PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esko Maki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taite Abrams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Maki
vs
Abrams

160 cm
24
202 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

MB Nutrition

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esko Maki!
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, Taite Abrams!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maki dives in and grabs Abrams's left leg, looking for a takedown. Abrams pushes down on Maki's head and hops out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maki has a takedown stuffed.
Abrams turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Abrams lands a leg kick that knocks Maki off balance momentarily.
Abrams tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maki dives in and grabs Abrams's left leg, looking for a takedown. Abrams pushes down on Maki's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Maki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abrams feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maki's calf.

Abrams takes the fight into the clinch.
Abrams lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maki really is a fat lump.
Abrams lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Maki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Abrams just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maki blocks an elbow strike from Abrams.
Abrams lands an elbow inside.
Abrams creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maki's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abrams prevents Maki from breaking the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Abrams.
Abrams throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abrams gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Abrams gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maki takes an elbow to the forehead.
I was talking to Maki's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Abrams lands an elbow inside that Maki shrugs off.
Abrams lands a damaging elbow.
Maki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Abrams creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maki's defenses.

It looks like Esko Maki has been cut.
Abrams's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Abrams comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Maki is rocked!
Abrams lands an elbow just above Maki 's eye.
Abrams lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Oh Maki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Abrams walks away with a smile on his face. Maki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maki seems to have got his legs back now.
Maki is breathing heavily.
Abrams avoids the head kick by Maki.
Abrams lands a nice looking body kick.
Both fighters circling slowly here as the pace drops. Hopefully one of them does someth.. OOOHHHH!!!! Abrams throws an absolute beast of a head kick! Maki is done! He's out cold, twisted and contorted up against the cage! Wow!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Taite Abrams!
Taite Abrams is the new light heavyweight champion!
A victorious Taite Abrams thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.