PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aderbal Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sheldon Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sheldon Cooper has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Maia
vs
Cooper

180 cm
26
218 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
206 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

WatercoloR - 90% Laundry
Heisenberg

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aderbal Maia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sheldon Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Cooper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cooper tries to clinch but Maia moves away

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Maia is working for a submission of some sort.

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.
We've been hearing good reports from Maia's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Maia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cooper tries to get to full guard but Maia has control of the leg.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cooper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Cooper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cooper wants to get back to full guard.
Cooper is doing well to control the position and prevent Maia from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cooper has managed to free his arm - good work.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cooper has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cooper trying to hold on to Maia's head to control him but Maia postures up.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura but Cooper is defending well.
Cooper gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Cooper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cooper manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Cooper's guard.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Cooper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cooper manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Cooper's guard.
Cooper is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Cooper is retaining full guard.
Cooper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.
Maia looking to pass the guard.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cooper managing to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cooper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sheldon Cooper.

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!
Cooper is looking to reverse the position.

Maia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cooper is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cooper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Maia tries for a kimura but Cooper is defending well.

Maia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cooper has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cooper tries to buck Maia off but Maia is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Cooper is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cooper is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Maia off and has taken his back!
Cooper trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aderbal Maia dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maia tries for a takedown but Cooper circles away easily

and Cooper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cooper wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Cooper advances to half guard.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maia is staying active underneath Cooper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Cooper from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cooper is one step ahead there.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Cooper pushes his legs off easily.
Maia keeping full guard, as Cooper tries to pass.
Cooper stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

Maia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cooper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cooper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cooper looking to pass the guard.
Cooper has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Rob's Training Center . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Cooper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cooper wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cooper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Cooper from controlling successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cooper stands and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Cooper keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.
Maia gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Cooper controlling from mount.
Cooper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cooper prevents Maia from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cooper fails to move to back control.
Maia sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Maia actively working from the bottom here.
Cooper wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cooper content to control rather than advance.
Maia is staying active underneath Cooper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sheldon Cooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cooper drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
Cooper taking a breather here.
Maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cooper off and has taken his back!
Cooper is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Maia off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Maia is looking for the choke from the back position but Cooper is controlling his hands well.
Cooper tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Maia working for a submission but Cooper is keeping him at bay.
Cooper is trying to escape the mount.

Maia with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Maia has hold of Cooper's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cooper manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia is working for a guillotine from mount but Cooper frees his head quite easily.
Cooper wants to control but Maia is having none of it.

Maia working for a guillotine from mount but Cooper is in no mood to give up.
Cooper working to try and regain half guard.
Cooper regains half guard.
Cooper trying to control here.
Cooper holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to improve his position.
Cooper is trying to maintain the position but Maia is very close to passing his half guard.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Cooper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cooper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

Maia is looking for a kimura here.
Cooper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cooper.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cooper is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper is trying to keep Maia in close.
Cooper wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Cooper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cooper has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sheldon Cooper hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice sprawl there from Cooper as Maia shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Maia is looking for a kimura but Cooper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
Cooper is controlling Maia's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Maia seems to be working for a kimura but Cooper defends the submission attempt.

Cooper is defending against the submission attempts here by Maia.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Aderbal Maia did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cooper throws a big shot that misses.
Maia avoids the body shot from Cooper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Maia as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.
Maia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cooper avoids it really well and circles away.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maia but Maia pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maia checks the leg kick.
Cooper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maia avoids it really well and circles away.
Maia looks for a takedown but Cooper sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cooper counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aderbal Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cooper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cooper tries to pass to full mount but Maia defends it.
Maia is pressing down on Cooper's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Maia has his foot on Cooper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cooper works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping full guard, as Cooper tries to pass.
Cooper sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maia's guard.
Cooper trying to control the action but Maia is working from the bottom.
Cooper is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Maia wants to improve his position but Cooper is controlling well.
Cooper passes the guard and advances to mount!
Cooper tries to control but Maia wriggling away.
Cooper is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Maia is working to get back to half guard.
Maia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Cooper tries to pass to full mount but Maia defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sheldon Cooper dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cooper waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maia.

Cooper closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Maia to the mat! Maia manages to get full guard.
Cooper tries to free his leg and advance position but Maia is retaining full guard.

Maia has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Cooper doesn't defend quickly enough and Maia has managed to lock this one up! Can Cooper escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Maia on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Aderbal Maia!
Aderbal Maia is the new light heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Aderbal Maia thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.