PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Dent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Dent might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to tim finnegans. The key to victory for Harvey Dent has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dent
vs
Maples

178 cm
29
180 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

168 cm
22
184 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Harvey Dent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Theo Maples!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Dent does no damage.
Dent is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maples sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A combination from Dent does no damage.
Dent keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dent misses with a double jab.
Dent dives in and grabs Maples's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maples pushes down on Dent's head and hops out.
Maples throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dent throws a right and a left that both miss.
A right-left combo lands from Dent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Maples.
Dent swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maples misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Dent, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dent wants to clinch up but Maples keeps it at a distance.
Maples ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dent moves away.
Maples misses with a low kick.
Theo Maples seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dent tries to bum rush Maples with a series of wild strikes but Maples uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maples throws a hook but Dent avoids it easily.
Dent throws a combination that misses

and Maples counters with a shoot takedown. Dent fights it but they end up in guard.
Maples trying to control the position from guard on top but Dent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maples throws a big right hand that misses.
Maples postures up in Dent's guard and throws a big left but Dent blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Maples has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Maples.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maples trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples lands a jab.
Maples slips a jab and a cross from Dent.
Maples throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dent tries to clinch up.
Dent throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dent works over Maples's head and body with a nice combination.
Dent gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maples counters with a shoot takedown. Dent fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Dent. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dent is trying to keep Maples in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples advances to half guard.
Dent wants to get back to his feet.
Maples is controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maples seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dent does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maples is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Maples stalling away here and it's allowed Dent to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Theo Maples will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dent's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maples misses with a lunging right hand
and Dent counters with a one-two to the body.
Dent closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maples circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Dent as Maples shoots in.
Maples throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Harvey Dent is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice body punch from Dent.
Maples throws out a loose jab but Dent uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dent throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maples keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maples misses with a takedown attempt - Dent sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maples misses with a low kick as Dent jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dent lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dent takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maples counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvey Dent. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dent blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maples.
Maples has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maples looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dent holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Dent tries to kick Maples off but Maples keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maples throwing shots but Dent is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dent's head.
Dent avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maples.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Maples is trying to control the action in half guard but Dent is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maples seems to be looking for submissions.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Maples working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Maples wants to pass the guard but Dent is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dent stuffs the takedown.
Maples throws a lazy right hand but Dent sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from Dent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples digs a good hook to Dent's body.
Maples throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dent sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maples does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Dent fails to land with a series of punches.
Maples throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dent throws a head kick that misses.
A combination from Dent does no damage.
Dent takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maples throws a quick inside leg kick.

Maples gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dent takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maples looking to control but instead Dent has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Maples working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dent looks like he's trying to stand up.
Maples misses with a head shot. Dent uses the momentum to regain guard.
Maples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dent works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Maples showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Dent's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dent uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maples.
Dent fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maples avoids it really well and circles away.
Maples throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dent misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maples has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dent fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maples checks it well.
Maples swings away with a body shot that misses
and Dent counters with a series of strikes. Maples will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dent throws a wild body kick that Maples sees coming a mile off.
Maples fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dent lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maples.
Maples misses with a looping left.
Maples avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dent swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Dent throws a shot from downtown. Maples moves away and avoids it.
Dent swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Maples to counter with a crisp jab.
Dent tries to close the distance and clinch but Maples swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dent tries to clinch up.
Maples looks to score with a jab to the body but Dent is just out of range.
Maples throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dent doesn't manage to clinch there - Maples circles away.
Maples is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dent rather than just go for the knockout.
Maples lands with an uppercut that bounces Dent off the cage and back into range.
Maples lands a nice looking body shot.
Maples fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A combination from Dent does no damage.
Maples swats away the attempt to clinch by Dent.

Maples is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dent's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Maples is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Maples connects with a nice short shot to Dent's temple.
Maples not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dent moves into full guard.
Dent looking to control.
Maples landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maples sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maples trying to control but Dent is working from the bottom.
Maples sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maples is working for a submission of some sort.
Harvey Dent has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Theo Maples has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maples not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theo Maples comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maples 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theo Maples!
Our winner, Theo Maples, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.