PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sye Moon Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and António Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maia comes into a darkened arena with his song building. It's a kind of magic by Queen kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Moon Kim
vs
Maia

174 cm
22
179 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

189 cm
26
181 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Brute
Happy Pills (Video Proof 159Q, $30)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sye Moon Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, António Maia!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia throws a lazy right hand but Kim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kim misses with a two punch combination.
Maia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kim moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like António Maia has been cut.
Nice uppercut there from Kim.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Kim shows good takedown defense.
Kim throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maia stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but Kim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kim throws a leg kick but Maia moved away.
Maia walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim throws out a loose jab but Maia uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch lands to the side of Maia 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia takes one to the chin there.
Maia misses with a body kick.
Maia looks for a takedown but Kim sprawls well.
Sye Moon Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of António Maia.
Kim misses with a series of wild punches.
Kim tries to bum rush Maia with a series of wild strikes but Maia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kim ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kim throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kim cracks a nice hook into Maia's ribs.
Kim throws a series of punches but Maia moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Kim sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Maia pushes Kim up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kim breaks from the clinch.
Kim throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Kim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kim misses with a few strikes there.
Kim connects with a body shot.
Sye Moon Kim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kim throws a jab but it's blocked by Maia.

Maia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Maia throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia won't allow Kim to get back to his feet.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia postures up in Kim's guard and throws a big left but Kim blocks it.
Maia content to stall in guard here.
Kim might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Kim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kim misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Kim. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sye Moon Kim dominated that round.
The cut man is working on António Maia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kim sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kim throws a series of punches but Maia moves out of range.
Maia throws a solid leg kick but Kim takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maia.
Kim defending well as Maia loads up on a big left hand.

Maia shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maia showed some decent athleticism there.
Kim is in trouble now - Maia has advanced to mount!
Kim has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Maia connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Kim to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Maia looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Maia's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Kim covering up well and avoiding damage.
Maia is throwing strikes by Kim counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Kim regains half guard.
Kim blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to pass the guard but Kim defending well.
Kim is trying to stand.
Maia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maia working Kim over with strikes.
Maia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maia has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kim tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.
Kim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.

Maia is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Maia seems content to control.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia is keen to just control but Kim is a slippery customer.
Maia has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kim wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia is stalling here but it's allowed Kim to get half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

António Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on António Maia's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maia tries to move into range but Kim moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A punch combination from Kim misses.
Maia looks for the body kick but Kim saw that one coming.
Maia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kim moves away.
Kim goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kim.
Kim throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Kim pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim ducks under a wild hook from Maia.
Kim throws a low kick, looking for Maia's leg but Maia calmly moves out of range.
Kim misses with a few strikes there.
Maia takes a swing at Kim's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Kim does no damage.
Kim misses with a series of wild punches.
Maia tests Kim's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Maia moves out of range of the strikes.
Kim connects with a jab.
Maia takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kim lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Maia has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Maia and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kim looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maia misses with a low kick as Kim jumps back.
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maia.
No joy there for Kim, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Kim.
Maia tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kim sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maia somewhat.
Maia throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kim.
Kim scores with a sloppy right hand. Maia should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim misses with the combination.
Kim misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kim steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maia.
Maia tries to work over Kim's front leg with a kick but Kim checks it.
Kim stuffs the takedown attempt from Maia. Maia gets slowly back to his feet.
Kim looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sye Moon Kim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kim connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sye Moon Kim clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on António Maia's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maia throws a body kick that misses.
Kim staying out of range there.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but Kim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maia misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kim cracks Maia with a good jab.
Kim thows a body shot but no joy.
Maia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kim defends it nicely.
Kim throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kim is pushing Maia's head away, looking to escape. Maia manages to hold on to the position though.
Maia misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Maia trying to control the position but Kim is working away.
Kim is trying to get back to his feet.
Maia cracks Kim with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Maia creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kim sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kim is not content to let Maia control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kim's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kim blocking the ground and pound.
Maia controlling from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee warns Kim that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Maia cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Maia punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kim is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Maia content just to control the position here.
Kim trying desperately to get to his feet.
António Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia scoring with strikes but Kim is staying in there.
Maia with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maia in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Maia lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kim's face.

Kim is rocked!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Maia unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Kim wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Maia celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). António Maia!
After the fight, António Maia was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.