PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yurik Khripunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Maia
vs
Khripunov

173 cm
29
150 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

171 cm
25
150 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Damien Maia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yurik Khripunov !
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia throws a series of punches but Khripunov moves out of range.
Maia scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maia. Khripunov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Khripunov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maia is trying to get back to his feet.

Khripunov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maia, who protects the arm well.

Khripunov tries for a kimura but Maia is defending well.

Khripunov tries for a kimura but Maia is defending well.
Maia is trying to buck Khripunov off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khripunov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Khripunov is trying to get an arm triangle but Maia is defending well.
Maia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Khripunov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Khripunov 's guard! Nice work there by Maia!
Khripunov looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khripunov has an active guard here but Maia has managed to pass into half guard.
Maia tries to stand and escape but Khripunov is controlling the position.
Khripunov wants to get back to full guard.
Khripunov trying to control but Maia postures up.
Khripunov wants to get back to full guard.
Maia is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Khripunov wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is thwarting Khripunov 's attempts to control the position.
Maia wants to stand up but Khripunov is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Khripunov tries to close the distance and clinch but Maia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maia. Khripunov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khripunov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maia swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Khripunov darts in and clinches Maia up against the ropes.
Khripunov misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia can't break the clinch.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Khripunov tries to clinch up
and Maia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maia just misses with a punch to the body.
Khripunov moves out of range of the strikes.
Maia lands with a hook. Khripunov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Khripunov tries to clinch up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia looks to land a left hand but Khripunov moved out of range nicely.
Maia lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Damien Maia will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khripunov was well out of range. Poor timing from Maia.
Khripunov shoots in for a takedown but Maia shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maia throws a body punch but Khripunov moves out of range.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khripunov fails with the takedown.
Khripunov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maia lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Khripunov wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.
Khripunov tries to clinch up.
Maia slips a jab and a cross from Khripunov .
Khripunov tries to clinch there but Maia circles away.
Damien Maia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khripunov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maia defends it nicely.
Damien Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yurik Khripunov .

Khripunov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Khripunov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maia is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maia has escaped and now he's on top!
Maia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Khripunov is proving hard to escape from.

Maia decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Maia connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Maia counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Khripunov is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khripunov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khripunov is still on wobbly legs! Can Maia finish him?
A slow jab from Maia misses its intended target.
Khripunov tries to clinch but Maia moves away
and Maia makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maia thuds a left hand into Khripunov 's body.
Khripunov is breathing heavily.
Khripunov ducks into an uppercut from Maia and that's knocked him out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Damien Maia!
Damien Maia retains his featherweight title!