PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Viko Maafala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Eccleston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maafala comes into the arena with Fight blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maafala
vs
Eccleston

195 cm
31
282 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

186 cm
25
250 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Viko Maafala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Christopher Eccleston!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maafala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maafala looks for a takedown but Eccleston sprawls well.
Maafala doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Eccleston counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Eccleston slips a nice elbow through Maafala's hands, connecting with Maafala's forehead.
Maafala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eccleston.
Eccleston working Maafala over with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eccleston throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eccleston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maafala has hold of Eccleston's hands but Eccleston slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Eccleston works his way into full mount!
Eccleston wants to control the pace but Maafala is squirming around nicely.
Maafala gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala tries to get to full guard but Eccleston has control of the leg.
Eccleston sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maafala throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Eccleston lands a nice short elbow.
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. Eccleston connects with a nice short shot to Maafala's temple.
Maafala keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eccleston thows a huge punch but Maafala dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eccleston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maafala's head.
Maafala is trying to stand back up but Eccleston is controlling him
Eccleston is trying to control. Maafala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maafala is looking to control Eccleston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maafala avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston wants to free his trapped foot but Maafala is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Eccleston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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!
Eccleston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Eccleston landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Maafala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Eccleston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Eccleston is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Eccleston distracts Maafala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maafala controlling the position.
Eccleston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eccleston trying to control but Maafala is working from the bottom.
Eccleston is pushing down on Maafala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maafala is fighting to maintain full guard but Eccleston has managed to sneak the leg through.
Eccleston throwing shots but Maafala is blocking nicely.
Eccleston lands strikes from half guard.
Eccleston wants to pass to mount but Maafala is defending the position.
Eccleston landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Eccleston lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Maafala is looking to escape.
Eccleston working over Maafala with some ground and pound. Maafala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Eccleston is looking to take a break and control but Maafala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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. Eccleston connects with a nice short shot to Maafala's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maafala wants to get back to full guard.
Eccleston is trying to control. Maafala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Eccleston working over Maafala with some ground and pound. Maafala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Eccleston is trying to control the action in half guard but Maafala is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Eccleston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maafala's head.
Eccleston has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maafala is not content to let Eccleston control the position.
Maafala controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Eccleston looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Eccleston scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Eccleston wants to control but Maafala is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Eccleston 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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Maafala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Viko Maafala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maafala tries for a takedown but Eccleston circles away easily

and Eccleston counters with a shoot takedown. Maafala fights it but they end up in guard.
Maafala wants to stand but Eccleston is controlling the position.

Maafala pushes Eccleston off and gets back to his feet.

Eccleston closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maafala to the mat! Maafala manages to get full guard.
Eccleston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maafala wants to sweep but no luck.
Eccleston passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maafala is letting Eccleston control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eccleston wants to control but Maafala is keeping him busy.
Maafala is looking for a sweep.
Maafala prevents Eccleston from moving into mount.
Eccleston wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maafala keeps working.
Maafala is looking to regain half guard here but Eccleston keeps moving and retains side control.
Eccleston tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
An elbow from Eccleston crashes against the mat.
Eccleston lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Check out the look on Eccleston's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

It looks like Viko Maafala has been cut.
Eccleston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Eccleston working the head and body with strikes.

Viko Maafala's cut is getting worse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eccleston landing a few strikes.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Eccleston. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Eccleston fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Christopher Eccleston has got the better of the ground game so far.
Eccleston trying to control the position but Maafala is working away.
Maafala is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maafala takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Maafala looks to move to half guard but instead Eccleston has passed into mount! Damn!
Eccleston with good strikes from the mount here!
Eccleston breaks from Maafala's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Viko Maafala's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Viko Maafala's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Christopher Eccleston!