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). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Maracic
vs
Munoz

177 cm
27
185 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
27
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Maracic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 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!

Maracic throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Munoz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Maracic is in Munoz's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Maracic tries to free his leg and advance position but Munoz is retaining full guard.
Maracic trying to control but Munoz is working from the bottom.
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 working for a triangle but Munoz defends it easily.
Maracic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Munoz.

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.

Maracic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Munoz defends it easily.
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 one minute gone in the round.

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

Munoz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Munoz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maracic has momentary wrist control but Munoz slips an elbow through the middle.

Munoz got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maracic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Munoz has managed to get both his arms back between Maracic's legs - danger averted.

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 tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Maracic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Munoz is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maracic working for a triangle but Munoz defends it easily.
Munoz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Maracic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munoz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maracic is keeping the position for now.
Munoz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maracic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Munoz's guard.
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!
Munoz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Maracic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Munoz keeping full guard, as Maracic tries to pass.
Maracic is looking to advance position but Munoz has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Maracic tries to reverse the position but Munoz maintains control.
Munoz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maracic wants to hold on but Munoz pushes him away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
BOOM! Munoz connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maracic is in a horrible position here. Munoz smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

It looks like Joe Maracic has been cut.
The referee warns Maracic that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Maracic regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maracic wants to control but Munoz is keeping busy.

Munoz is trying to work for a kimura but Maracic is defending well.

Munoz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maracic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maracic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Munoz pulls his head out easily.
Munoz working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Munoz 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.
Ground and pound from Munoz.
Munoz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maracic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Munoz is working for a submission of some sort.
Munoz not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Munoz is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maracic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Munoz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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 cut man is working on Joe Maracic's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maracic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Munoz circles away.
Mark Munoz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Munoz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maracic tries to avoid it but Munoz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maracic to the ground. Maracic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Munoz is defended easily by Maracic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munoz shoots in but no luck this time.
Joe Maracic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Munoz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maracic fails with a takedown attempt.
Maracic with a lazy takedown attempt

and Munoz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Munoz scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maracic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maracic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munoz throws a big right hand that misses.
Maracic can't keep his opponent in guard - Munoz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Munoz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Maracic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maracic wants to improve his position but Munoz is controlling well.
Munoz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Maracic works his way to full guard. Good work.

Maracic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Munoz defends it easily.
Munoz landing with the ground and pound.
Munoz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.

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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munoz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Munoz distracts Maracic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Munoz landing with the ground and pound.

Munoz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Munoz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Munoz lands a couple of elbows.
Mark Munoz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Munoz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Munoz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Munoz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maracic's head.
Munoz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maracic looking for a sweep. Not yet Maracic, not yet.

Maracic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Munoz with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maracic is looking to stand up but Munoz isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munoz pushes down on Maracic's leg and manages to get into 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.
Munoz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

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

Maracic looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Munoz lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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.
The cut man is working on Joe Maracic's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Maracic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maracic wants it to stay on the feet.
Munoz shoots in for a takedown but Maracic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maracic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Munoz gets caught flat footed, as Maracic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munoz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Maracic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Maracic has gone for a leg lock! Munoz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Maracic's guard.
Munoz distracts Maracic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maracic looking for a sweep. Not yet Maracic, not yet.
Munoz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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

Maracic working for a triangle but Munoz defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Munoz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maracic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Munoz connects with a couple of short punches.

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.
Munoz distracts Maracic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Munoz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Munoz is posturing up here but Maracic has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Munoz tries to roll out but it's too tight and Munoz has to tap! Slick submission there by Maracic!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joe Maracic!