PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mauti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and So Hai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Mauti has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mauti
vs
Hai

188 cm
28
202 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

172 cm
27
192 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Crippler\'s Corner

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Mauti !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, So Hai!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mauti lands a front kick.
Hai shoots in but Mauti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
So Hai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mauti keeps Hai at a distance using the push kick.
Hai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mauti .
A solid body kick from Mauti .
Mauti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hai avoids the head kick by Mauti .
Hai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hai swings for the body but Mauti moves out of range.
Mauti throws a sloppy head kick and Hai moves out of range easily.
Mauti connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hai takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Mauti checks a leg kick.
Good leg kick by Mauti there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mauti clinches.
Mauti missing with knees to the body.
Hai tries to score a body lock takedown but Mauti shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mauti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michael Mauti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of So Hai.
Hai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hai blocks an elbow strike from Mauti .
Hai taking a breather.
Mauti tries to land knees in the clinch but Hai avoids the damage to the body.
Mauti trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai is stalling here.
Hai throws a punch but it's blocked by Mauti .
Hai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mauti with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hai avoiding damage as Mauti throws knees to the body.
Mauti prevents the takedown attempt.
Hai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mauti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hai.
Mauti looking to throw knees to the head but Hai is blocking nicely.
Mauti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hai.
Mauti looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mauti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hai.
Mauti trying to land knees to the body.
Hai avoiding damage as Mauti throws knees to the body.
Mauti throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hai blocks it with crossed arms.
Hai has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mauti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hai managing to block the knees to the body from Mauti .
Hai is trying to drag Mauti to the mat but Mauti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mauti tries to land a knee to the head but Hai blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mauti misses with an elbow strike.
Mauti misses with a knee strike.
Mauti connects with a knee to the head.
Mauti lands a knee to the body.
Hai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mauti gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hai takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like So Hai has been cut.
Mauti is pressed up against the cage. Hai has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mauti down to the mat. Mauti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mauti throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mauti stuffs the takedown.
Mauti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mauti cracks the inside of Hai's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mauti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on So Hai's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hai drives through with a takedown into Mauti 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mauti pulls Hai in close to his closed guard and prevents Hai from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mauti is keeping the position for now.
Hai throwing strikes but missing.
Mauti wants to stand up but Hai is controlling him.
Hai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hai is looking to work some ground and pound but Mauti has wrist control.
Hai working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mauti being controlled here, momentarily.
Mauti will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Mauti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Mauti wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Mauti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hai tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mauti tries to land a front kick but Hai steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hai tries for a takedown but Mauti sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mauti is looking to slow Hai down with leg kicks.
Mauti tries to clinch up but Hai circles away and keeps his distance.
Hai blocks the body kick.
Michael Mauti is winning the standup battle so far.
Hai dives in and grabs Mauti 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mauti pushes down on Hai's head and hops out.
Hai misses with a body shot.
Hai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mauti tries to avoid it but Hai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mauti to the ground. Mauti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michael Mauti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of So Hai.

Hai shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mauti manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!
Hai throws an elbow that misses. Mauti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hai's guard. Nice move by Mauti !
Mauti has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mauti gets to his feet. Hai looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mauti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mauti slaps away a takedown attempt from Hai, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Hai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hai throws a big right hand that misses.
Hai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mauti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mauti can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hai controls the pace.
Mauti manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai tries to reverse the position but Mauti maintains control.

Mauti gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mauti throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hai.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mauti . Hai shrugs it off though.
Hai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mauti as he jumps to the side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Hai or perhaps it was just good defense by Mauti which made him look bad.
Mauti misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but So Hai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on So Hai's cut.
That's time! Mauti 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hai misses with a body shot.
Hai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mauti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mauti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hai throws out the jab.
Hai digs a good hook to Mauti 's body.
Mauti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mauti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mauti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mauti tries a head kick but it misses.
Mauti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hai misses with a head kick.
Mauti staying out of range there.
Mauti connects with a high kick.

Hai moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mauti trying to land knees to the body.
Mauti landing knees to the head.

Hai is rocked!
Hai takes an elbow to the temple.
Hai is still on wobbly legs! Can Mauti finish him?
Mauti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mauti working the clinch nicely. Hai is working for position but Mauti cracks him with a big knee to the head! Hai crumples up against the cage and Mauti lands two more shots before the ref can save Hai! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Michael Mauti !
A relieved looking Michael Mauti thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.