PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ant Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Bob (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ant Maldini had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Maldini
vs
Bob

186 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ant Maldini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Bob!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bob throws a right hand that Maldini ducks under and follows up with a left that Maldini also avoids with ease.
Maldini avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maldini looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bob is fending him off so far but Maldini persists. Nope, Bob circles away and we're back to standing.
Maldini looks for a takedown but Bob sprawls well.
Maldini misses with a head kick.
No joy there for Bob, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bob throws a nice looking combination but Maldini bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maldini throws a head kick but Bob moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Maldini.
Maldini wants to clinch up but Bob keeps it at a distance.
Maldini slips a jab and a cross from Bob.
Bob moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bob looks gassed!

Maldini scores a takedown into full mount!
Maldini trying to control but Bob is having none of it.

Maldini looking for a guillotine from mount but Bob is having none of it.
Maldini can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bob is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob wants to try and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maldini looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Bob tries to hold on but Maldini postures up.
Bob sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maldini is thwarting Bob's attempts to control the position.

Bob kicks Maldini off and gets back to his feet.
Maldini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maldini blocks a jab.

Bob gets a clinch.
Maldini wants to get back to striking at distance but Bob won't allow it.
Bob is trying to break the clinch but Maldini has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bob has Maldini pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maldini manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maldini keeps control of Bob as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bob has Maldini pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bob pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maldini tumbling to the mat - Bob dives into Maldini's guard.
Bob controlling from the top position.

Maldini is working an open guard so Bob takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bob misses with a head kick.
Bob misses with a few strikes there.
Bob blocks a head kick by Maldini.
Maldini gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bob rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maldini moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bob throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bob will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bob looks to land a right hand but Maldini moved out of range.
Bob swinging wilding here.
Jim Bob seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bob has closed the distance and engaged Maldini in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bob breaks the clinch.
Bob with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bob throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maldini.
Maldini throws a head kick that misses.
Bob tries a head kick but it misses.
Maldini has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ant Maldini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bob takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Jim Bob has been cut.
Bob scores with a shot to the body.
Bob throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.
Maldini throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bob's waist but Bob gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maldini off to one side.
A choreographed right hand from Bob misses the target.

Maldini decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bob wants to get back to full guard.
Bob is in trouble now - Maldini has advanced to mount!

Maldini looking to secure an arm triangle but Bob defends it well.
Bob is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bob gets full guard.
Bob looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bob is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bob manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bob controlling his opponent.
Maldini tries to lock up and control but Bob gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maldini tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bob tries to control but Maldini wriggling away.
Maldini is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jim Bob will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jim Bob's cut.
That's time! Maldini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maldini.
Danga de danga de dang - Bob scores with a four punch combination!
Bob fails to land with a series of punches.
Maldini tries to clinch but Bob is having none of it.
Maldini connects with a high kick.
Bob keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bob tries to bum rush Maldini with a series of wild strikes but Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maldini blocks a head kick by Bob.
Maldini tries to clinch up but Bob circles away and keeps his distance.
Maldini keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Maldini or perhaps it was just good defense by Bob which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ant Maldini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maldini shoots in for a double leg but Bob sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bob throws a sloppy head kick
and Maldini counters with a solid body kick.
Maldini wants to clinch.
Bob tries to bum rush Maldini with a series of wild strikes but Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maldini uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bob.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini shoots in but Bob avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jim Bob seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bob throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.
Bob avoids a kick to the body.
Maldini throws a body kick that misses.
Jim Bob is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maldini slips under a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maldini keeps Bob at a distance using the push kick.
Bob is breathing heavily.
Maldini shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maldini fails in his attempt to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Maldini.

Maldini drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bob wriggles free and stands up.
Bob thows a body shot but no joy.
Maldini shoots for a double leg takedown but Bob sprawls well. He's pushed Maldini's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bob lands a jab-cross combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldini throws a sloppy head kick and Bob moves out of range easily.
Maldini wants to clinch.
Bob keeps the fight on the outside.
Maldini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bob walks forward, straight into a front kick from Maldini.
Ant Maldini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bob looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bob circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bob circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bob connects with a nice looking jab.
Maldini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maldini looks for a takedown but Bob sprawls well.
Maldini blocks a head kick by Bob.
Bob keeps the fight on the outside.
Maldini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bob swinging wilding here.
Maldini slips a jab and a cross from Bob.
Maldini shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bob as he avoids it easily.
Maldini steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bob.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bob in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
No luck for Maldini with that takedown attempt.
Maldini fails with the takedown.
Maldini tries to clinch but Bob is having none of it.
Bob stuffs the takedown attempt from Maldini. Maldini gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bob.
Maldini lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bob will feel that in the morning.
Maldini lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Maldini chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bob stuffs the takedown attempt from Maldini. Maldini gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Bob.
Maldini lands with a shot to the body.
Maldini misses with a takedown attempt - Bob sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maldini shoots in and drives through. Bob sprawls well.
Maldini takes one to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bob misses with a looping right.

Bob rushes Maldini and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maldini wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maldini wants to break free but Bob has control.
A body shot lands from Bob.
Maldini is pressed up against the cage. Bob has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maldini down to the mat. Maldini avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bob looks to land a combination but Maldini avoids it well.
Bob throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maldini goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bob prevents it.

Bob pulls guard effortlessly.
Bob looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Maldini thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bob utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maldini throws a big right hand that misses.
Maldini with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bob trying to control the position.
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!
Bob has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Maldini wants to control from the top but Bob keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Bob will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jim Bob's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maldini tries a head kick but it misses.
Maldini shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bob pinned against the cage. Bob gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maldini slips under a jab from Bob.
Maldini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bob throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maldini sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bob throws a nice looking combination but Maldini bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maldini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bob circles away.
Bob keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ant Maldini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bob throws a head kick that Maldini semi-blocks.
A thudding body kick lands there by Maldini!
Bob stuffs the takedown.
Bob might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Bob misses with a hook.
Bob stuffs the takedown attempt from Maldini. Maldini gets slowly back to his feet.
Maldini throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Bob. No joy for Maldini on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldini throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bob misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob looks for the body kick but Maldini saw that one coming.
Bob misses with a hook.
Bob misses with a kick to the body.
Bob throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.
Maldini thuds his shin into the meat of Bob's side.
Decent striking displayed by Maldini there.

Bob instigates a clinch.

Bob ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bob no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bob looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Maldini trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bob pulls Maldini in close to prevent any damage.
Maldini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bob swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini is fighting to break Bob's control of his arms but Bob is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maldini passes Bob's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maldini is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Bob is refusing to be controlled, as Maldini sits in half guard.

Maldini is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bob trying to control here.
Bob regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bob has control of Maldini's left arm, preventing Maldini from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini pushes down on Bob's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maldini prevents Bob from standing back up.
Bob is trying to maintain the position but Maldini is very close to passing his half guard.
Bob tries to roll over but Maldini keeps him under control.
Bob is not content to let Maldini control the position.

Bob kicks Maldini off and gets back to his feet.
Bob misses with the body kick

and Maldini counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maldini.

Maldini thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bob has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maldini tries to free his leg and advance position but Bob is retaining full guard.

Maldini drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maldini jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bob trying to control the position here.
Maldini passes Bob's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bob is trying to maintain the position but Maldini is very close to passing his half guard.
Maldini wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bob keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maldini sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bob defending well though.
Maldini trying to pass the guard but Bob defending well.
Ant Maldini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bob trying to control but Maldini postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ant Maldini showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bob has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!