PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fifth Fist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Itula Maafala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Fist
vs
Maafala

194 cm
26
240 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

190 cm
32
280 lbs
13 - 7 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear
Perkele!

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fifth Fist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Itula Maafala!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Maafala finds it's way through Fist's defenses.
Fist jabs at Maafala's body.
Fist throws a hook to the side of Maafala's head but Maafala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Maafala drives through and clinches with Fist against the cage.

Fist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Maafala with that takedown attempt.
Maafala tries to clinch there but Fist circles away.
Fist misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maafala.
Maafala tries to close the distance and clinch but Fist swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maafala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fist throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maafala avoids the body shot from Fist.
Maafala takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Maafala lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fist at a distance.

Maafala rushes Fist and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maafala tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fist avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fists head.

Fist manages to break the clinch.

Maafala instigates a clinch.
Fist tries to stall but Maafala uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
I was talking to Fist's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maafala.
A short right from Maafala on the inside.
Maafala pushes off an throws an elbow but Fist leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maafala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fist on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maafala with a knee to the head.
Maafala told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Maafala avoiding damage.
Fist tries to work over Maafala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maafala tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fist is pushing Maafala up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fist wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fist dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Maafala.
Stalling in the clinch from Maafala.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maafala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maafala is working for takedown but Fist is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maafala displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fist up against the cage.
The referee calls for Fist to work.
Maafala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fist lands with a short shot to the head.
A right hand to the body from Fist.
Fist blocks the elbow strike.
Maafala struggles to land a body shot inside as Fist controls his hands.
Maafala blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maafala missing with knees to the body.
Fist is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fist avoiding damage as Maafala throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Maafala lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Fifth Fist has been cut.
Maafala stalling in the clinch but Fist improves position.
Maafala being controlled against the cage.

Fist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fist swats away the attempt to clinch by Maafala.
Maafala tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fist swivels and escapes.
Fifth Fist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Itula Maafala.

Maafala has closed the distance and engaged Fist in a clinch.
Fist's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Maafala has clasped his hands together around Fist's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafala tries to score with some ground and pound. Fist controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Fist tries to buck Maafala off but Maafala is having none of it.
Maafala tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Maafala in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Maafala with the ground and pound but Fist regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
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!
Fist avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maafala.
Maafala content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maafala throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fist to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fist avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itula Maafala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fifth Fist's cut.
That's time! Fist's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maafala tries to clinch but Fist moves out of range.
Maafala tries to clinch but Fist moves away
and Fist counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fist scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Itula Maafala has been cut.
Fist connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Maafala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fist swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed right hand from Fist misses the target.
Fist scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fist fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fist digs a good hook to Maafala's body.
Fist connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fifth Fist is winning the standup battle so far.
Fist circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maafala tries to clinch up but Fist circles away and keeps his distance.
Fifth Fist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maafala moves out of range as Fist strikes.
Maafala is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Maafala avoids the body shot from Fist.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Maafala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maafala moves to clinch but Fist breaks away
and Fist counters with a nice uppercut.
Maafala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fist is looking to counter punch.
Fist swings widly with a right hand
and Maafala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fist works Maafala's body with a nice hook.
Maafala tries to clinch up but Fist circles away and keeps his distance.
Fist throws a body shot but no joy.
Maafala steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Fist.
Fist connects with a body shot.
A jab from Fist misses.
Fist jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That has opened up Itula Maafala's cut even more.
Fifth Fist is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maafala tries to clinch up
and Fist cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Maafala is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fist closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Maafala out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Fifth Fist!
An out of breath and clearly excited Fifth Fist thanked Perkele! for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).