PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AJ March (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brutus Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). March comes into the arena with The Firm - Star Trekkin' blaring out of the sound system. Maximus has chosen Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

March
vs
Maximus

185 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

198 cm
20
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, AJ March!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brutus Maximus!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maximus slaps away a takedown attempt from March, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
March tries a head kick but it misses.
Maximus shoots in but March avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Horrible takedown by March or perhaps it was just good defense by Maximus which made him look bad.
March defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maximus.
March dives in and grabs Maximus's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maximus pushes down on March's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ March. That's going to take a lot out of him.
March closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maximus circles away.
Maximus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maximus misses with a takedown attempt - March sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
March fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
March tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maximus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. March defends it nicely.

Maximus rushes March and presses him up against the cage.
Maximus trying to stall but March improves his position.

Maximus manages to pull guard.
March postures up.
March in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
March loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
March postures up.
March stopping the sweep attempt from Maximus.
Maximus looks gassed!

March has gone for a leg lock! Maximus slips out almost immediately though and dives into March's guard.
Maximus is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

March is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maximus is looking to work some ground and pound but March has wrist control.
Maximus trying to control but March is working from the bottom.
Maximus looking to sit in guard and control but March gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Maximus pushes March off and scrambles back to his feet.
Maximus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
March doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximus circles away.
March is looking to clinch but Maximus is avoiding it.
March throws a head kick but Maximus moves out of range.
Maximus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
March fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
March shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
March tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maximus swivels and escapes.
Maximus tries to close the distance and clinch but March swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maximus throws a sloppy head kick and March moves out of range easily.
Maximus blocks a head kick by March.
Maximus misses with a wild combination.
March displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maximus.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
March on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brutus Maximus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

March lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Maximus shoots in looking for a takedown. March tries to sprawl out of it but Maximus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. March manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
March pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as March checks a leg kick.
Maximus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. March tries to avoid it but Maximus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag March to the ground. March escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maximus wants to clinch up but March keeps it at a distance.
March lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maximus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maximus avoids the head kick by March.
Maximus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maximus is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maximus gets a double leg takedown into March's guard.
Maximus trying to control but March is working from the bottom.
Maximus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. March is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
March manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maximus holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as March tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Maximus avoids a series of strikes thrown by March.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
March misses with a head shot.

March jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maximus manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Maximus takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
March working the ground and pound but Maximus is defending the strikes.
March blocks the strikes from Maximus.

March is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maximus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maximus tries to bench press March off him but March keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximus is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, March asserts his dominance and retains side control.
March in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
An elbow from March crashes against the mat.
March in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
March has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maximus is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on March's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Maximus is trying to maintain the position but March is very close to passing his half guard.
Maximus looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
March missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
March throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
March is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Brutus Maximus has got the better of the ground game so far.
March throws a strike but Maximus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
March slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Maximus is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
March lands a decent elbow from side control.
March misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ March dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

March shoots in for a takedown but Maximus shows good takedown defense.
Maximus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maximus keeps the fight on the outside.
March throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from March.
Maximus wants to clinch up but March keeps it at a distance.
Maximus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. March tries to avoid it but Maximus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag March to the ground. March escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maximus fails to land the takedown.
AJ March has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brutus Maximus.
March keeps Maximus at a distance using the push kick.
AJ March is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maximus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
AJ March is winning the standup battle so far.
March throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maximus's waist but Maximus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing March off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
March keeps the fight on the outside.
March tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maximus swivels and escapes.
March leaves Maximus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maximus tries to clinch up.
AJ March seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maximus closes the distance looking to clinch
and March counters with a big head kick but Maximus shrugs it off.
March scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
March fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maximus avoids it really well and circles away.
Maximus has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maximus tries to work over March's front leg with a kick but March checks it.
Maximus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around March's waist but March gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maximus off to one side.

March drives through and clinches with Maximus against the cage.

March decides to pull guard.
March tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maximus trying to control the position from guard on top but March is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maximus throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
March striking off his back but it's not causing Maximus any problems.
Maximus wants to control from the top but March keeps moving.

Brutus Maximus has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maximus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
March throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maximus's head.
Maximus fails with a takedown attempt.
Maximus blocks a head kick by March.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maximus is trying hard to land a takedown here. March sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Maximus takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Maximus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with March but March pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maximus avoids the head kick by March.
March doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from March.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximus will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
March tries to clinch but Maximus moves out of range.
Maximus circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to AJ March.
I think March has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ March!
AJ March decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.