PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karol Operhalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theodor Maresio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Theodor Maresio has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Operhalski
vs
Maresio

172 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karol Operhalski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theodor Maresio!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Operhalski misses with a takedown attempt
and Maresio counters with a head kick.

Operhalski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maresio sprawls well initially but Operhalski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Operhalski throwing shots but Maresio is blocking nicely.
Operhalski wants to get back to his feet.

Operhalski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maresio is just riding it out for now. Operhalski eventually gives up the hold.
Maresio is trying to maintain the position but Operhalski is very close to passing his half guard.
Operhalski wants to control but Maresio is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Operhalski has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Maresio works to full guard.
Operhalski wants to pass the guard but Maresio is keeping the position.

Maresio has his feet on Operhalski's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Maresio takes the fight into the clinch.

Maresio breaks from the clinch.

Maresio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Operhalski is trying to defend but Maresio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Maresio is looking to take a break and control but Operhalski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Operhalski trying to control from the bottom.

Maresio wants to work for an arm triangle but Operhalski is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Operhalski is not content to let Maresio control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Operhalski keeping hold of Maresio's head, controlling as best he can.

Maresio decides to return to a standing position.
Operhalski finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Maresio shoots in for a double leg but Operhalski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Operhalski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maresio counters with a crisp one two that drops Operhalski! Maresio thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Operhalski to his feet! Operhalski is in big trouble!

Operhalski is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Maresio.
Operhalski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Operhalski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maresio to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maresio looking to pass the guard.
Operhalski controls Maresio momentarily but Maresio frees himself.
Operhalski is adopting a defensive guard.
Maresio wants to get up but he can't break Operhalski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Operhalski working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Karol Operhalski has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maresio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Operhalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maresio cracks the inside of Operhalski's front leg.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Operhalski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maresio.
Operhalski chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maresio can pounce on him.
Operhalski is breathing heavily.
Maresio fails to land with a series of punches.

Maresio closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Maresio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Operhalski defending well though.
Operhalski is looking to control Maresio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Operhalski avoid being mounted?
Operhalski controlling the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Operhalski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maresio scores with a couple of nice shots.
Operhalski tries to roll over but Maresio keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodor Maresio dominated that round.
That's time! Operhalski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maresio shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Operhalski as he jumps to the side.
No joy there for Maresio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maresio tries to work over Operhalski's front leg with a kick but Operhalski checks it.
Maresio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Operhalski swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Maresio scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maresio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Operhalski keeps working.
Operhalski controlling the position for now.

Maresio is looking for a kimura here.
Maresio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Operhalski wants to improve his position but Maresio is controlling well.
Operhalski is trying to control but can't.
Maresio tries to stand and escape but Operhalski is controlling the position.
Operhalski keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Operhalski trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karol Operhalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maresio wants to clinch up but Operhalski keeps it at a distance.
Karol Operhalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Operhalski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maresio makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maresio scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Karol Operhalski has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maresio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maresio tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Operhalski swivels and escapes.
Maresio plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maresio doesn't manage to clinch there - Operhalski circles away.
Maresio shoots in looking for a takedown. Operhalski tries to sprawl out of it but Maresio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Operhalski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Karol Operhalski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodor Maresio.
Operhalski tries for a takedown but Maresio circles away easily
and Maresio counters with a good low kick that Operhalski was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice straight punches there by Maresio. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maresio.
Operhalski misses with a takedown attempt - Maresio sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Maresio moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maresio is stalling here.
Maresio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Operhalski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maresio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Operhalski pulls his leg out and moves away.
Operhalski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maresio avoids it really well and circles away.
Operhalski fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maresio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Operhalski gets tackled into the cage by Maresio. Maresio maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Maresio's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Maresio breaks from the clinch.

Maresio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Operhalski's half guard.
Operhalski trying to hold on to Maresio's head to control him but Maresio postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Operhalski is looking for a sweep. Maresio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maresio trying to control from half guard but Operhalski is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theodor Maresio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Karol Operhalski's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Operhalski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Operhalski closes the distance but Maresio moves to the side

and Maresio counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Operhalski!
Operhalski gets back to half guard.
Maresio lands strikes from half guard.
Oh Operhalski is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Maresio is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maresio prevents Operhalski from improving his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maresio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maresio is keen to just control but Operhalski is a slippery customer.
Operhalski tries to roll over but Maresio keeps him under control.
Operhalski might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maresio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maresio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are battling for position here. Operhalski manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Operhalski trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maresio trying to control but Operhalski is working from the bottom.
Maresio wants to stand but Operhalski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Operhalski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Operhalski seems to have got his legs back now.
Maresio landing with the ground and pound.
Operhalski 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.
Operhalski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maresio.
Operhalski trying to keep a closed guard but Maresio is proving a slippery customer.
Maresio stays in close to Operhalski's body and controls the position.
Operhalski is controlling Maresio's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Karol Operhalski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Maresio tries to clinch up.
Operhalski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maresio swivels and escapes.
Maresio swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Operhalski.
Theodor Maresio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maresio feints and then cracks Operhalski's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Operhalski down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maresio is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Operhalski like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Operhalski from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Theodor Maresio!