PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mick Maurizio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chen Shui Bai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Maurizio might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to NMH2: No More Riot. 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.

Maurizio
vs
Shui Bai

172 cm
26
210 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

191 cm
22
217 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mick Maurizio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chen Shui Bai!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maurizio on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Maurizio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shui Bai can pounce on him.
Maurizio throws a sloppy head kick and Shui Bai moves out of range easily.
Shui Bai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maurizio sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shui Bai somewhat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shui Bai, right into the meat.
Maurizio is breathing heavily.
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!
Shui Bai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Maurizio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick from Shui Bai misses.
Shui Bai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shui Bai lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Maurizio has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Maurizio and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Maurizio is looking to clinch.
Shui Bai scoring well with a low kick there.
Maurizio tries to close the distance and clinch but Shui Bai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shui Bai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maurizio. That did some damage!
Shui Bai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Shui Bai shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Maurizio is trying to defend but Shui Bai finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shui Bai is keen to just control but Maurizio is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shui Bai moves nicely into side control.

Shui Bai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maurizio has escaped the position, nice work there.

Shui Bai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shui Bai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Shui Bai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Maurizio stops Shui Bai from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shui Bai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shui Bai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Shui Bai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Shui Bai goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maurizio rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Shui Bai's guard! Nice work there by Maurizio!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shui Bai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shui Bai keeping moving, preventing Maurizio from controlling successfully.
Maurizio trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shui Bai's guard.
Maurizio scoring with punches to the head and body.

Shui Bai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maurizio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maurizio manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shui Bai looking to control.

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

Maurizio darts in and clinches Shui Bai up against the cage.
Shui Bai lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio with a knee to the head.

Shui Bai drags the fight down to the ground.
Shui Bai trying to control the position.
Maurizio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maurizio throwing strikes but missing.
Shui Bai is trying to keep Maurizio in close.

Shui Bai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maurizio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shui Bai keeping moving, preventing Maurizio from controlling successfully.
Maurizio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shui Bai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Shui Bai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maurizio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shui Bai has a closed guard, preventing Maurizio from standing up.
Maurizio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shui Bai is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maurizio wants to clinch.
Maurizio tries to clinch but Shui Bai is having none of it.
Shui Bai scoring well with a low kick there.
Maurizio shoots in for a takedown but Shui Bai shows good takedown defense.
Maurizio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shui Bai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maurizio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shui Bai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A bone on bone clash there as Maurizio blocks the leg kick.

Maurizio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shui Bai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shui Bai trying to control the position from guard on top but Maurizio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio working a defensive guard here.
Shui Bai wants to control from the top but Maurizio keeps moving.
Shui Bai tries to free his leg and advance position but Maurizio is retaining full guard.

Chen Shui Bai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maurizio fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shui Bai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maurizio wants to clinch.

Shui Bai shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maurizio napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Shui Bai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shui Bai is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maurizio has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shui Bai is breathing heavily.

Shui Bai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Shui Bai swings around for an armbar but Maurizio sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shui Bai's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shui Bai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maurizio defends it easily.
Maurizio postures up and lands a big shot to Shui Bai's brow.
Maurizio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maurizio throws a big right hand that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maurizio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Shui Bai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maurizio defends well.

Shui Bai working for a triangle but Maurizio defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maurizio gets to his feet - Shui Bai follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shui Bai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shui Bai shoots in for a takedown but Maurizio shows good takedown defense.
Maurizio tries to clinch

so Shui Bai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maurizio is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maurizio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shui Bai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maurizio landing some decent shots from guard.
Maurizio wants to control from the top but Shui Bai keeps moving.

Maurizio stands up and waves to Shui Bai to follow him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maurizio is looking to clinch.
Maurizio is looking to clinch but Shui Bai is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chen Shui Bai 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. This is the final round!

Maurizio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shui Bai paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Shui Bai closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Shui Bai goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maurizio rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Shui Bai's guard! Nice work there by Maurizio!
Maurizio working some strikes from top position.

Shui Bai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maurizio throwing strikes from guard but Shui Bai blocks nicely.

Maurizio stands up and waves to Shui Bai to follow him.
Maurizio tries to clinch up but Shui Bai circles away and keeps his distance.
Shui Bai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maurizio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shui Bai lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maurizio tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Shui Bai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maurizio wants to control but Shui Bai is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio wants to get back to his feet.

Shui Bai is looking for a kimura here.

Shui Bai 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.

Shui Bai is trying to work for a kimura but Maurizio is defending well.
Chen Shui Bai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Maurizio tries to kick Shui Bai off but Shui Bai keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Shui Bai seems content to control.
Shui Bai wants to free his trapped foot but Maurizio is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Shui Bai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shui Bai keeps the fight on the outside.
Shui Bai fails with a takedown attempt.

Shui Bai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maurizio tries to get to full guard but Shui Bai has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shui Bai is keen to just control but Maurizio is a slippery customer.
Chen Shui Bai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shui Bai controlling the pace.
Maurizio keeping control of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Maurizio gets back to full guard.
Mick Maurizio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shui Bai trying to control the position from guard on top but Maurizio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chen Shui Bai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shui Bai winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chen Shui Bai!