PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Maracic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Munoz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Maracic
vs
Munoz

177 cm
27
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Maracic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Munoz!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Munoz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maracic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maracic lands a couple of digs.
Maracic is looking to work some ground and pound but Munoz has wrist control.

Munoz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maracic defends it easily.
Maracic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maracic wants to control from the top but Munoz keeps moving.
Maracic is fighting to break Munoz's control of his arms but Munoz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maracic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Munoz is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maracic looking to sit in guard and control but Munoz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maracic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Munoz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Maracic looking for a guillotine here but Munoz defends easily.

Maracic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Munoz is looking to work some ground and pound but Maracic has wrist control.

Maracic is looking for a triangle but Munoz pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maracic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Munoz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Munoz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Munoz stands up over Maracic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Munoz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Munoz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Maracic has his foot on Munoz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Munoz works his way back into a safe position though.
Munoz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Munoz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Maracic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Munoz 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.
Munoz chips away with some ground and pound.
Munoz landing with the ground and pound.

Maracic working for a triangle but Munoz defends it easily.
Munoz pushes down on Maracic's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maracic gets full guard.
Munoz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maracic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Munoz is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Munoz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Munoz landing some decent shots from guard.

Maracic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maracic is breathing heavily.
Maracic controls Munoz momentarily but Munoz frees himself.
Munoz is working Maracic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Munoz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Munoz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Munoz connects with a couple of short punches.
Munoz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Maracic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maracic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munoz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maracic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Munoz landing some decent shots from guard.
Munoz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Munoz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Munoz thows a big elbow that misses.

Maracic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Munoz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maracic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Munoz's guard.

Maracic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Munoz dives on top into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Munoz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Munoz is working Maracic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Munoz lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Munoz will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Munoz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Maracic actively working from the bottom here.
Munoz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Maracic wants to improve his position but Munoz is controlling well.

Munoz is trying to work for a kimura but Maracic is defending well.
Maracic is looking for a sweep. Munoz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maracic missing with punches from the bottom.

Maracic actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munoz working over Maracic with some ground and pound. Maracic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Munoz is trying to work for a kimura but Maracic is defending well.
Munoz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maracic trying to control here.
Mark Munoz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Maracic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Munoz pulls his head out easily.
Munoz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Munoz drops an elbow to the side of Maracic's head.

Maracic is defending against the submission attempts here by Munoz.
Nice strikes from Munoz there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Munoz lands a nice short elbow.
Munoz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maracic wants to get back to full guard.
Munoz lands with a punch from half guard.

Maracic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maracic is looking to improve his position.
Munoz working the head and body with strikes.

Munoz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Munoz lands strikes from half guard.

Munoz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maracic defends it well.
Maracic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maracic looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maracic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Munoz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Munoz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.
Munoz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Munoz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Munoz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Munoz postures up in Maracic's guard and throws a big left but Maracic blocks it.

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

Maracic working for a triangle but Munoz defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Munoz 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.

Maracic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maracic is looking for a triangle but Munoz pushes his legs off easily.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.
Munoz scoring with some ground and pound.
Munoz landing with the ground and pound.

Maracic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Munoz is aware though and is defending well.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.

Munoz drops back looking for a leg! Maracic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maracic manages to kick Munoz off! Munoz jumps back into Maracic's guard.
Maracic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Munoz.
Maracic trying to keep a closed guard but Munoz is proving a slippery customer.
Munoz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maracic is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Munoz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Maracic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Munoz scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Munoz prevents Maracic from escaping the position.
Maracic takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Maracic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maracic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Munoz avoids the strikes from the bottom by Maracic.
Munoz lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Maracic's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Munoz cracks Maracic with a big elbow.
Maracic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Munoz's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Munoz working Maracic over with strikes.
Munoz slips a nice elbow through Maracic's hands, connecting with Maracic's forehead.
Maracic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Munoz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Maracic is trying to control but can't.
Munoz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Maracic trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Munoz stops Maracic from getting back to his feet.

Maracic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Munoz pulls his head out easily.
Munoz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Munoz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Munoz.

Munoz is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munoz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maracic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Munoz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Maracic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Munoz stands up over Maracic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Munoz is in close to Maracic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Munoz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
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!

Maracic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Munoz cracks Maracic with a solid left hand.

Maracic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maracic has momentary wrist control but Munoz slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maracic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Munoz defends it easily.

Munoz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Munoz connects with a couple of short punches.
Munoz with a nice head shot there.
Munoz lands a couple of digs.
Joe Maracic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Maracic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Munoz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Maracic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Munoz defends well.
Mark Munoz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Munoz landing some decent shots from guard.
Munoz is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Maracic wants to sweep here but Munoz controlling him for the moment.
Munoz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Munoz landing with the ground and pound.
Maracic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Munoz distracts Maracic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Munoz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Munoz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Munoz 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Munoz!