PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haka Maka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maka kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Island Music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maka
vs
Thiago

180 cm
34
201 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

188 cm
34
189 lbs
14 - 2 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Haka Maka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fabricio Thiago!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maka takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maka counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thiago rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Maka counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Thiago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maka defends it easily.
Thiago is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Thiago looking for a guillotine here but Maka defends easily.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing Maka from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maka postures up.

Maka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maka trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.
Thiago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thiago looking to control.

Thiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thiago is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thiago being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thiago is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maka defends well.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thiago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Maka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Maka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Thiago is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Thiago has his foot on Maka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maka works his way back into a safe position though.
Maka trying to control the position from guard on top but Thiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Haka Maka wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thiago throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thiago looks to clinch
and Maka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Maka.
Thiago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maka manages to avoid it.
Thiago misses with an uppercut
and Maka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maka doesn't manage to clinch there - Thiago circles away.
Thiago throws the left hand but Maka avoids the punch easily.
Maka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thiago as he jumps to the side.
Maka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thiago but Thiago pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago takes one on the button.

Maka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Maka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thiago has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maka has managed to get both his arms back between Thiago's legs - danger averted.
Thiago trying to control the position.
Maka trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thiago looking for a guillotine here but Maka defends easily.
Thiago keeping moving, preventing Maka from controlling successfully.
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 Haka Maka will probably get the nod.
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.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thiago enables Maka to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thiago manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Maka stands and steps away. Thiago gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Thiago throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maka counters with a straight right hand.
Thiago throws a left and a right that both miss

and Maka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thiago is refusing to be controlled, as Maka sits in half guard.
Maka passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thiago!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Maka trying to control but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haka Maka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maka landing strikes from the mount and Thiago is in trouble!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thiago defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Maka.
Maka looking to control and managing it successfully.

Maka looking to secure an arm triangle but Thiago defends it well.
Thiago manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.

Thiago looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maka thows a huge punch but Thiago dodges it nicely.
Thiago is trying to control but can't.
Maka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thiago keeps working.
Thiago is looking to improve his position.

Thiago is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maka pulls his head out easily.
Maka wants to control but Thiago is keeping him busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maka is looking for a kimura here.

Maka has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Thiago defend it? Maka steps over the head and cranks it - Thiago is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Maka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Haka Maka!
Haka Maka took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Das Labor for their support in the buildup to the fight.