PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasily Smyslov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Demian Maia has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Maia
vs
Smyslov

183 cm
23
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Proof Supplements

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, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vasily Smyslov!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smyslov closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Smyslov pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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

Smyslov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smyslov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Smyslov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maia, who protects the arm well.
Maia is trying to improve his position.

Smyslov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smyslov moves into full mount!

Smyslov is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Maia has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.
Maia throwing hammer fists to the chest of Smyslov. What's that going to do exactly?
Smyslov wants to control the pace but Maia is squirming around nicely.
Smyslov wants to take his opponent's back but Maia doesn't allow it.
Maia is trying to escape the mount.

Smyslov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Maia can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Maia regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Smyslov is working for a submission of some sort.

Maia is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Smyslov pulls his head out easily.
Maia tries to roll over but Smyslov keeps him under control.
Smyslov wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.
Maia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smyslov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smyslov won't allow Maia to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Smyslov from controlling successfully.

Smyslov has gone for a leg lock! Maia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smyslov's guard.

Maia postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smyslov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maia, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smyslov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smyslov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smyslov pushing down on Maia's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Maia tries to get to full guard but Smyslov has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smyslov wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.
Smyslov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Maia throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Smyslov tries to free his leg and advance position but Maia is retaining full guard.
Maia can't keep his opponent in guard - Smyslov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smyslov works his way into full mount!
Maia can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vasily Smyslov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smyslov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maia doesn't seem bothered though.
Horrible takedown by Maia or perhaps it was just good defense by Smyslov which made him look bad.
Maia with a poor takedown

and Smyslov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maia!
Smyslov wants to take his opponent's back but Maia doesn't allow it.

Smyslov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Maia turns into him and now he's in Smyslov's guard.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smyslov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smyslov, not yet.

Smyslov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smyslov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maia throws a strike but Smyslov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia looking for a guillotine here but Smyslov defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smyslov trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Smyslov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maia's guard.
Smyslov wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

Smyslov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smyslov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maia is just riding it out for now. Smyslov eventually gives up the hold.

Smyslov seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Maia gets full guard.

Maia is looking for a triangle here but Smyslov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Smyslov keeps moving and retains side control.
Smyslov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Maia's legs.
Smyslov controlling the position from side mount.
Maia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smyslov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maia throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Maia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Maia is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Smyslov pulls his head out easily.
Maia is not content to let Smyslov control the position.

Smyslov seems to be working for a kimura but Maia defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smyslov is trying to control the action in half guard but Maia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Smyslov seems to be working for a kimura but Maia defends the submission attempt.
Maia gets full guard.

Maia is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Smyslov frees his head nicely. Oh but Maia has switched to an armbar! Smyslov is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Demian Maia!