PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephens has chosen Yeah by Usher as his entrance music. 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.

Maia
vs
Stephens

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
199 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Danny Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens ducks right into an uppercut from Maia.

Maia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephens, pushing him back against the cage.
Stephens tries to pull guard but Maia won't allow it.
Stephens stops a takedown attempt from Maia.
Maia has Stephens pushed against the cage.

Maia successfully pulls guard.
Maia wants to sweep here but Stephens controlling him for the moment.
Maia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maia postures up in Stephens's guard and throws a big left but Stephens blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia won't allow Stephens to sweep him here.
Stephens looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia gets to his feet. Stephens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stephens throws the kick towards the body but Maia avoids it.
Stephens tries to clinch up.

Maia rushes Stephens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens tries to land knees in the clinch but Maia avoids the damage to the body.

Maia ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Maia no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.

Maia pushes Stephens off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Maia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maia throws a right hand that Stephens ducks under and follows up with a left that Stephens also avoids with ease.
Stephens steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Maia.
Stephens avoids a kick to the body.
Maia slaps away a takedown attempt from Stephens, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia thumps Stephens with a low kick.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stephens pinned against the cage. Stephens gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephens tries to clinch there but Maia circles away.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stephens tries to clinch up but Maia circles away and keeps his distance.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maia lands a high kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but Stephens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maia looks for a takedown but Stephens sprawls well.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt
and Maia counters with a three punch combo that has Stephens backing up. Stephens nods at Maia to acknowledge the strikes.
Maia cracks Stephens with an open hand slap.
Stephens tries to clinch up but Maia circles away and keeps his distance.
Stephens closes the distance and clinches up with Maia, looking for a takedown. Stephens pushes Maia against the cage but Maia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stephens tries for a takedown but Maia sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stephens's waist but Stephens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.
Stephens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maia avoids it really well and circles away.
Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maia pinned against the cage. Maia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Maia feinted with a counter takedown.
Stephens has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stephens there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stephens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maia counters with a two punch combo.
Maia throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maia fails with the takedown.
Maia shoots in looking for a takedown but Stephens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stephens looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Maia shoots in and bounces Stephens off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Stephens looking for subs off his back but Maia has passed one foot through into half guard.
Daniel Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Maia 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 slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia throwing shots but Stephens is blocking nicely.
Maia controlling the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stephens throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Stephens in a clinch.
Maia manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stephens is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Maia buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Stephens. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stephens throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Stephens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stephens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maia pinned against the cage. Maia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Maia pushes Stephens up against the cage in a clinch.
Stephens has Maia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maia jumps guard but Stephens turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Stephens sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Daniel Maia is winning the standup battle so far.

Maia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but Stephens shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maia pulls guard successfully.

Maia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stephens off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Stephens.
And Stephens responds with a good body kick, but Maia manages to step out the way in time.
Maia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stephens.
Stephens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Maia pushes Stephens up against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Maia.

Maia breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stephens bucks up and tries to throw Maia off but instead Maia has got his back!
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!
Maia keeps control of the position as Stephens tries to break free.

Maia patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Maia is trying to stick to Stephens's back but Stephens is turning into Maia. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Maia's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Stephens.
Stephens wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Maia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maia pulls Stephens in close to his closed guard and prevents Stephens from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stephens scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stephens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maia pulls Stephens in close to prevent any damage.

Maia working for a triangle but Stephens defends it easily.
Maia wants to stand but Stephens is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Maia!
In defeat, Danny Stephens stepped up to the mic, saying 'I want a title shot!'.