PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Randall Floyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Floyd's entrance music is California Waiting by Kings of Leon. A fine choice. Ben Maples is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Floyd
vs
Maples

175 cm
20
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
156 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Conviction

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Randall Floyd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Maples!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maples throws a sloppy head kick and Floyd moves out of range easily.
Maples throws a shot to the body.
Floyd avoids the head kick by Maples.

Floyd gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maples to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maples stopping the sweep attempt from Floyd.
Maples scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Floyd has a closed guard, preventing Maples from standing up.

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

Maples avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Maples stands and steps away. Floyd gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Floyd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maples counters with a stiff right hand.
A combination from Maples does no damage.
Floyd shoots and misses
and Maples counters with a two punch combo.
Floyd has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ben Maples seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maples throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Floyd checks a low kick from Maples.
A head kick misses from Maples.
Maples throws a nice looking combination but Floyd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maples throws a sloppy head kick and Floyd moves out of range easily.
Maples misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Floyd fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maples sprawls well initially but Floyd persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Floyd is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maples doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Floyd.
Floyd is looking to stall here but Maples recovers full guard.

Floyd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maples is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maples has escaped and now he's on top!
Maples trying to stand up but can't free himself from Floyd's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Floyd avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maples wants to stand but Floyd is controlling his posture from full guard.
Floyd not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Floyd looking for a guillotine here but Maples defends easily.

Floyd has his foot on Maples's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maples works his way back into a safe position though.
Floyd manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maples manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Floyd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maples swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Floyd trying to control the position from guard on top but Maples is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maples kicks Floyd off and gets to his feet.
Floyd has his takedown stuffed

and Maples counters with a single leg into guard. Floyd didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Floyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maples has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Floyd is proving hard to escape from.
Maples with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Maples dominated that round.
That's time! Floyd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maples moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Maples throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Maples gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Floyd slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Floyd in side control lands a decent elbow.
Floyd cracks Maples with a big elbow.
Floyd is looking to take a break and control but Maples is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Floyd throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples tries to bench press Floyd off him but Floyd keeps the position.

Floyd thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Floyd is trying to get an arm triangle but Maples is defending well.

Floyd is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maples is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Floyd thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two 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.
Floyd connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Maples some visible discomfort.
Floyd working the strikes but Maples uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Floyd trying to advance position but Maples counters by regaining guard.
Floyd tries to free his leg and advance position but Maples is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Floyd trying to control but Maples is working from the bottom.

Floyd drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maples looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maples looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maples!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maples has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Maples scores with a hook.
Floyd clinches but Maples breaks the clinch

and Maples counters by clinching up.

Maples breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Randall Floyd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Floyd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maples counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maples pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maples pushes Floyd up against the cage in a clinch.
Maples prevents the takedown attempt.
Maples digs a right hand into Floyd's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Floyd's gas tank.
Floyd wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Floyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Floyd changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Maples fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Floyd fails with the takedown
and Maples counters with a right hand to the body.
Maples chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Floyd. Maples shrugs it off though.
Some wild striking there from Maples.
Floyd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maples counters with a thumping low kick.
Floyd takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Maples will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Maples scores with a takedown into Floyd's guard.

Floyd is looking for a triangle but Maples pushes his legs off easily.

Maples gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Maples takes the fight into the clinch.

Maples escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Floyd with a poor takedown
and Maples counters with a head kick.
Maples goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Maples motions for Floyd to come forward. Maples throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Floyd with a poor takedown
and Maples counters with a left and a right that stings Floyd.
Maples lands with a kick to the temple. Floyd shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples tries a head kick but it misses.
Floyd with a poor takedown

and Maples counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maples.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Floyd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maples escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Floyd scores a takedown into full mount!
Maples wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Floyd goes for an armbar but Maples turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Maples.

Maples gets to his feet - Floyd follows without any prompting.
Floyd blocks a head kick by Maples.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Floyd misses with a takedown
and Maples counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Floyd closes the distance but Maples moves to the side
and Maples counters with a series of strikes. Floyd will be more careful next time no doubt.
Floyd misses with a takedown attempt
and Maples counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Floyd has his takedown stuffed
and Maples counters with a big head kick but Floyd shrugs it off.
Floyd misses with a takedown attempt
and Maples counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Maples closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Maples escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maples throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maples fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Floyd on the side of the head.

Maples fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Floyd, pushing him back against the cage.

Maples escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Floyd wants to clinch but Maples slips to the side

and Maples counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maples.

Maples manages to break the clinch.
Floyd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maples counters with a left and a right that stings Floyd.
Danga de danga de dang - Maples scores with a four punch combination!
A swing and a miss from Maples.
Maples tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Floyd misses with a takedown attempt

and Maples counters by moving into the clinch.
Floyd jumps guard but Maples stands there with Floyd around his waist. Floyd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Randall Floyd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Floyd looking for a takedown.

Floyd pulls guard.

Floyd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maples decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Floyd, up you get!

Maples drives through and clinches with Floyd against the cage.
Maples scores with a knee to the head.

Floyd tightens his grip and picks Maples up, before dumping him to the ground. Maples manages to land in guard.

Maples wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maples with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Floyd with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maples holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Maples comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maples 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Ben Maples!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Ben Maples!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Ben Maples!

Ben Maples wins by unanimous decision!