PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Knuckle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Maze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jesse Maze enters the cage!

Knuckle
vs
Maze

171 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chuck Knuckle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jesse Maze!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckle misses with a two punch combination.

Maze has Knuckle up against the cage in a clinch.

Knuckle jumps into guard, dragging Maze to the mat.
Knuckle wants to stand up but Maze is controlling him.

Maze gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maze rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knuckle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knuckle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knuckle moves in looking to clinch but Maze pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Knuckle.
A combination from Knuckle does no damage.
A punch combination from Maze misses.
Knuckle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knuckle is looking to clinch.
Maze swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knuckle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maze feints and as Knuckle raises his hands in defense, Maze changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Knuckle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maze is controlling him.
Maze is stalling in the full guard.
Knuckle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maze wants to pass the guard but Knuckle is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maze with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Knuckle wants to stand but Maze is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maze throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maze wants to get up but he can't break Knuckle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maze won't allow Knuckle to get back to his feet.

Maze gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maze looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knuckle misses with a few strikes there.

Knuckle pushes Maze up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maze fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knuckle throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mazes head.
Knuckle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knuckle can't find room to land a body shot as Maze controls the action.
Knuckle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maze is defending well for now.

Knuckle jumps guard and drags Maze to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Knuckle wants to stand up but Maze is controlling him.

Knuckle pushes Maze off and scrambles back to his feet.
Knuckle doesn't manage to clinch there - Maze circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knuckle closes the distance and pushes Maze back into the cage.
Knuckle misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maze jumps guard but Knuckle turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Knuckle presses Maze against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Maze is trying to pull guard but Knuckle has him pressed against the cage.
Maze can't break the clinch.
Maze is looking to break free of the clinch but Knuckle has double underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maze is trying to push Knuckle away but Knuckle has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maze misses with some punches.
Knuckle tries to circle away but Maze has him pinned against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knuckle lands a right hand.
Knuckle lands with a light punch inside.
Knuckle scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Knuckle as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Knuckle dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Knuckle clinches.
Knuckle misses with the head strike.
Knuckle misses with a punch to the body.
Knuckle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knuckle lands a nice uppercut.
Knuckle throws a punch but it's blocked by Maze.
Knuckle scores with a shoulder strike.
Knuckle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knuckle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maze's elbow.
Knuckle pushes Maze back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maze avoids a wild elbow strike from Knuckle.
Maze blocking some punches.
Knuckle is looking to break free of the clinch but Maze has double underhooks.
Knuckle tries to break the clinch but Maze is controlling the position.

Maze breaks from the clinch.
Knuckle fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckle dives in and grabs Maze's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maze pushes down on Knuckle's head and hops out.
Knuckle tries to clinch but Maze is having none of it.

Maze shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Knuckle manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Maze stands and steps away. Knuckle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Maze is breathing heavily.
Knuckle shoots for a double leg takedown but Maze sprawls well. He's pushed Knuckle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Knuckle wants to clinch up but Maze keeps it at a distance.
Knuckle moves in looking to clinch but Maze pushes him off.
Knuckle misses with a wild combination.

Maze gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Maze breaks the clinch.
Chuck Knuckle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Maze scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
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!

Knuckle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Knuckle fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle tries to clinch but Maze moves out of range.
Knuckle is looking to clinch.
Maze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knuckle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knuckle tries for a takedown but Maze sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Knuckle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckle shoots in looking for a takedown but Maze manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Knuckle's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Knuckle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Knuckle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knuckle fails in his attempt to clinch.

Knuckle pushes Maze up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Knuckle.
Maze is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Knuckle lands a nice shot to the body.
Maze is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle lands a body punch.

Maze escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knuckle wants to clinch up but Maze keeps it at a distance.
Chuck Knuckle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckle throws a combination. Maze tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Knuckle throws a series of punches but Maze avoids them all with ease.
Knuckle works over Maze's head and body with a nice combination.
Maze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knuckle fails with an attempt to clinch.
Knuckle is looking to clinch but Maze is avoiding it.
Knuckle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Knuckle clinches with his opponent.
Knuckle misses with some punches.
Knuckle pushes Maze back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Knuckle misses with a punch on the inside.
Maze avoiding damage as Knuckle throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maze avoids a wild elbow strike from Knuckle.
Maze looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knuckle misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knuckle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Maze fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knuckle tries to close the distance and clinch but Maze swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Knuckle moves in looking to clinch but Maze pushes him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knuckle with a lazy takedown attempt
and Maze makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Knuckle is looking to clinch.
Knuckle wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maze lands a two punch combo.
Chuck Knuckle is winning the standup battle so far.
Maze keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Knuckle dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Knuckle shoots in but no luck this time.
Knuckle tries to clinch up.
Knuckle tries to clinch but Maze moves out of range.
Knuckle fails with the takedown

and Maze counters with a nice double leg into side control. Knuckle won't be happy with that.

Maze is trying to get an arm triangle but Knuckle is defending well.

Maze decides to stand up, so the ref orders Knuckle to his feet.
Maze throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Knuckle's head.
Maze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Maze gets a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knuckle throws a punch but it's blocked by Maze.
Knuckle lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckle misses with a punch to the body.
Knuckle tries a body shot but Maze blocks it.
A short uppercut from Knuckle.
A nice left hand lands by Knuckle.
Knuckle throws an elbow but it misses.

Knuckle manages to break the clinch.
Maze keeps the fight on the outside.
Knuckle has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Knuckle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckle tries to clinch but Maze is having none of it.

Maze clinches.
Maze keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Knuckle's efforts to push away.
Knuckle lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Maze gets underhooks to prevent Knuckle's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Knuckle.
Knuckle scores with a shoulder strike.
Maze trying to land knees to the body.
Knuckle lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Chuck Knuckle has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knuckle is trying to force a seperation but Maze has the dominant position.
Knuckle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maze pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Knuckle wants a takedown.
Knuckle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knuckle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maze backwards.
Knuckle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maze's efforts to push away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A left hand lands to the body for Knuckle.

Knuckle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle is looking to clinch but Maze is avoiding it.
Knuckle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maze as he jumps to the side.
Knuckle wants to clinch.
Knuckle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maze paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Knuckle gets caught napping as Maze dives in and scores a takedown. Knuckle manages to retain guard.
Maze wants to control from the top but Knuckle keeps moving.
Maze won't allow Knuckle to get back to his feet.
Maze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maze.
Maze won't allow Knuckle to get back to his feet.
Jesse Maze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chuck Knuckle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Maze stands and steps away. Knuckle gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Knuckle throws a combination. Maze tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knuckle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Knuckle clinches with his opponent.
Knuckle is working Maze over against the cage.
Maze tries to throw a body punch but Knuckle avoids it by throwing Maze back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse Maze.
I think Knuckle 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Knuckle!