PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominickoy Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maia's choice of entrance music: techno viking. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Nero
vs
Maia

186 cm
25
197 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
203 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Nero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominickoy Maia!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Maia tries for a takedown but Nero circles away easily
and Nero counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Maia has his takedown stuffed

and Nero counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maia's guard now.
Raphael Nero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominickoy Maia.
Nero is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nero with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nero cracks Maia with a solid left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nero working some strikes from top position.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nero gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Maia working for a triangle but Nero defends it easily.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nero passes Maia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Nero is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maia is staying active underneath Nero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
Nero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nero landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nero pulls his head out easily.
Nero is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nero connects with a nice short shot to Maia's temple.
Maia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nero trying to control the action but Maia is working from the bottom.
Maia manages to get to full guard.
Nero wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia keeping full guard, as Nero tries to pass.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Nero pushes his legs off easily.
Nero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia has an active guard here but Nero has managed to pass into half guard.
Nero looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Nero is trying to work for a kimura but Maia is defending well.
Nero trying to mount his opponent but Maia defends it.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nero pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nero lands a nice short elbow.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nero lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nero defends well.
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!
Nero connects with a couple of short punches.
Nero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nero gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nero content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nero defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nero's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Nero 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.

Maia has his takedown stuffed
and Nero counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Dominickoy Maia has been cut.
Maia has his takedown stuffed
and Nero counters with a nice body shot.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt
and Nero counters with a right hand to the body.
Raphael Nero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominickoy Maia.

Nero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maia to the mat! Maia manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nero trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maia looking for subs off his back but Nero has passed one foot through into half guard.

Nero is looking for a kimura here.
Ground and pound from Nero.
Maia is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nero lands with a punch from half guard.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Nero sits in half guard.

Maia is defending against the submission attempts here by Nero.
Nero is taking a breather. Maia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nero scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nero pulls his head out easily.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nero is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nero working over Maia with some ground and pound. Maia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nero content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nero is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maia sees it coming and defends easily.
Nice strikes from Nero there.
Nero is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nero is working for a kimura but Maia is defending it quite comfortably.
Nero is trying to control. Maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nero lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Maia is rocked!

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nero scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nero prevents Maia from improving his position.

Nero is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maia defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Nero is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
Nero has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nero is looking to advance position but Maia won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maia tries to roll over but Nero keeps him under control.
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!
Nero is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nero wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Nero dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dominickoy Maia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nero counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nero passes Maia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Nero is trying to control. Maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Still in half guard, Nero seems content to control.
Nero looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.
Ground and pound from Nero.

Nero seems to be working for a kimura but Maia defends the submission attempt.
Nero looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nero defends well.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nero trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nero's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maia's head.
Raphael Nero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maia's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nero's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nero landing with the ground and pound.
Maia is still in real trouble! Can Nero finish him?
Nero connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nero gets to his feet and stands over Maia, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Maia felt that one! Nero unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Maia from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raphael Nero!
A very excited looking Raphael Nero made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.