

Daniels is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maia is just riding it out for now. Daniels eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Daniels controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daniels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maia's head.
Maia is trying to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Daniels has his takedown stuffed

so Maia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Maia drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Daniels manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maia has Daniels in his guard.
Daniels stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Daniels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Daniels defends easily.
Daniels is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Daniels defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Daniels shoots and misses

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Daniels has managed to free his arm - good work.
Daniels trying to control here.
Demian Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.

Maia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daniels sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daniels makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Daniels.

Maia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Daniels is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Daniels has escaped and now he's on top!
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.
Daniels controlling from the top position.

Daniels is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maia is looking to sweep but instead, Daniels has passed into half guard.
Maia has a hand on Daniels's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Daniels takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Maia is looking to improve his position but Daniels isn't that keen on the idea.
Maia looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Daniels tries to keep control of the position but Maia is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia manages to reverse the position and now he's in Daniels's guard. Nice work there by Maia.

Daniels 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 postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Daniels is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maia, into his guard.
Daniels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Demian Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Daniels trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Daniels defends easily.
Daniels is fighting to break Maia's control of his arms but Maia is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maia is really struggling to control Daniels but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Daniels throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Maia!