PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Alipio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maia
vs
Alipio

159 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rickson Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Richard Alipio!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia looks for a takedown but Alipio sprawls well.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alipio is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Alipio circles away and we're back to standing.
Alipio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maia is looking to advance position but Alipio won't allow it.
Maia is trying to control the action in half guard but Alipio is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alipio controlling the position well.
Alipio is looking for a sweep. Maia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alipio is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maia looking to control but Alipio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alipio can do anything to dispel that myth.

Alipio somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

Alipio closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maia to the mat! Maia manages to get full guard.
Alipio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alipio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alipio with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alipio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alipio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alipio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alipio sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alipio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Alipio misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Alipio wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alipio creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Maia sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Maia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Alipio trying to control the action but Maia is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maia parries the strikes from Alipio easily there. Alipio is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maia to escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia misses with a takedown

so Alipio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alipio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alipio is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Alipio stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.
Alipio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Alipio dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alipio looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alipio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
Alipio throwing strikes but missing.
Alipio controlling from the top position.
Maia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alipio is looking to work some ground and pound but Maia has wrist control.
Maia has control of Alipio's left arm, preventing Alipio from doing any damage.
Alipio trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia misses with a hook.

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.
Maia shoots and misses

and Alipio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Alipio lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Maia tries to get to full guard but Alipio has control of the leg.
Alipio looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Alipio stalling away here and it's allowed Maia to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Richard Alipio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping full guard, as Alipio tries to pass.
Alipio is working Maia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Alipio from controlling successfully.
Alipio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alipio stays in close to Maia's body and controls the position.
Alipio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alipio looking to sit in guard and control but Maia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alipio is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Alipio closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maia to the mat! Maia manages to get full guard.
Alipio stays in close to Maia's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Alipio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alipio changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Alipio throws an elbow but Maia slips to the side and avoids it well.
Alipio tries to score with some ground and pound. Maia controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Alipio working the body and head with strikes.
Alipio is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Alipio seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Maia is not content to let Alipio control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Alipio off and has taken his back!

Maia is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Alipio knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Alipio for a finish.

Alipio defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Maia is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Alipio defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Maia lands shots from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alipio manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maia's guard. Nice work there by Alipio.
Alipio postures up in Maia's guard and throws a big left but Maia blocks it.
Alipio trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alipio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Alipio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alipio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Alipio lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Alipio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alipio looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alipio is looking to work some ground and pound but Maia has wrist control.
Alipio trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Alipio landing some decent shots from guard.
Rickson Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Alipio from controlling successfully.
Alipio thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alipio with a poor takedown

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alipio won't be happy with that.
Alipio wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Richard Alipio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maia tries to move into full mount but can't pass Alipio's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rickson Maia.
Well Alipio 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Alipio!