PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aderbal Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrique Tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tavares has chosen Devour the Day - Get Out of My Way as his entrance music. Aderbal Maia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Tavares

180 cm
32
218 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

195 cm
26
210 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition

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 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aderbal Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henrique Tavares!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavares stuffs the takedown attempt from Maia. Maia gets slowly back to his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Tavares misses.
Tavares stuffs the takedown.
Maia with a poor takedown
and Tavares counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aderbal Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tavares pinned against the cage. Tavares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Tavares.
Maia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Tavares lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tavares misses with a series of wild punches.
A jab lands there for Tavares.
Maia has been working on his balance at MB Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Tavares.
Tavares rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.
Maia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Tavares swinging wildly here.
Tavares misses with a two punch combination.
Tavares moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Some wild striking there from Tavares.
Maia feinted with a counter takedown.
Henrique Tavares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Tavares as Maia shoots in.
Maia on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tavares sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a double jab.
Maia feinted with a counter takedown.
No joy there for Tavares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tavares comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tavares comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maia avoids the body shot from Tavares.
Tavares misses with an uppercut.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Tavares is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Maia rather than just go for the knockout.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Maia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tavares sprawls and moves away.
Tavares is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Maia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tavares throws a left and a right that both miss

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tavares doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

Tavares kicks off Maia and gets to his feet.
Tavares throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tavares throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tavares misses with a wild body shot.
Maia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Tavares dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maia gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tavares has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tavares throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tavares sprawls and moves away.
Tavares looks to throw the jab but Maia is out of range.
Good exchange - Tavares coming out on top.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tavares makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tavares scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tavares throws a series of strikes that have Maia backpedaling.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Tavares.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice takedown defense from Tavares. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Tavares misses with a double jab

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Maia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Tavares is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
Tavares is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tavares manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Maia keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tavares just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aderbal Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tavares to keep the fight standing.

Tavares manages to break the clinch.
Tavares throws a series of strikes that have Maia backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tavares tests Maia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tavares misses with a body shot.

Maia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Tavares won't allow Maia to pass to mount.

Tavares manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tavares cracks Maia with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maia moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tavares has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tavares scores with a jab to the body.
Tavares lands a head shot.
Tavares lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Tavares swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maia feinted with a counter takedown.
Henrique Tavares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tavares throws a left and a right that both miss

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Tavares has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Maia has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tavares working aggressively here.
Tavares lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maias head.
Tavares lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maia backwards.
Tavares fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tavares walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tavares.
Maia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tavares sprawls and moves away.
Tavares works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maia attempts a counter takedown but Tavares avoids it well and moves away.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Tavares.
Maia feinted with a counter takedown.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tavares.
Henrique Tavares is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavares looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Tavares showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Maia has a takedown stuffed.
Tavares lands a head shot.
Tavares misses with a combination

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tavares manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Tavares shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tavares throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tavares just misses with a punch to the body.
Maia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavares throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Maia keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aderbal Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tavares.
Maia attempts a counter takedown but Tavares avoids it well and moves away.
Tavares tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maia was well out of range. Poor timing from Tavares.
Tavares throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maia counters with a takedown into side control.

Maia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavares is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Maia tries for a kimura but Tavares is defending well.
Tavares is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Maia wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tavares, who protects the arm well.

Maia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Tavares is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavares is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maia has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Tavares bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Tavares fails to land with a series of punches.
Maia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tavares throws a combination that misses

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Tavares pushes Maia off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tavares thuds his right hand into Maia's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tavares swings for the body but Maia moves out of range.
Maia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tavares sprawls and moves away.
Maia slips a jab and a cross from Tavares.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavares misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Tavares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tavares is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Tavares circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tavares.
A telegraphed right hand from Tavares misses the target.
Maia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tavares misses with a body shot.
Tavares sizes up Maia with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henrique Tavares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tavares 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrique Tavares!
Henrique Tavares 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.