PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evan Better (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddy Maiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Better kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mother by Danzig. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Better
vs
Maiden

188 cm
26
183 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

185 cm
32
172 lbs
19 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evan Better!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Eddy Maiden!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maiden looks to score with a jab to the body but Better is just out of range.
Maiden misses with a body kick.
Better throws a body shot but no joy.
Better connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Better throws a leg kick
and Maiden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maiden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maiden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Maiden throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Better misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better defending well as Maiden loads up on a big left hand.
Better 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.
Some wild striking there from Better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maiden lands a slapping body shot.
Eddy Maiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maiden misses with a lunging right hand
and Better makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maiden scores with a jab to the jaw.
Better bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Maiden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maiden is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Better rather than just go for the knockout.
Better scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maiden throws a hook to the side of Better's head but Better sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maiden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Better half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Better takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Better misses with a lunging right hand

and Maiden counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Better'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maiden wants to control but Better is keeping him busy.
Maiden missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maiden trying to pass the guard but Better defending well.
Better is looking to control Maiden's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Better avoid being mounted?
Better slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Maiden throws a big right hand that misses.
Maiden pushing down on Better's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiden works his way into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maiden wants to control but Better is keeping him busy.
Maiden is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Better on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Better is trying to improve his position.
Better dodges the ground and pound from Maiden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Better wants to control but Maiden postures up.
Maiden trying to control the action but Better is working from the bottom.
Maiden is trying to ground and pound but Better uses the momentary lack of control by Maiden to regain half guard.
Maiden throws a strike but Better avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maiden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Maiden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Better tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maiden steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Better.
Maiden throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A lazy body kick from Better
and Maiden counters with a right hand to the body.
Better throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Better missing with a left hand there. Maiden was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maiden checks a low kick from Better.
Maiden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Maiden uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Better has time to react.
Maiden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better looks to score with a jab to the body but Maiden is just out of range.
Better finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Better misses the shot to the body.
Maiden throws a lazy right hand but Better sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Better appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Better lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maiden circles away quickly and effectively.
Maiden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Maiden throws a body punch but Better moves out of range.
Maiden throws a poor cross that misses
and Better counters with a nice leg kick.
Eddy Maiden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maiden tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Better is able to avoid easily.
Better avoids the body shot from Maiden.
Better gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maiden.
Good work by Maiden as he checks the leg kick.
Better staying out of range there.
Better changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Better lands with a nice body punch.
Maiden jabs Better to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden misses the jab.
Maiden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Better wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Better jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maiden tests Better's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Better dips to his left and cracks Maiden with an uppercut!
Maiden uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Better has time to react.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maiden takes a swing at Better's ribcage but misses.
Maiden blocks a leg kick.
Maiden lands a slapping body shot.
Maiden avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maiden let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Better keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Better feinted with a counter takedown.
Better throws a poor cross that misses
and Maiden counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Better throws the kick towards the body but Maiden avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Maiden on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Better fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maiden checks it well.
Maiden throws a looping overhand right but Better ducks down to avoid it.
Better throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maiden checks a leg kick.
Maiden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Better moves away.
Maiden misses with an uppercut. Better saw that one coming.
Maiden pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Better misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Better moves forwards but Maiden connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maiden takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Maiden tests Better's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maiden takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Better tries a low kick but Maiden avoids it.
Maiden scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Better throws a leg kick but Maiden checks it.
Maiden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Better takes a swing at Maiden's ribcage but misses.
Better moves out of range as Maiden strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Maiden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Better throws a hook but Maiden avoids it easily.
Better throws a leg kick
and Maiden counters with an outside leg kick.
Better moves out of range as Maiden strikes.
Better keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maiden tries to work over Better's front leg with a kick but Better checks it.
A leg kick checked by Maiden.
Maiden is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Better throws a right hand that Maiden ducks under and follows up with a left that Maiden also avoids with ease.
Better ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maiden throws a hook to the side of Better's head but Better sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Better misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maiden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Better blocks a jab.
Maiden swings for the body but Better moves out of range.
Maiden misses with an uppercut
and Better counters with a nice uppercut.
Maiden paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maiden's corner calls for a 1-2. Maiden obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maiden just misses with a punch to the body.
Better keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maiden.
Better connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Maiden momentarily.
Better moves out of range of the strikes.
Maiden dodges the punch combination from Better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden throws a leg kick but Better sees it coming and moves out of range.
Maiden takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice body punch from Maiden.
Maiden fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Better lands with a kick to the ribs.
Better ducks under a wild hook from Maiden.
Maiden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Better.
Maiden misses with a leg kick
and Better counters with a nice leg kick.
Maiden misses with a wild body shot.
Better throwing a counter right hand but Maiden manages to avoid it.
Evan Better has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Better is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Better throws a hook but Maiden blocks it.
Maiden digs a good body shot into Better's ribs.
Better throws a low kick, looking for Maiden's leg but Maiden calmly moves out of range.
Maiden misses with a hook. Better ducked under it nicely.
Better misses the jab.
Better feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maiden's calf.
Better bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maiden throws an overhand right that lands on Better's shoulder, as Better tries to avoid the shot.
Better takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Maiden lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maiden throws a leg kick but Better sees it coming and moves out of range.
Better cracks Maiden with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Better shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Better connects with a body shot that sends Maiden's belly button to the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maiden misses with a hook.
Better was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Eddy Maiden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Better stuns Maiden with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Better misses with a wild combination.
Maiden doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Maiden lands a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eddy Maiden.
Well Maiden has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddy Maiden!
During a confident post fight interview, Eddy Maiden thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Evan Better stepped up to the mic, saying 'Lucky, lucky, lucky.'.