PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Cleveland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Killer Mak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cleveland
vs
Mak

189 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Napoleon Cleveland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Killer Mak!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleveland blocks a head kick by Mak.
No joy there for Mak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mak misses the shot to the body.
Mak throws a right hand that Cleveland ducks under and follows up with a left that Cleveland also avoids with ease.
Mak misses with a head kick.
Cleveland checks a low kick from Mak.
A head kick misses from Mak.
Mak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mak looks winded!
Cleveland takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mak throws a shot from downtown. Cleveland moves away and avoids it.
Mak throws a series of punches but Cleveland moves out of range.
Mak dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cleveland. That did some damage!
Mak throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cleveland counters with a stiff right hand.
Mak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cleveland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cleveland shoots in and drives through. Mak sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Mak.

Cleveland scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Cleveland stands up out of the half guard.
Cleveland dives in for a single leg takedown but Mak sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Cleveland. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cleveland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cleveland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mak as he avoids it easily.
Mak throws a lazy head kick
and Cleveland counters with an outside leg kick.
Cleveland blocks a head kick by Mak.
Cleveland blocks the body kick.
Cleveland has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland drives through and clinches with Mak against the cage.
Cleveland has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mak after a bit of a struggle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mak keeps control of Cleveland as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mak prevents the takedown attempt.

Cleveland turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cleveland working the body and head with strikes.
Mak wants to get back to his feet but Cleveland is dominant here and he's now got Mak's back!
Cleveland is riding his opponent, not letting Mak buck him off.
Cleveland's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Further stalling from Cleveland.
Cleveland seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mak for as long as he can get away with.
We've been informed that Mak has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mak is trying to stand back up.
Cleveland is riding his opponent, not letting Mak buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
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 Napoleon Cleveland will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A bone on bone clash there as Cleveland blocks the leg kick.
Mak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Killer Mak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mak tries a head kick but it misses.
Killer Mak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mak tries to land a front kick but Cleveland steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Cleveland drives through with a takedown into Mak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cleveland controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Cleveland decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cleveland changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mak tries to avoid it but Cleveland manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mak to the ground. Mak escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mak.
Mak throws a head kick but Cleveland moves out of range.
Mak is breathing heavily.
Mak throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cleveland ducks under a wild hook from Mak.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Cleveland shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cleveland showed some decent athleticism there.
Cleveland with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Cleveland is stinking the place up with his stalling.

Cleveland gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Cleveland shoots in for a takedown but Mak shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cleveland blocks a head kick by Mak.
Mak stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Cleveland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mak misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mak gets tackled into the cage by Cleveland. Cleveland maintains the clinch.

Cleveland drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cleveland pushes Mak off and gets back to his feet.
Mak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cleveland rushes Mak and presses him up against the cage.
Mak wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mak tries to land a knee to the head but Cleveland blocks with his arms.
Cleveland taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Cleveland works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Mak is working an open guard so Cleveland takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mak lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland gets a clinch.
Cleveland will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mak up against the cage.
Cleveland tries for a takedown but Mak manages to get underhooks.

Cleveland has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mak regains guard immediately.

Mak kicks Cleveland off and gets to his feet.
Mak misses with a leg kick.
Mak throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cleveland.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Napoleon Cleveland will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Good work by Cleveland as he checks the leg kick.
Mak throws a head kick that misses
enabling Cleveland to counter with a crisp jab.
Cleveland shoots for a double leg takedown but Mak sprawls well. He's pushed Cleveland's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mak is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cleveland rather than just go for the knockout.
Mak keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mak shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cleveland eats them both and turns towards Mak to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mak misses with a kick to the body.
Mak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cleveland.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cleveland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mak.

Cleveland throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mak was covering up waiting for the punch and Cleveland finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland working some strikes from top position.

Cleveland stands up from Mak's guard - Cleveland perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mak pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cleveland shoots in and drives through. Mak sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Cleveland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mak throws a head kick that misses.
Cleveland will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mak throws a head kick that misses.
Cleveland shoots for a takedown but Mak saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Cleveland drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Napoleon Cleveland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cleveland stands and steps away. Mak gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cleveland darts in looking for a takedown but Mak gets double underhooks and turns Cleveland into the cage.
Cleveland can't get the takedown.
Mak is trying to break the clinch but Cleveland has him pressed against the cage.
Cleveland avoids the elbow strike from Mak, against the cage.

Cleveland has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Mak clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mak manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mak's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mak duly obliges.
Mak looks to land a body kick but Cleveland moved away.
Some wild striking there from Mak.

Cleveland drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cleveland stands up from Mak's guard - Cleveland perhaps looking for a knockout.

Cleveland gets a double leg takedown into Mak's guard.
Mak has momentary wrist control but Cleveland slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mak throws a nice looking combination but Cleveland bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cleveland shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mak as he avoids it easily.
Mak throws a series of punches but Cleveland avoids them all with ease.
Mak throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cleveland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mak is trying to break free.
Cleveland tries for a takedown but Mak manages to get underhooks.

Cleveland gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Killer Mak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Napoleon Cleveland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mak looking for a guillotine here but Cleveland defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Killer Mak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cleveland has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Napoleon Cleveland!