PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Strong has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Strong
vs
Maia

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sam Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Demien Maia!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Strong's waist but Strong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.
Demien Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Maia 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.
Strong wants to stand but Maia is controlling the position.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strong dives on top into guard.
Strong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Strong pushes his legs off easily.
Strong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia keeping full guard, as Strong tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maia keeping full guard, as Strong tries to pass.
Strong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maia's head.
Maia has a closed guard, preventing Strong from standing up.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Strong pushes his legs off easily.
Strong lands a couple of elbows.
Strong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
Strong is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strong throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Strong postures up in Maia's guard and throws a big left but Maia blocks it.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Strong defends it easily.
Strong wants to get up but he can't break Maia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Maia looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Strong is defending well. Maia quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Strong has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Maia celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Demien Maia!