PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Itula Maafala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maafala
vs
Strong

190 cm
33
280 lbs
13 - 8 - 2

195 cm
26
265 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Revolution Clothing

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 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Itula Maafala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Strong!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maafala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strong sprawls well. Strong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maafala gets slowly back to his feet.
Maafala doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Strong counters by clinching up.
Strong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Strong avoiding damage as Maafala throws knees to the body.
Maafala misses with a punch on the inside.

Strong breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maafala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Strong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maafala lands an uppercut.
Strong being controlled against the cage.
Strong putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maafala in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Maafala is breathing heavily.
Strong avoiding damage as Maafala throws knees to the body.
Strong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Itula Maafala has been cut.
Maafala has been working on his balance at The Factory, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Strong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Strong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maafala landing knees to the body.
A short uppercut from Strong.
Strong struggles to land a body shot inside as Maafala controls his hands.
Strong lands with a short shot to the head.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strong lands an overhand right.
Maafala takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As Strong tries to get set, Maafala tries to push him back and clinch up but Strong manages to avoid the attempt.
Maafala moves in looking to clinch but Strong pushes him off.
Good exchange - Strong coming out on top.
Maafala tries to close the distance and clinch but Strong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strong lands a head kick. Maafala smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Maafala slips a straight right by Strong.
Maafala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Strong throws a nice inside leg kick.
Strong keeps the fight on the outside.
Strong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Strong scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Maafala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maafala is trying to stall.
Maafala throws an elbow that misses.
Maafala tries a knee to the head but Strong blocks it.
Strong working hard to break the clinch.
Maafala managing to block the knees to the body from Strong.
Strong is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Maafala drops down looking for an ankle pick but Strong pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itula Maafala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maafala uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong misses with a low kick as Maafala jumps back.
Strong throws a leg kick that misses.
Maafala takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maafala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strong throws a low kick, looking for Maafala's leg but Maafala calmly moves out of range.

Maafala is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Strong's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maafala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strong's head.
Maafala is controlling the pace.
Maafala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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.
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. Maafala connects with a nice short shot to Strong's temple.
Strong trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Maafala manages to pass to mount!
Strong wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Maafala.
Maafala punching from mount but Strong doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Maafala wants to control the pace but Strong is squirming around nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maafala throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Strong tries to hold on but Maafala pushes him away.
Maafala lands with some strikes.
Strong wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Maafala.
Strong is desperately trying to improve his position but Maafala has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Strong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Itula Maafala's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strong scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maafala doesn't seem bothered though.

Maafala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maafala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strong defending well though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maafala is looking to take a break and control but Strong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strong works his way to full guard. Good work.

Strong pushes Maafala off and scrambles back to his feet.

Maafala moves into the clinch successfully.
Maafala is working for takedown but Strong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maafala lands a good knee to the midsection. Strong won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strong throws the kick towards the body but Maafala avoids it.
Maafala attempts a counter takedown but Strong avoids it well and moves away.

Maafala clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strong breaks from the clinch.
Maafala tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Strong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Maafala backs off Strong throws a huge counter combo but Maafala manages to avoid it all.
Strong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joe Strong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strong lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maafala tries to clinch but Strong moves away
and Strong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Maafala decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Strong pushes Maafala off and gets back to his feet.
Strong throws a push kick but Maafala slaps the foot to one side.
Maafala wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Maafala pushes Strong up against the cage in a clinch.

Strong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strong fails to land with a series of punches.
Strong throws a body shot but no joy.
Joe Strong seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maafala moves into the clinch successfully.
Strong blocks the elbow strike.
Maafala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maafala looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Strong avoiding damage as Maafala throws knees to the body.
Maafala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maafala swings wildly with an uppercut but Strong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maafala misses with an elbow over the top.
Maafala is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Maafala utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Strong has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Maafala seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Strong can turn it around.
Strong is leaning against Maafala and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Maafala is working for takedown but Strong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maafala taking a breather.
Strong managing to block the knees to the body from Maafala.
Itula Maafala has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Maafala landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Strong lands a nice uppercut.
Strong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Strong throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maafalas head.
A short uppercut from Strong.
Strong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maafala avoids it.
Strong lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maafala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Strong manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maafala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Maafala clinches with his opponent.
Strong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Strong breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maafala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Maafala clinches with his opponent.
Strong wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Strong creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strong prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Itula Maafala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maafala leaning his opponent against the cage.
Strong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maafala lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Strong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maafala blocks it with crossed arms.
Strong misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Strong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Itula Maafala's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maafala tries for a takedown but Strong circles away easily
and Strong counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Maafala is looking to clinch but Strong is avoiding it.
Maafala avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maafala seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Maafala checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maafala wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maafala tries to score with a low kick but Strong moves his leg out of the way.
Maafala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maafala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Maafala doesn't manage to clinch there - Strong circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Strong counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Strong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Strong throws a leg kick but Maafala moved away.
Maafala looks to clinch
and Strong counters with a nice body kick.
Strong looks to land a combination. Maafala sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maafala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Itula Maafala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong misses with a head kick.
Strong swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Maafala takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Maafala clinches up with Strong and pushes him back against the cage.
Maafala has Strong pressed against the cage, preventing Strong from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Strong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Maafala closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strong did well to prevent Maafala getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maafala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maafala slips a nice elbow through Strong's hands, connecting with Strong's forehead.
Strong controlling the position for now.
Maafala trying to control from Strong's half guard. Strong has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Strong pulls Maafala in close to prevent any damage.
Maafala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strong is keeping the position for now.
Maafala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maafala throws a strike but Strong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Maafala has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Strong has passed into side control.
Strong takes a little break here. Maafala wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Itula Maafala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Strong trying to control the action but Maafala is working from the bottom.
Maafala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong controls the position.
Joe Strong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maafala is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Strong is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maafala is looking to improve his position but Strong isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Strong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Strong 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Strong!
A very excited looking Joe Strong rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.