PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Mamba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giuseppe Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mamba comes to the cage accompanied by Here Comes The Hotstepper. Maldini is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Just one cornetto. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mamba
vs
Maldini

197 cm
31
270 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

210 cm
31
275 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bobby Mamba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Giuseppe Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Maldini misses with a head kick.
Mamba attempts a counter takedown but Maldini avoids it well and moves away.
A shot to the body from Maldini misses

and Mamba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maldini's guard.
Mamba with a nice head shot there.
Maldini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mamba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maldini working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mamba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini keeping moving, preventing Mamba from controlling successfully.
Mamba stays in close to Maldini's body and controls the position.
Mamba trying to control but Maldini is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamba's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giuseppe Maldini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldini tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mamba counters with a shoot takedown. Maldini fights it but they end up in guard.
Mamba 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.
Mamba wants to control from the top but Maldini keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Mamba'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.
Mamba working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mamba trying to control the position from guard on top but Maldini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mamba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maldini swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maldini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mamba trying to control but Maldini is working from the bottom.
Mamba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Maldini is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maldini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldini rushes Mamba and presses him up against the cage.
Maldini tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maldini.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mamba.
A short right from Maldini on the inside.
Maldini lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Maldini.
Mamba is breathing heavily.
Maldini lands a body shot.
A short right from Maldini.
Mamba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maldini just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maldini lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Still in the clinch, Maldini scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maldini struggles to land a body shot inside as Mamba controls his hands.
Maldini works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Maldini lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maldini trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Maldini.
Maldini softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Maldini presses Mamba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Maldini.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maldini.

Maldini breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mamba takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mamba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Maldini feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Mamba sprawling to the canvas! Mamba rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Maldini finish him?!

It looks like Bobby Mamba has been cut.

Maldini clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Maldini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Mamba's cut.
That's time! Mamba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mamba gets tackled into the cage by Maldini. Maldini maintains the clinch.
Maldini lands with a short shot to the head.
Mamba's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Maldini scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maldini is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Maldini is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mamba tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maldini smiles and moves away.
Maldini misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mamba changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maldini misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mamba feinted with a counter takedown.
Maldini cracks Mamba with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maldini tries a low kick but Mamba avoids it.
Mamba half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Maldini cracks Mamba with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Mamba looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Maldini finish him?
Maldini misses with a straight left.
Mamba attempts a counter takedown but Maldini avoids it well and moves away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Maldini misses with a low kick.
Mamba changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini takes a swing at Mamba's ribcage but misses.
Mamba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maldini sprawls and moves away.
Maldini tries a head kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldini throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maldini feints and then cracks Mamba's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mamba down.
A head kick misses from Maldini.
Mamba appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Giuseppe Maldini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maldini throws a sloppy head kick and Mamba moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mamba has time to react.
Giuseppe Maldini seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mamba with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Maldini to score with a decent uppercut.
Maldini feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mamba's calf.
Maldini attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mamba is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Maldini.
Maldini works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mamba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldini sends Mamba crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Maldini is motioning to the referee to let Mamba up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maldini thows a leg kick but Mamba checks it

and Mamba counters with a takedown into side control.
Maldini dodges the ground and pound from Mamba.
Maldini wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maldini is not content to let Mamba control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Maldini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bobby Mamba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Maldini rushes Mamba and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Maldini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maldini tries to bum rush Mamba with a series of wild strikes but Mamba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mamba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maldini sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini tries a head kick but it misses.
Mamba changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Maldini has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Mamba gets tackled into the cage by Maldini. Maldini maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamba is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mamba tries to pull guard but Maldini holds him up against the cage and eventually Mamba drops back down to his feet.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.

Maldini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mamba takes a jab right on the kisser.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maldini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mamba seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Mamba blocks a head kick by Maldini.
Bobby Mamba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Maldini is predictable there

and Mamba counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Maldini!
Mamba looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maldini is avoiding damage well.
Maldini is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mamba asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Mamba staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamba is looking to take a break and control but Maldini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maldini is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mamba asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maldini. That's going to slow Mamba down.
Giuseppe Maldini is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maldini tries to bum rush Mamba with a series of wild strikes but Mamba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mamba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maldini sprawls and moves away.
Maldini tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mamba counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Maldini is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mamba presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giuseppe Maldini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maldini 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giuseppe Maldini!
Giuseppe Maldini decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.