PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leopoldo Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Enzo Maldini will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ray
vs
Maldini

158 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leopoldo Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Enzo Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray moves to clinch but Maldini breaks away
and Maldini counters with a one-two to the body.
Ray could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A jab from Ray misses.
Maldini is looking for the big counter here.
Ray darts in trying to clinch
and Maldini counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray is looking to clinch but Maldini is avoiding it.
Maldini is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Maldini checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Leopoldo Ray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ray throws a body shot but no joy.
Maldini is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Maldini slips a jab from Ray.
As Ray backs off Maldini throws a huge counter combo but Ray manages to avoid it all.
Ray fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Ray backs off Maldini throws a huge counter combo but Ray manages to avoid it all.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ray forces Maldini back against the cage and clinches.
Ray is trying to push Maldini away but Maldini has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ray pressing his opponent against the cage.

Maldini manages to break the clinch.
Ray tries to close the distance and clinch but Maldini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Maldini's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ray moves in looking to clinch but Maldini pushes him off.
Ray is looking to clinch but Maldini is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maldini is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ray fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maldini manages to avoid it.
Ray throws a hook but Maldini avoids it easily.
Leopoldo Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.
Ray tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maldini smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ray tries to clinch but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Ray moves into range and clinches up with Maldini.

Maldini manages to break the clinch.
Ray throws a series of punches but Maldini avoids them all with ease.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Maldini swats away the attempt to clinch by Ray.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maldini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Enzo Maldini will probably get the nod.
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.

Ray tries to clinch but Maldini is having none of it.

Ray moves into range and clinches up with Maldini.
Ray struggles to land a body shot inside as Maldini controls his hands.
Ray can't get the takedown.

Maldini breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray tries to close the distance and clinch but Maldini swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Ray misses the target.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maldini throws a counter combo.

Ray closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ray is trying to pull guard but Maldini turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ray goes for a takedown attempt but Maldini pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leopoldo Ray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ray moves in looking to clinch but Maldini pushes him off.
Maldini lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ray wants to clinch
and Maldini counters with a series of strikes. Ray will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ray tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maldini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maldini is able to avoid easily.
Ray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ray misses with a straight left.
Enzo Maldini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maldini ducks under a wild hook from Ray.
Ray tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maldini is able to avoid easily.
Maldini is looking for the big counter here.
Ray throws the kick towards the body but Maldini avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maldini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ray throws a leg kick that is checked
and Maldini counters with a two punch combo.
Ray misses with a left hand
and Maldini counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.
Ray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maldini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Ray backs off Maldini throws a huge counter combo but Ray manages to avoid it all.
Maldini blocks a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ray fails to pull guard.
Maldini has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maldini swats away the attempt to clinch by Ray.
Ray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maldini throws a counter combo.
Ray fails with an attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Maldini's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ray is looking to clinch but Maldini is avoiding it.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ray wants to clinch up but Maldini keeps it at a distance.
Maldini is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Maldini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maldini ducks under a wild hook from Ray.
Ray wants to clinch up but Maldini keeps it at a distance.
Ray tries to clinch
and Maldini counters with a three punch combo that has Ray backing up. Ray nods at Maldini to acknowledge the strikes.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Maldini. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ray wants to clinch up but Maldini keeps it at a distance.
Maldini is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ray tries to clinch there but Maldini circles away.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray tries to clinch up but Maldini circles away and keeps his distance.
Ray wants to clinch but Maldini slips to the side
and Maldini counters with a left and a right that stings Ray.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.
Maldini keeps control of Ray as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maldini is looking to break free of the clinch but Ray has double underhooks.
Maldini is trying to break free.

Maldini breaks the clinch.
Ray throws a low kick but Maldini avoids it.
Maldini unleashes a big counter combination but Ray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Maldini moves out of range as Ray throws a body kick.

Maldini tries to keep at a distance but Ray has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray wants to get back to striking at distance but Maldini won't allow it.

Maldini's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ray is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Maldini's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Ray throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldini throws a counter combo.

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.
Ray is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maldini pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Maldini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ray tries to clinch up.
Despite the aggression on Maldini's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with a wild body shot.
Ray wants to clinch
and Maldini counters with a three punch combo that has Ray backing up. Ray nods at Maldini to acknowledge the strikes.
Ray swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldini counters with a one-two to the body.
Ray throws the left hand but Maldini avoids the punch easily.
Maldini is looking for the big counter here.
Ray will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ray tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maldini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ray throws a lazy right hand but Maldini sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maldini moves out of range as Ray strikes.
Maldini swats away the attempt to clinch by Ray.
Maldini throws a counter combo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ray tries to clinch there but Maldini circles away.
Maldini is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enzo Maldini!
A relieved looking Enzo Maldini thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.