PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Hoefman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hoefman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Young Jeezy ft Rick Ross - I'm a Boss kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maia
vs
Hoefman

183 cm
24
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

TFP Graphics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melvin Hoefman!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia wants to clinch.

Hoefman clinches up against the ropes.
Maia tries to pull guard but Hoefman won't allow it.
Hoefman tries to land a knee to the head but Maia blocks with his arms.

Hoefman successfully pulls guard.
Hoefman working a defensive guard here.
Hoefman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoefman is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hoefman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoefman is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Maia drives through and clinches with Hoefman against the ropes.

Hoefman has clasped his hands together around Maia's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hoefman off and has taken his back!

Hoefman is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Hoefman is in bad spot here.
Hoefman just trying to survive but Maia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoefman wants to escape the position.
Hoefman manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maia's guard. Nice work there by Hoefman.

Hoefman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hoefman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Hoefman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoefman tries to strike from the bottom.
Hoefman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hoefman trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Maia postures up in Hoefman's guard and throws a big left but Hoefman blocks it.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Hoefman is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maia closes the distance but Hoefman moves to the side

and Hoefman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hoefman.

Hoefman has Maia pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hoefman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maia tumbling to the mat - Hoefman dives into Maia's guard.
Maia manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands a heavy elbow.

Hoefman defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Maia.
Hoefman slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hoefman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maia passes Hoefman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hoefman is trying to stand up here but Maia is controlling him well.
Hoefman looks gassed!
Hoefman tries to get to full guard but Maia has control of the leg.
Hoefman trying to control here.
Hoefman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Melvin Hoefman will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maia chips away with some ground and pound.
Maia passes Hoefman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hoefman wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Maia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hoefman is pressing down on Maia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maia passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Maia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hoefman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hoefman is trying to control Maia's posture but Maia avoids it.
Maia tries to move to mount but Hoefman blocks the move with his legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoefman gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Hoefman is trying desperately to improve position.
Hoefman has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Hoefman turns into Maia and is now in his guard.
Hoefman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hoefman cracks Maia with a solid left hand.
Maia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hoefman.
Hoefman thows a big elbow that misses.
Hoefman scoring with some ground and pound.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hoefman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Maia Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hoefman's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoefman covering up well under a barage of strikes.
I really don't envy Hoefman right now.

Hoefman is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maia gets his way!
Maia throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Maia gets his hands free as Hoefman looks to control.
Hoefman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hoefman striking from half guard on the bottom.

Maia seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Hoefman is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Demian Maia!