PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Junior Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Statham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maia
vs
Statham

175 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

196 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Junior Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jordan Statham!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maia.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Statham counters with a single leg into guard. Maia didn't expect that.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Statham scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maia can't keep his opponent in guard - Statham advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Maia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maia.
Maia is trying to control the position but Statham postures up.
Statham wanted to stand there but Maia had control of the position.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maia is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Statham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Statham not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Statham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Maia throws a one two combo.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Statham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Junior Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Statham stands up from half guard.
Junior Maia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Statham drives through with a takedown into Maia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Statham is pushing down on Maia's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maia is fighting to maintain full guard but Statham has managed to sneak the leg through.
Statham controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to get back to full guard.
Statham looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Statham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Maia is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Statham scores with a couple of nice shots.
Statham is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Statham is nestled in close to Maia, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Maia looking for a kimura from the bottom but Statham passes into side control!
Maia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face as Statham controls the position.
Statham advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham with the ground and pound from mount.
Statham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Statham looking to control but Maia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Statham controlling from mount.
Maia is in a horrible position here. Statham smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Maia is trying to escape the mount.
Statham is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Statham tries to control but Maia wriggling away.
Maia bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Statham kicks Maia off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Maia tries to keep at a distance but Statham has taken the fight into the clinch.

Statham is trying to trip Maia. He has hold of a leg but Maia is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Statham persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Maia throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Statham escapes and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Maia is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Statham is controlling him well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maia is working to avoid the ground and pound but Statham connects with a decent elbow.
Statham in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Statham dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Statham darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Maia punching from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Statham in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Statham from controlling successfully.
Statham is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Statham's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Statham can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Statham got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Statham has managed to get both his arms back between Maia's legs - danger averted.
Statham chips away with some ground and pound.
Statham seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Statham has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Statham wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia keeping full guard, as Statham tries to pass.
Statham lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Statham scoring with punches to the head and body.
Statham trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia has momentary wrist control but Statham slips an elbow through the middle.
Statham is in close to Maia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Statham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Statham stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

Maia is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Statham has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Maia is trying to keep an underhook but Statham manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Statham lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Statham working over Maia with some ground and pound. Maia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham lands with a punch from half guard.
Statham wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.
Maia wants to control but Statham is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Statham connects with a nice short shot to Maia's temple.
Statham performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Statham sits in half guard.
Statham winds up and cracks Maia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jordan Statham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia trying to hold on to Statham's head to control him but Statham postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Statham connects with a nice short shot to Maia's temple.
Statham working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Maia is trying to control but can't.
Statham is taking a breather. Maia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
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!
Statham scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Statham takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Statham wants to pass to mount but Maia is defending the position.
Maia gets back to full guard.
Statham scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Statham gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Statham closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
It looks like Statham is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Statham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Statham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maia trying to control the action but Statham is working from the bottom.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Statham is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Statham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Statham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Statham pulls Maia in close to his closed guard and prevents Maia from doing any damage or advancing position.

Statham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Statham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Statham wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Statham has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nice takedown defense from Statham. No joy for Maia on that attempt.

Maia tries to sprawl but Statham drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maia trying to control from the bottom.
Statham is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Statham prevents Maia from standing back up.
Statham lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Statham looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maia trying to control from the bottom.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Statham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Statham trying to control from half guard but Maia is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maia is looking to control Statham's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maia avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Statham throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maia was covering up waiting for the punch and Statham finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Statham landing some decent shots from guard.
Statham lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Statham is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Maia pushes Statham off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Statham counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Statham pulls his head out easily.
Statham is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Maia!
Junior Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maia swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Statham connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Statham lands a heavy elbow.
Jordan Statham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Statham cracks Maia with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jordan Statham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Statham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jordan Statham!