PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demiam Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Therock Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Obama's choice of entrance music: At Last. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maia
vs
Obama

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demiam Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Therock Obama!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maia circles away.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Obama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maia is looking to stand up but Obama isn't so interested in that idea.
Maia keeping moving, preventing Obama from controlling successfully.

Obama drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maia looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maia looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maia!
Obama wants to control but Maia postures up.
Maia gets to mount! Obama was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia prevents Obama from getting the reversal.
Maia avoids the attempt from Obama to control.
Obama is trying to escape the mount.
Obama wants to control but Maia is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Obama tries to reverse the position but Maia maintains control.
Obama wants to control but Maia is having none of it.
Obama working to try and regain half guard.

Maia is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Obama misses with a takedown

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Obama looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obama is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Maia pulls his head out easily.
Obama wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.
Obama misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Maia decides to stand up.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Obama counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Obama is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Obama.
Obama trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Obama postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maia is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Obama, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Therock Obama will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Obama misses with a takedown attempt

and Maia counters with a single leg into guard. Obama didn't expect that.
Maia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Obama is proving hard to escape from.

Obama is looking for a triangle here but Maia uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Obama is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia working away.
Obama is looking to reverse the position.
Obama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown

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

Maia is defending against the submission attempts here by Obama.
Maia pushes Obama off looking to stand but Obama dives back in and keeps control.
Maia regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Obama.

Obama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Maia manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Obama has Maia in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obama has his foot on Maia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maia works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Maia is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Obama off. It looks like it's working - Obama slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Maia displaying calm under pressure there.

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.
Obama misses with a takedown attempt

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maia tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Obama.
Obama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Obama actively working from the bottom here.
Obama wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demiam Maia dominated that second round.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Obama with a poor takedown

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Obama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Maia is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Obama.

Maia decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Obama shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maia counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Obama tries to bench press Maia off him but Maia keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia working away.
Obama wants to get back to his feet but Maia is dominant here and he's now got Obama's back!
Obama tries to escape but Maia has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Obama rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Obama controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Obama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia tries to stand but can't do so whilst Obama controls his leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Obama throws a combination that misses
and Maia counters with a solid body kick.

Obama scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Obama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to escape.
Obama lands with a punch from half guard.

Obama is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Obama 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 taking some punishment here, with Obama in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Obama is tying to control. Maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Obama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Obama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maia is just riding it out for now. Obama eventually gives up the hold.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demiam Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demiam Maia!