PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johny Larente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larente
vs
Maia

180 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
186 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johny Larente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia shoots in but Larente avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Larente fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Larente with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maia preventing the sweep.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Larente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Maia throws a strike but Larente rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Maia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Larente with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larente throws a strike but Maia rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Larente keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Larente is pulling down on Maia's head. It's preventing any offense from Maia, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larente is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.
Larente utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larente keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Larente wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses.
Larente wants to stand and escape but Maia is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Larente swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maia connects with a couple of short punches.
Larente wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia throwing strikes from guard but Larente blocks nicely.
Maia trying to control but Larente is working from the bottom.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maia throws and elbow that misses. Larente uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maia's guard. Nice move by Larente!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larente missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Maia working for a triangle but Larente defends it easily.

Larente has gone for a leg lock! Maia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Larente's guard.
Larente trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larente is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian 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.

Larente shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maia counters with a single leg into guard. Larente didn't expect that.
Maia with a nice head shot there.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Larente wants to stand up but Maia is controlling him.
Maia distracts Larente with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Larente is keeping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maia throwing strikes from guard but Larente blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larente keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

Larente kicks Maia off and gets to his feet.
Maia stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Maia with that takedown attempt.

Maia shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Larente's guard.
Larente preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larente avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Larente has wrist control.
Larente has control of Maia's left arm, preventing Maia from doing any damage.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Larente.
Maia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Larente has wrist control.

Larente pushes Maia off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Larente pinned against the cage. Larente gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Larente. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Johny Larente has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Larente gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larente won't be happy with that.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Larente is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maia sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Larente is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The strikes coming from Maia are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Maia swings around for an armbar but Larente sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maia's guard.
Demian Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Larente from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larente works over Maia with some ground and pound from 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!
Larente won't allow Maia to sweep him here.
Larente makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Larente from controlling successfully.
Larente throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larente with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Maia shoots in and bounces Larente off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Larente wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maia working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Larente wants to stand up but Maia is controlling him.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Larente has wrist control.
Larente wants to stand but Maia is controlling the position.
Larente avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larente avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Larente wants to stand but Maia is controlling the position.
Larente keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Larente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Larente's waist but Larente gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.
Demian Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Larente manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Larente is aware though and is defending well.
Larente scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Larente slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larente trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Larente with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Larente landing with the ground and pound.
Larente is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Larente stands up over Maia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Larente is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.
Maia wants to stand and escape but Larente is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larente's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Larente missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Larente from controlling successfully.
Maia 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.
Maia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Larente drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larente jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larente postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johny Larente has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demian Maia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larente postures up and lands a big shot to Maia's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Demian Maia.
Well Maia 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Maia!