PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Don Fagaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddy Maiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maiden has chosen Iron Maiden as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Fagaro
vs
Maiden

180 cm
26
168 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
40
166 lbs
29 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Don Fagaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddy Maiden!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fagaro fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maiden on the side of the head.
Maiden misses with a hook to the body
and Fagaro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Maiden drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maiden controlling from the top position.

Fagaro working for a triangle but Maiden defends it easily.

Fagaro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maiden defends well.
Maiden lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fagaro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maiden is one step ahead there.

Maiden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fagaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maiden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maiden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maiden slips nicely into half guard.
Maiden is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Maiden there.
Maiden controlling the action here.

Fagaro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fagaro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fagaro tries to get to full guard but Maiden has control of the leg.

Fagaro has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Maiden escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Maiden!
Fagaro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maiden wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Maiden wants to control but Fagaro is keeping him busy.
Fagaro tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maiden in side control lands a decent elbow.
Fagaro throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fagaro tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiden working the body and head with strikes.
Fagaro is not content to let Maiden control the position.
Maiden landing strikes.
Fagaro is looking to regain half guard here but Maiden keeps moving and retains side control.
Maiden lands a nice forearm strike.

Maiden working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fagaro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maiden is looking to take a break and control but Fagaro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fagaro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maiden wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fagaro throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Maiden trying to control the action but Fagaro is working from the bottom.
Maiden is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fagaro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fagaro doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Fagaro is striking but Maiden is not phased and passes to half guard.
Fagaro is pressing down on Maiden's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maiden wants to control from the top but Fagaro keeps moving.
Maiden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Maiden is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maiden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Fagaro has his foot on Maiden's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maiden works his way back into a safe position though.
Fagaro keeping moving, preventing Maiden from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fagaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maiden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maiden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maiden keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fagaro's head.
Maiden trying to control the position from guard on top but Fagaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fagaro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Maiden avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fagaro keeping full guard, as Maiden tries to pass.
Maiden scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fagaro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maiden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fagaro is keeping the position for now.

Fagaro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fagaro wants to sweep but no luck.
We've been informed that Maiden has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Maiden wants to pass the guard but Fagaro is keeping the position.
Maiden trying to control the position from guard on top but Fagaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiden working the body and head with strikes.
Fagaro tries to bench press Maiden off him but Maiden keeps the position.
Maiden scores with punches from side control.
Maiden trying to control the action but Fagaro is working from the bottom.
Fagaro tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Fagaro is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maiden has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Maiden is working Fagaro over with some ground and pound from side control.

Maiden is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fagaro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fagaro is not content to let Maiden control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fagaro sneaks back into half guard.
Maiden controlling the action here.
Maiden lands with a punch from half guard.
Maiden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fagaro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fagaro tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Fagaro has a hand on Maiden's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Maiden takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddy Maiden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fagaro misses with a looping left.

Maiden fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fagaro sprawls well initially but Maiden persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Fagaro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maiden passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fagaro!
Maiden scoring with strikes but Fagaro is staying in there.
Maiden won't let Fagaro get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maiden dominating with strikes here.
Maiden raining down shots from the mount!
Maiden can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fagaro is looking to escape.
Maiden cracks Fagaro with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fagaro has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Maiden sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Fagaro taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Eddy Maiden!
An out of breath Eddy Maiden thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.