PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dog Crazy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dog Crazy has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Crazy
vs
Maia

195 cm
23
190 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

182 cm
24
188 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dog Crazy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Maia!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crazy was covering up waiting for the punch and Maia finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Maia controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Maia has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Crazy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to control from the top but Crazy keeps moving.
Maia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Crazy kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Daniel Maia wasn't active enough on the ground.
Crazy tries to clinch up but Maia circles away and keeps his distance.
Crazy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crazy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maia looks to throw the jab but Crazy is out of range.

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.
Crazy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crazy moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.

Maia darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Crazy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
Crazy is trying to get back to full guard.
Maia has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Crazy is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to take his opponent's back.
Maia sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Crazy is looking to get to half guard.

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 swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Crazy is now in Maia's guard. A big mistake from Maia there, giving up the dominant position!

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Crazy defends easily.
Crazy trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maia is looking to sweep but instead, Crazy has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Crazy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crazy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Maia misses the target.
Maia circles away from the clinch attempt.

Maia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Crazy manages to get to full guard.
Maia advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Crazy is trying to get back to full guard.
Maia trying to control the action but Crazy is working from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maia slows the pace down in half guard.

Maia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Crazy defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Crazy doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crazy pushes Maia off looking to stand but Maia dives back in and keeps control.
Maia frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Crazy wants to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
Maia controlling the pace for now.

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.
Crazy is trying to escape the mount.
Maia trying to control but Crazy is having none of it.
Maia content just to control the position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crazy tries to lock up and control but Maia gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Crazy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crazy wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.
Maia throws a hook but Crazy avoids it easily.
Crazy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maia.
Maia throws out a loose jab but Crazy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crazy avoids the body shot from Maia.
Maia works the jab nicely.
Crazy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Crazy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maia scores with a hook to the body. Crazy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crazy misses with a wild body shot.
Maia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maia looks to score with a jab to the body but Crazy is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Crazy.
Crazy tries to close the distance and clinch but Maia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crazy staying out of range there.
Crazy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maia takes a swing at Crazy's ribcage but misses.
Dog Crazy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crazy misses with a head kick.
A cross from Maia lands.
Maia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crazy.
Crazy scores with a head kick. Maia tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Maia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crazy moves away.
A jab lands there for Maia.
Dog Crazy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia throws a looping overhand right but Crazy ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maia lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crazy was well out of range. Poor timing from Maia.
Maia misses with a looping left.
Crazy tries to clinch there but Maia circles away.
Crazy moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.
Maia lands with a shot to the body.
Maia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Crazy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maia lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Crazy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crazy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Crazy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maia lands with an overhand left.
Crazy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia throws an overhand right that lands on Crazy's shoulder, as Crazy tries to avoid the shot.
Maia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crazy was well out of range. Poor timing from Maia.
A shot to the body from Crazy misses

and Maia counters with a single leg into guard. Crazy didn't expect that.
Crazy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.
Maia trying to control but Crazy is working from the bottom.
Maia seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Crazy keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maia advances to half guard.
Maia passes to full mount!
Maia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Crazy is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Crazy darts in trying to clinch
and Maia counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crazy moves out of range of the strikes.

Crazy pushes Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
Crazy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The referee calls for Crazy to work.
Crazy seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Crazy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maia takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crazy works on Maia's body with a couple of short punches.
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crazy walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maia avoids the head kick by Crazy.
Maia catches Crazy with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Daniel Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crazy tries to clinch
and Maia cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice takedown defense from Crazy. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Dog Crazy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Maia.
Crazy throws a lazy head kick
and Maia counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Crazy looks to land a combination. Maia sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maia throws a predictable looking body shot
and Crazy counters with a head kick.
Crazy slips a jab from Maia.
Maia moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Maia just misses with a punch to the body.
Maia misses with a wild body shot.
Maia looks to land a combination but Crazy avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crazy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crazy wants it to stay on the feet.
Crazy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Maia counters with a left to the body.
Crazy wants to clinch
and Maia counters with a nice body shot.
Crazy tries a head kick but it misses.
Crazy wants to clinch.
Maia connects with a good right hand that stumbles Crazy. Crazy circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A swing and a miss from Maia.
Maia punishes Crazy's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crazy tries to clinch but Maia moves away
and Maia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Crazy tries to clinch
and Maia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Crazy drops his hands momentarily and Maia takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Crazy tries to clinch up
and Maia makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Crazy wants to clinch
and Maia counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Crazy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crazy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Crazy tries to clinch
and Maia counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Crazy tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Crazy won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crazy keeps working.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maia wants to take a breather but Crazy manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Maia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Daniel Maia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Crazy wants to clinch but Maia slips to the side
and Maia counters with a stiff right hand.
Crazy tries to close the distance and clinch but Maia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Crazy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Crazy tries to clinch up
and Maia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maia misses with a hook to the body

and Crazy counters by clinching up.
Crazy throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Crazy.
Crazy throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Maia jumps guard but Crazy stands there with Maia around his waist. Maia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Crazy misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Crazy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crazy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maia backwards.
Crazy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maia up against the cage.
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crazy misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maia.
Maia is trying to break free.
Crazy lands a shoulder strike.
Crazy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maia blocks an elbow strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maia letting Crazy take a breather here.
Crazy looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Crazy fails to land.
Maia blocks the elbow strike.
Maia has Crazy pressed against the cage.
Crazy is trying to maintain a safe position but Maia gets an underhook and turns Crazy into the cage.
Crazy has Maia pressed against the cage.
Maia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Crazy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Crazy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maia backwards.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Daniel Maia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crazy.
Crazy tries to clinch up
and Crazy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crazy throws a head kick that misses.
Maia misses with a wild body shot.
Crazy throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Crazy tries to clinch up

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Crazy is not content to let Maia control the position.
Maia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Crazy is positioning himself well to prevent Maia advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to control the action in half guard but Crazy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maia is stalling here. Crazy is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Maia seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Crazy has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Crazy working away.
Daniel Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Crazy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dog Crazy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia tries to bench press Crazy off him but Crazy keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Maia.
I've got Maia 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 45:50
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 46:49
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Maia! Daniel Maia retains his middleweight title!