PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taneli Maija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Randy Jones is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Maija
vs
Jones

183 cm
26
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Heroic Combat Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Maija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randy Jones!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maija misses with an uppercut
and Jones counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jones tries to clinch up but Maija circles away and keeps his distance.

Maija shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maija prevents Jones from getting back to his feet.
Maija pushes down on Jones's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maija with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Jones is looking to control Maija's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jones avoid being mounted?
Maija wants to pass to mount but Jones is defending the position.
Maija controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Maija postures up.
Maija trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones tries to clinch but Maija moves out of range.

Maija gets tackled into the cage by Jones. Jones maintains the clinch.
Jones stops a takedown attempt from Maija.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jones.
Maija misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones being controlled against the cage.

Maija manages to break the clinch.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones tries to clinch up but Maija circles away and keeps his distance.

Maija clinches up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Jones.
Maija tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Jones letting Maija take a breather here.
Maija fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taneli Maija. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maija stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Maija is trying to pull guard but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maija stalling.

Maija escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Maija pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maija. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maija circles away from the clinch attempt.
Randy Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones is looking to clinch but Maija is avoiding it.
Maija is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Maija misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Maija misses its intended target.
Maija throws a right hand that misses
and Jones counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Taneli Maija has been cut.
Jones tries to clinch up but Maija circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones rushes Maija and presses him up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Jones lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maija taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maija.
Maija trying to stall but Jones improves his position.
Jones working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Maija stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Maija taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Taneli Maija.
Maija thows a left - swing and a miss!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones fails to land the takedown.

Maija has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taneli Maija will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Taneli Maija's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maija paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maija as he jumps to the side.
Jones has his takedown stuffed

and Maija counters by clinching up.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Maija is keeping busy.
Maija's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maija effectively controlling the action here.
Maija gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Taneli Maija.
Maija rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jones counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones is looking to clinch but Maija is avoiding it.

Maija instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jones tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maija just stands there and leans against the cage.
Taneli Maija has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Jones.
Maija lands a nice shot to the body.
Maija wants to stall.

Maija manages to pull guard.

Maija working for a triangle but Jones defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maija keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Jones must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maija is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones wants to stand but Maija has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Jones got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maija has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jones has managed to get both his arms back between Maija's legs - danger averted.
Jones wants to stand and escape but instead Maija has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maija can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Maija drops back looking for a leg! Jones is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jones manages to kick Maija off! Maija jumps back into Jones's guard.
Jones trying to control the position.
Maija looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maija is working hard here to advance position.
Maija wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Maija looking to pass the guard.
Maija trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Maija showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Taneli Maija wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taneli Maija dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Taneli Maija's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Maija gets a clinch.
Maija trying to control the position but instead, Jones has worked for underhooks and has pushed Maija into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jones.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Maija is keeping busy.

Maija escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jones tries to clinch
and Jones takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jones steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maija.
Maija circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maija counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jones thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maija stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maija looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.
Maija misses with a hook to the body
enabling Jones to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab lands there for Jones.
Jones takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Maija is rocked!
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Oh Maija is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maija as he avoids it easily.
Maija seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Maija has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jones is looking to take this one to the mat.
Taneli Maija has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Jones.
Maija content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Maija for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Maija is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Maija is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jones pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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

Maija closes the distance and clinches.
Maija tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jones smiles and moves away.
Maija circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maija throws the left hand but Jones avoids the punch easily.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Jones moves out of range as Maija strikes.
Maija shoots in for a double leg but Jones sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jones tries to clinch up

and Maija counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jones is trying to control the position but Maija postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maija accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maija trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Maija pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Jones wants to stand and escape but Maija is having none of it.
Maija postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maija controls the pace.
Jones trying to control the position.
Randy Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maija paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taneli Maija showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maija, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taneli Maija!
Taneli Maija thanked the fans post fight for their support.