PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Key (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Key

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Key!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Key gets caught napping as Maia dives in and scores a takedown. Key manages to retain guard.
Maia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Key is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.

Key throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Key is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maia trying to control but Key is working from the bottom.
Maia slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia prevents Key from improving his position.
Maia is taking a breather. Key says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
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.
Key is looking to control Maia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Key avoid being mounted?
Maia controlling the action here.
Maia is pressing down on Key's thigh, looking to free his foot. Key is holding on for now.
Key taking some punishment here, with Maia in his half guard.
Key is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maia scores with a couple of nice shots.
Key is looking for a sweep. Maia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Key on the ground.
Key keeps trying to improve his position.
Maia is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Key wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.
Maia slows the pace down in half guard.
Maia passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maia's best efforts.
Key has hold of Maia's hands but Maia slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Maia sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Maia's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Key has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maia is working away from the top position though.
Maia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Key looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maia is trying to control. Key wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maia prevents Key from improving his position.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Key is defending well.
Maia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Maia connects with a nice short shot to Key's temple.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Maia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maia moves out of range of the strikes.

Key drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maia tries to buck Key off but Key is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Key in side control, throwing shots but Maia defends.
Key trying to control the position but Maia is working away.
Maia is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Key is working Maia over with some ground and pound from side control.
Key moves into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Key lands with some strikes.
Maia is desperately trying to improve his position but Key has a good base and remains in mount.
Key trying to control but Maia is having none of it.
Maia is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Maia swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Maia working to try and regain half guard.
Maia tries to lock up and control but Key gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia working to try and regain half guard.
Key fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Daniel Maia has been cut.
Maia really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Key looking for a guillotine from mount but Maia is having none of it.
Maia is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Key lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maia hang on?
Maia can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Key scoring with strikes but Maia is staying in there.
Key wants to control the pace but Maia is squirming around nicely.
Key has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maia tries to lock up and control but Key gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maia is trying desperately to improve position.
Key trying to control but Maia is having none of it.
Maia on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maia tries to get out of the position.
Key with good strikes from the mount here!
Key punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Key avoids the attempt from Maia to control.
Maia manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Maia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Maia tries to strike from the bottom.
Key forces his way into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maia wants to improve his position but Key is controlling well.
Maia gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Key showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daniel Maia's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Key falls off balance throwing a combination

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Key is keeping the position for now.
Key looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Key looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maia trying to control but Key is working from the bottom.
Key looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Key is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maia slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Maia looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Key!
Key can't do much from the bottom here.
Key trying to remain calm as Maia controls from the top position.
Maia lands a few punches from side control.
Maia moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Key tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Key struggling a bit here.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Key is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Key taking punishment in the form of punches.
Maia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Key keeps working.
Key is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia scoring with punches and elbows.
Maia misses with the ground and pound.
Maia is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Key will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Maia in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Key tries to improve position but can't.
Maia is putting a hurting on Key here, landing some big shots from side control.
Key takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Key is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Key is trying to control Maia's posture but Maia avoids it.
Maia trying to control the position but Key is working away.
Maia passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Key!
Maia looking to finish Key with some ground and pound. This is bad for Key!
Maia controlling the position easily from mount.
Maia is landing with some decent strikes but Key is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maia lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Daniel Maia!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Daniel Maia!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Paul Key!

Daniel Maia wins by split decision!