PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and demian maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stevens
vs
maia

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Stevens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, demian maia!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens throws out a powerful jab.
maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stevens's waist but Stevens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing maia off to one side.
maia pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
maia moves in looking to clinch but Stevens pushes him off.
Stevens avoids the body shot from maia.
maia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Stevens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. maia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stevens wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
maia manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stevens's best efforts.

maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Stevens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
maia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stevens content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens wants to pass to mount but maia is defending the position.
maia is trying to get back to full guard.
Stevens is tying to control. maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Stevens takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Stevens is looking for a kimura here.
maia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
maia is striking but Stevens is not phased and passes to half guard.
Stevens wants to stand up but maia has a hold of him and won't allow it.
maia regains full guard. Nicely done.
maia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens wants to control from the top but maia keeps moving.
Stevens is breathing heavily.
maia looking to control.
maia wants to control the position but Stevens says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
maia missing with punches from the bottom.
maia trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Stevens manages to pass to mount!
maia is squirming around, avoiding Stevens's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
maia is trying desperately to improve position.
maia manages to regain half guard. Good work.
maia trying to control from the bottom.

Stevens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. maia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Stevens.
maia is pressing down on Stevens's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

maia tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
maia shoots and misses

and Stevens counters with a shoot takedown. maia fights it but they end up in guard.
Stevens wanted to stand there but maia had control of the position.
maia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stevens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as maia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

maia has his foot on Stevens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stevens works his way back into a safe position though.

maia is looking for a triangle but Stevens pushes his legs off easily.
Stevens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of maia is proving hard to escape from.
maia has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Stevens has passed into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Stevens off and has taken his back!
maia trying to control.
maia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stevens kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stevens turns into maia and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

maia has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Stevens should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, maia has tightened it up now! Stevens should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). demian maia!