PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Walter Flanagan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Maher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flanagan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Wizard . 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.

Flanagan
vs
Maher

171 cm
28
147 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

165 cm
29
145 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Walter Flanagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Maher!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Chris Dean and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maher throws a big shot that misses.
Flanagan throws a body punch but Maher moves out of range.
Flanagan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Flanagan throws the left hand but Maher avoids the punch easily.
Flanagan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maher moves away.
Maher misses with a takedown attempt
and Flanagan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maher misses with an uppercut
and Flanagan counters with a stiff right hand.
Flanagan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maher connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Flanagan scrambles back to his feet.
Maher misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Flanagan to counter with a crisp jab.
Maher misses with a takedown
and Flanagan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Maher misses the shot to the body.
Flanagan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Flanagan misses the shot to the body.
Maher tries a quick counter leg kick but Flanagan is wise to it.
Maher misses with a hook
and Flanagan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maher thinking.
Flanagan throws a hook but Maher avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maher uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Flanagan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Maher does no damage.
Maher swings for the body but Flanagan moves out of range.
Flanagan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maher avoids the body shot from Flanagan.
Maher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maher shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Flanagan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Maher.
Maher darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Maher swings widly with a right hand
and Flanagan counters with a nice body shot.
Maher is looking to score with low kicks.
Maher tries a low kick but Flanagan avoids it.
It looked like Flanagan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Flanagan misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Flanagan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Flanagan.
Maher scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maher changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Flanagan tries to avoid it but Maher manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Flanagan to the ground. Flanagan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maher takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Flanagan throws a hook but Maher avoids it easily.
Flanagan tries to bum rush Maher with a series of wild strikes but Maher uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Flanagan misses with a two punch combination.
Flanagan checks a low kick from Maher.
Maher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flanagan.
Maher throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Flanagan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maher misses with a body punch
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Flanagan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maher manages to avoid it.
Flanagan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Flanagan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maher feints the counter takedown.
A lazy left from Maher finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Flanagan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Maher.
Maher fails to land the takedown.
Flanagan scores with a hook.
Flanagan checks a low kick from Maher.
Flanagan blocks a head kick by Maher.
Jason Maher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maher throws a combination that misses
and Flanagan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maher throws a sloppy head kick and Flanagan moves out of range easily.
Flanagan misses with a straight right.
Flanagan connects with a looping right hand.
Flanagan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maher thows a leg kick but Flanagan checks it
and Flanagan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Flanagan misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maher thuds a left hand into Flanagan's body.
Maher tries to close the distance and clinch but Flanagan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maher misses with an uppercut
and Flanagan counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maher thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Flanagan circles away.
Flanagan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A jab from Flanagan does it's job there.
Walter Flanagan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Flanagan. Those never looked like landing.
Flanagan throws a right and a left that Maher avoids nicely.
Flanagan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Maher throws a head kick but Flanagan moves out of range.
Maher swings for the body but Flanagan moves out of range.
Flanagan misses with a wild body shot.
Flanagan lands with an overhand left.
Maher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Flanagan dominated that round.
That's time! Flanagan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flanagan.
Flanagan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Horrible takedown attempt by Maher or perhaps it was just good defense by Flanagan, which made it look bad.
Maher misses with a wild body shot.
Flanagan throwing a counter right hand but Maher manages to avoid it.
Flanagan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maher misses with a body shot
and Flanagan counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd cheers as Flanagan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maher doesn't seem phased though.
Walter Flanagan is winning the standup battle so far.
Maher tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Flanagan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maher falls off balance throwing a combination
and Flanagan counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flanagan tries to bum rush Maher with a series of wild strikes but Maher uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maher throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maher misses with an uppercut
and Maher takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A leg kick checked by Flanagan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maher tries to clinch up
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Flanagan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maher.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Maher lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Flanagan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Flanagan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Maher walks into a jab.
Flanagan stuffs the takedown attempt from Maher. Maher gets slowly back to his feet.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Maher.
A punch combination from Flanagan misses.
Maher lands a jab to Flanagan's midsection.
Flanagan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Maher misses with a wild body shot.
Maher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Flanagan counters with a nice body shot.
Maher is breathing heavily.
Flanagan throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan throws a right and a left that Maher avoids nicely.
Maher with a poor takedown
and Flanagan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Flanagan avoids the head kick by Maher.
Flanagan misses with a looping right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Flanagan looks to score with a jab to the body but Maher is just out of range.
Flanagan throws a hook but Maher avoids it easily.
Flanagan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good work by Flanagan as he checks the leg kick.
Flanagan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Flanagan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maher can do to turn this around?
Maher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maher throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Flanagan counters with a straight right hand.
Maher throws a head kick that misses
and Flanagan counters with a two punch combo.
Maher has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A big left from Flanagan misses.
A big right from Maher misses.
Maher looks to score with a jab to the body but Flanagan is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maher scores with a nice right hand.
Flanagan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maher appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Maher tries for a takedown but Flanagan circles away easily
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Flanagan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maher moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maher misses with a hook. Flanagan ducked under it nicely.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Maher might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Flanagan has got the better of the exchanges.
Maher misses with a head kick.
Maher takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maher misses with a left hand
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maher throws a low kick but Flanagan moves out of range easily.
Maher throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maher shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Flanagan counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan scores with a shot to the body.
Maher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flanagan avoids the head kick by Maher.
Flanagan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Flanagan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Flanagan lands with a good body shot.
Maher throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maher takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Flanagan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Maher momentarily.
Flanagan thuds his right hand into Maher's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Flanagan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maher misses with a left hand
and Flanagan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Flanagan throws a body punch but Maher moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Flanagan dominated that second round.
That's time! Flanagan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Maher bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Flanagan's head.
Maher looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A big right from Flanagan misses.
Flanagan lands a nice hook to Maher's body. Maher takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maher moves to clinch but Flanagan breaks away
and Flanagan counters with a series of strikes. Maher will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Flanagan.
Flanagan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maher dives in for a single leg takedown but Flanagan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A slow jab from Maher misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maher tries to land a front kick but Flanagan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It looked like Flanagan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Flanagan ducks under a wild hook from Maher.
Flanagan moves out of range as Maher strikes.
Maher misses with a leg kick
enabling Flanagan to counter with a crisp jab.
Maher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maher takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flanagan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Maher drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Maher is rocked!
Maher works the jab nicely.
Maher is still on wobbly legs! Can Flanagan finish him?
Maher avoids the body shot from Flanagan.
Flanagan lands a glancing blow to the side of Maher's head.
Maher moves away from the strike by Flanagan.
Maher throws a lazy uppercut
and Flanagan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maher misses with an uppercut.
Maher seems to have recovered his senses.
Maher throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Flanagan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maher misses with a hook
and Flanagan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Flanagan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Flanagan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Flanagan scores with a hook.
Flanagan throws a right and a left that Maher avoids nicely.
Maher is trying desperately to land a takedown but Flanagan is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Maher.
Jab from Flanagan.
Flanagan throws a big shot that misses.
Flanagan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Flanagan throws a hook but Maher blocks it.
Flanagan stuffs the takedown attempt from Maher. Maher gets slowly back to his feet.
Walter Flanagan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Maher.
Maher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Flanagan lands with a good body shot.
Flanagan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maher counters with a left and a right that stings Flanagan.
Flanagan misses with a looping right.
A jab from Maher misses.
A little feinted left hand from Flanagan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flanagan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Flanagan stalks Maher and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maher's face. Maher staggers backwards, shaken.
Flanagan scores with a hook.
Flanagan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maher dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Flanagan. That did some damage!
A slapping body kick lands there for Maher.
A looping hook to the body misses from Flanagan. Maher does a little dance to reset his feet.
Flanagan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Flanagan throws a combination. Maher tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maher lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maher tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maher swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Flanagan swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Flanagan.

Maher rushes Flanagan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Flanagan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Flanagan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maher misses with a kick to the body
and Flanagan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Walter Flanagan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Flanagan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Flanagan slaps away a takedown attempt from Maher, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Flanagan throws a hook but Maher blocks it.
Flanagan misses with a body shot.
Jason Maher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flanagan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maher drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Flanagan defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walter Flanagan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Flanagan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Flanagan!
Our winner, Walter Flanagan, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.