PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Maggio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Fortier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Fortier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maggio
vs
Fortier

180 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Maggio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric Fortier!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maggio clinches up against the cage.
Maggio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fortier is trying to drag Maggio to the mat but Maggio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Maggio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fortier misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fortier throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maggio on the side of the head.
Fortier fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maggio shoots and misses
and Fortier counters with a two punch combo.
Maggio fails in his attempt to clinch.
A jab from Maggio finds it's way through Fortier's defenses.
Maggio really is a fat lump.
Fortier misses with a few strikes there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maggio misses with a head kick.
Maggio fails with a takedown attempt.
Maggio swats away the attempt to clinch by Fortier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fortier shoots in but Maggio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
John Maggio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Fortier.
Fortier throws a head kick that misses
and Maggio counters with a head kick. That will keep Fortier thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Maggio drives through and clinches with Fortier against the cage.

Maggio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maggio shoots for a double leg takedown but Fortier sprawls well. He's pushed Maggio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Fortier gets a clinch.
Maggio jumps guard but Fortier stands there with Maggio around his waist. Maggio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maggio wants to take the fight to the mat but Fortier manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fortier working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maggio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fortier prevents it.

Maggio manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Fortier decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fortier wants to pass to mount but Maggio is defending the position.
Maggio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maggio is trying to stand up here but Fortier is controlling him well.
Fortier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maggio is breathing heavily.
Fortier passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maggio!
Fortier landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Fortier.
Fortier sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fortier scoring with strikes but Maggio is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fortier avoids the attempt from Maggio to control.
Maggio is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fortier is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fortier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maggio keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fortier working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Maggio really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maggio taking shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fortier tries to control but Maggio wriggling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maggio is in a horrible position here. Fortier smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Fortier dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fortier takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fortier is defended easily by Maggio.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fortier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maggio has his takedown stuffed

so Fortier counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fortier slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fortier passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maggio is trying to work for a sweep but Fortier has mounted him!

Fortier jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maggio manages to avoid the submission attempt.
A control attempt from Maggio but he's now mounted!
Fortier connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Fortier tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Fortier scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maggio tries to lock up and control but Fortier gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Fortier is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Fortier shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fortier showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maggio is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fortier is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fortier wants to pass to mount but Maggio is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maggio wants to control but Fortier is keeping busy.
Fortier tries to stand and escape but Maggio is controlling the position.
Fortier wants to pass to mount but Maggio is defending the position.
Maggio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maggio.
Maggio wants to sweep here but Fortier controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maggio looking to control.

Maggio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fortier controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fortier preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maggio is trying to keep Fortier in close.
Fortier wants to control from the top but Maggio keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Fortier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maggio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maggio has a takedown stuffed.
Maggio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fortier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maggio lands a head kick!
Maggio throws a nice looking combination but Fortier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maggio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fortier counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maggio won't be happy with that.
Fortier is chipping away with strikes.
Maggio wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fortier cracks Maggio with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maggio takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fortier wants to control but Maggio is keeping him busy.
Eric Fortier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fortier advances to full mount.
Fortier is trying to take his opponent's back.
Fortier with shots to the head and body - Maggio looks very uncomfortable down there.
Maggio can't escape the position.
Fortier punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortier looking to control but Maggio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fortier lands a couple of good shots and Maggio has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Maggio grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Maggio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fortier on the ground.
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!
Fortier connects with a big shot to the side of Maggio's head.
A lull in the action here.

Fortier tightening his grip on Maggio, looking for the choke.
Maggio takes a big shot to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maggio staying busy and making it hard for Fortier to control.
Fortier avoiding Maggio 's attempts to control his hands.

Fortier is looking for a choke. Maggio gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Maggio manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Fortier is pulling down on Maggio's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fortier is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fortier is pulling down on Maggio's head. It's preventing any offense from Maggio, at least for the moment.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Fortier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fortier winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight for Eric Fortier!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Eric Fortier!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Eric Fortier!

Eric Fortier wins by unanimous decision!