PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pena
vs
Maia

185 cm
23
194 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Syndicate Drugs
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pentti Pena!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lyoto Maia!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pena misses with a two punch combination.
Pena uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maia has time to react.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maia avoids the body shot from Pena.
Pena throws a left that rocks Maia and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Pena dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Maia regain composure!

Maia is rocked!

Pena looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maia is still in real trouble! Can Pena finish him?

Pena wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maia, who protects the arm well.

Pena is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maia seems to have recovered his senses.
Maia is trying to improve his position.

Pena goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pena's guard! Nice work there by Maia!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to control from the top but Pena keeps moving.
Pena keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.

Pena working for a triangle but Maia defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pena is looking for a triangle but Maia pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Pena throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pena wants to sweep but no luck.
Maia trying to control but Pena is working from the bottom.
Maia might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pena kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Pena throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pena working for a triangle but Maia defends it easily.
Pena is breathing heavily.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Pena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Pena.
Maia tries a head kick but it misses.
Pena misses with a two punch combination.
Pena takes a swing at Maia's ribcage but misses.
Maia gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Maia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pena, pushing him back against the cage.
Pena wants to stall.
Knees to the body from Maia.
Maia is working for takedown but Pena is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pena wants to get back to striking at distance but Maia won't allow it.
Maia tries to land a knee to the head but Pena blocks with his arms.
Maia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pena.
Pena is trying to break free.
Maia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maia misses with an elbow strike.
Maia tries to land knees in the clinch but Pena avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Maia throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Pena.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Maia tries to close the distance and clinch but Pena swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pena swats away the attempt to clinch by Maia.
Pena connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maia. Maia circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pena scores with a sloppy right hand. Maia should have avoided that one.
Pena tries to bum rush Maia with a series of wild strikes but Maia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pena throws an overhand right that lands on Maia's shoulder, as Maia tries to avoid the shot.
Pena ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maia moves away.
A jab from Pena does it's job there.
Pena lands an overhand right.
Maia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pena fails to land with a series of punches.
Pena throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Pena throws a looping overhand right but Maia ducks down to avoid it.

Maia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pena on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pena takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pena wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maia has him pressed against the cage.
Maia looking for a takedown.
Maia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pena has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Pena manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Pena dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pena throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maia walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pena lands with a nice combination. Maia backs away looking to recover.
Maia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maia tries to clinch up.
Maia fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Maia.
Maia wants to clinch.
Pena wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pena misses with a two punch combination.
Pena fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pena looks to land a left hand but Maia moved out of range nicely.
Maia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maia avoids the body shot from Pena.
A nice combination there by Pena.
Pena scores with a jab.
Pena will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pena throws a jab but it's blocked by Maia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena misses with an uppercut. Maia saw that one coming.
A left lands for Pena.
Pena circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pena just misses with a punch to the body.
Pena scores with a shot to the body.
Pena scores with a body shot.
Pentti Pena is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pena throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Maia tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.
Pentti Pena seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pena moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Maia takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pena will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Maia scores a takedown into full mount!
Pena is looking to get to half guard.
Pena is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to control but Pena is having none of it.
Maia is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Pena is desperately trying to improve his position but Maia has a good base and remains in mount.
Pena sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maia wants to take a breather but Pena is having none of it.
Maia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pena's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to stall here but Pena recovers full guard.
Pena working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
Pena wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maia trying to control but Pena is working from the bottom.
Pena manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pena working for a guillotine from mount but Maia is in no mood to give up.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Pena is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Pena throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Nice jab there from Pena.
Pena throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Maia rushes Pena and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maia with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maia prevents Pena from breaking the clinch.
Maia throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maia.
Maia tries to pull guard but Pena won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Pena dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pena throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pena is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Pena circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pena throws a series of punches but Maia moves out of range.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Maia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maia ducks right into an uppercut from Pena.
Maia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Maia clinches up with Pena and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maia.
Maia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pena is trying to maintain a safe position but Maia gets an underhook and turns Pena into the cage.
Maia lands a nice elbow.
Pena avoids the elbow strike from Maia, against the cage.
Maia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maia lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pena managing to block the knees to the body from Maia.
Pena wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maia has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pena wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pena wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maia trying to land knees to the body.

Pena breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pena throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pena throws a hook to the side of Maia's head but Maia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pena misses with a straight left.

Maia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maia with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pena is pressed up against the cage. Maia has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pena down to the mat. Pena avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maia moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maia wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.
Pena lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pena.
Pena fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pena takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Pena throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Pena misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maia looks to land a body kick but Pena moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but Pena sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pentti Pena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Maia.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Pena.
Some wild striking there from Pena.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pena as he avoids it easily.
Pena rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pentti Pena is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.
Maia plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Maia shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Maia darts in and clinches Pena up against the cage.
Maia tries to pull guard but Pena holds him up against the cage and eventually Maia drops back down to his feet.
Pena gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maia.
Maia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pena has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pena wants to break free but Maia has control.
Maia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pena wants to break free but Maia has control.
Pena is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Maia tries to pull guard but Pena won't allow it.
Maia with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pena is looking to control Maia's arms but Maia gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pena has his back to the cage.
Pena wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maia misses with a knee strike.
Pena managing to block the knees to the body from Maia.
Maia pushes off an throws an elbow but Pena leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pena blocks the elbow strike.
Pena gets underhooks to prevent Maia's takedown attempt.
Pena tries to stall but Maia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maia changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pena fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pena misses with a hook.

Maia clinches with his opponent.
Maia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pena blocks it with crossed arms.
Pena tries to stall but Maia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maia has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pena has had enough of the clinch but Maia keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pena on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pena.
Maia keeps control of Pena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pena wants to get back to striking at distance but Maia won't allow it.

Maia pulls guard.

Pena postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maia is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pena, into his guard.

Pena working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Maia has passed into half guard!
Pena manages to get to full guard.

Pena keeping busy on the bottom but Maia has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Pena clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maia on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pena works the jab nicely.
Maia takes one to the side of the head.
Nice combo by Pena! Oh, that's hurt him - Maia falls to the canvas and Pena follows him into side control.
Maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pena wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pena tries to move into full mount but can't pass Maia's legs.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
Pena tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Pena goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Maia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pena's guard! Nice work there by Maia!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pena works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maia passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pena is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.
Pena is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Maia is controlling him well.
Maia advances nicely into full mount.

Maia looking to secure an arm triangle but Pena defends it well.

Maia is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pena can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena really wants to buck Maia off and get back to his feet.
Maia putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Maia wants to control the pace but Pena is squirming around nicely.

Maia looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Pena is looking to improve his position but Maia isn't that keen on the idea.
Pena is squirming around, avoiding Maia's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pena is working to get back to half guard.

Maia looking for a guillotine from mount but Pena is having none of it.

Maia goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pena turns into him and now he's in Maia's guard.
Pena sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maia's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pena is looking for a kimura but Maia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pena to get the leverage.
Maia gets back to full guard.

Maia working for a triangle but Pena defends it easily.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Pentti Pena will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maia wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.
Pena dips to his left and cracks Maia with an uppercut!
Maia is looking to clinch but Pena is avoiding it.
Pena looks to land a combination but Maia avoids it well.
A combination from Pena does no damage.
Pena circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pentti Pena is winning the standup battle so far.
Pena lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pena swats away the attempt to clinch by Maia.
Maia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pena throws out the jab.
Pena keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia is looking to clinch.
Pena throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pena throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pena looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pena bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maia's head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Pena looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Maia connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maia moves out of range of the strikes.
Pena keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Maia.
Pena throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pena thows a body shot but no joy.

Maia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pena is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pena is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Pena prevents Maia from moving into mount.
Pena is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maia asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Pena manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maia's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pena manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pena looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pena uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Pena.
Pena throws a shot to the body.
Pena ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pena swats away the attempt to clinch by Maia.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maia takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maia throws a head kick but Pena moves out of range.
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pentti Pena has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyoto Maia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Pena!
Maia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pena swivels and escapes.
Pena's corner calls for a 1-2. Pena obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Pena waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Maia.
Pena scores with a jab to the body.
Maia wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.
Maia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maia tries to clinch up but Pena circles away and keeps his distance.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lyoto Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pena cracks Maia with a good jab.
Maia wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.

Maia rushes Pena and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maia prevents Pena from breaking the clinch.
Maia landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Maia crunches a lovely knee into Pena's ribcage.
Pena blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pena wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pena on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maia tries a knee to the head but Pena blocks it.
Maia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pena blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to land knees to the body.
Pena wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pena.
Maia missing with knees to the body.
Maia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pena has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pena wants to stall.
Maia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maia lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Maia.
Maia throws a knee to the head but misses.

Maia is trying to trip Pena. He has hold of a leg but Pena is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Maia persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Pena working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maia passes Pena's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pena is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maia's back!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pentti Pena.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pena, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 50:46
Judge William Gold scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pentti Pena!
Pentti Pena retains his middleweight title!