PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Gutierrez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Demian Maia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Gutierrez

182 cm
28
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
31
185 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Gutierrez!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia gets a double leg takedown into Gutierrez's guard.
Gutierrez keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Maia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gutierrez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Gutierrez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Gutierrez from controlling successfully.
Gutierrez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Gutierrez from controlling successfully.
Gutierrez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maia kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Julio Gutierrez wasn't active enough on the ground.

Maia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maia working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maia swings around for an armbar but Gutierrez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maia's guard.
Gutierrez tries to free his leg and advance position but Maia is retaining full guard.
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.

Maia working for a triangle but Gutierrez defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gutierrez stands and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

Gutierrez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maia is trying to control Gutierrez's posture but Gutierrez avoids it.
Maia sneaks back into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gutierrez is controlling the pace.

Gutierrez is looking for a kimura here.
Gutierrez wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia trying to control from the bottom.
Maia is staying active underneath Gutierrez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gutierrez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gutierrez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maia!
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Gutierrez wants to control the pace but Maia is squirming around nicely.
Maia tries to hold on but Gutierrez pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gutierrez is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Maia to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Maia shrugs it off.

Gutierrez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Maia turns into him and now he's in Gutierrez's guard.
Maia wants to control from the top but Gutierrez keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
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 Demian Maia will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maia shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Maia was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Maia trying to control the action but Gutierrez is working from the bottom.

Maia swings around for an armbar but Gutierrez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maia's guard.
Maia can't keep his opponent in guard - Gutierrez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Gutierrez is working for a kimura but Maia is defending it quite comfortably.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutierrez trying to pass the guard but Maia defending well.
Maia has his hands clasped together around Gutierrez's back. He's all about the action.
Maia regains full guard. Nicely done.

Gutierrez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maia being controlled here, momentarily.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gutierrez forces his way into half guard.
Gutierrez trying to control from half guard but Maia is working away.
Maia is trying to maintain the position but Gutierrez is very close to passing his half guard.
Gutierrez is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.
Gutierrez wants to free his trapped foot but Maia is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gutierrez trying to control from half guard but Maia is working away.
Gutierrez prevents Maia from improving his position.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to kick Gutierrez off but Gutierrez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Gutierrez is working for a submission of some sort.
Maia is trying to control but can't.
Maia is trying to get back to full guard.
Maia wants to control but Gutierrez is keeping busy.
Maia is not content to let Gutierrez control the position.
Maia gets full guard.
Gutierrez trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Julio Gutierrez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maia misses with an uppercut. Gutierrez saw that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Demian Maia will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gutierrez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maia throws a big elbow that misses.
Gutierrez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gutierrez keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia is really struggling to control Gutierrez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Demian Maia wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Maia shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gutierrez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gutierrez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gutierrez keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Gutierrez controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia gets to his feet - Gutierrez follows without any prompting.

Maia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Maia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gutierrez sees it coming and defends easily.
Gutierrez gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gutierrez is keeping the position for now.
Maia is looking to pass into half guard but Gutierrez pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gutierrez is in guard.
Gutierrez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gutierrez looking to pass the guard.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gutierrez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Demian Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutierrez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia keeping full guard, as Gutierrez tries to pass.
Gutierrez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gutierrez wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Maia is trying to control the position but Gutierrez postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Julio Gutierrez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Maia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gutierrez quickly recovers to half guard.
Julio Gutierrez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Gutierrez's thigh. Gutierrez counters though and makes it back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Maia!
After winning the bout, Demian Maia thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.