PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maxwell Booker (ranked 174 p4p, 13 weight class) and Matias Orava (ranked 235 p4p, 20 weight class). Maxwell Booker could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Matias Orava's chin.

Booker
vs
Orava

168 cm
27
155 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

172 cm
27
160 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Transform Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maxwell Booker!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matias Orava!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Booker 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Orava digs a good hook to Booker's body.
Orava paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Orava misses with a wild combination.
Booker shoots in but Orava avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Orava connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Booker 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Booker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Orava looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker dives in for a single leg takedown but Orava sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Booker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Orava connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Booker scrambles back to his feet.
Booker walks into a straight right hand from Orava.
Orava changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Booker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Booker shoots in looking for a takedown but Orava manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Booker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxwell Booker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Orava.
Orava changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Orava fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Booker on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Orava. That snapped Booker's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Orava connects with a right hand. Booker shakes it off.
Matias Orava seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Decent striking displayed by Orava there.
Booker takes one to the side of the head.
Orava is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Booker had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Orava lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Booker at a distance.
Orava throws a poor cross that misses

and Booker counters with a single leg into guard. Orava didn't expect that.
Booker distracts Orava with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Booker postures up in Orava's guard and throws a big left but Orava blocks it.
Booker throws a big right hand that misses.
Orava looking for a sweep. Not yet Orava, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Booker scoring with some ground and pound.
Orava wants to sweep here but Booker controlling him for the moment.
Booker tries to free his leg and advance position but Orava is retaining full guard.

Booker drops back looking for a leg! Orava is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Orava manages to kick Booker off! Booker jumps back into Orava's guard.
Booker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Booker cracks Orava with a solid left hand.
Orava really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Booker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Orava is trying to control the position but Booker postures up.
Orava wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker lands a couple of digs.
Booker is working Orava over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Orava trying to keep a closed guard but Booker is proving a slippery customer.
Orava wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Orava is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Orava might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Booker haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Orava is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Booker trying to control the position from guard on top but Orava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Booker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matias Orava dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A left and a right from Orava both land. Nice combination.
Booker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Booker moves out of range as Orava strikes.
Booker is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Orava swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Booker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Booker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Orava.
Orava controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Orava can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orava keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Booker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Booker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Booker stopping the sweep attempt from Orava.
Booker postures up in Orava's guard and throws a big left but Orava blocks it.
Orava has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Booker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Booker throws a big right hand that misses.
Booker chips away with some ground and pound.
Orava utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Booker 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.
Booker throwing strikes from guard but Orava blocks nicely.
Booker lands a couple of elbows.
Booker connects with a couple of short punches.
Booker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Booker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Booker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker is fighting to break Orava's control of his arms but Orava is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Orava looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Orava working a defensive guard here.
Booker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Booker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Booker won't allow Orava to get back to his feet.
Booker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Orava's head.
Booker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Orava trying to control the position here.
Booker trying to control but Orava is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Orava is keeping the position for now.
Orava keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Orava being controlled here, momentarily.
Booker chips away with some ground and pound.
Booker throwing strikes from guard but Orava blocks nicely.
Booker distracts Orava with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Booker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Orava wants to stand up but Booker is controlling him.
Orava is pulling down on Booker's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker working some strikes from top position.
Orava looking to control.
Orava has his hands on Booker's head, controlling the position.
Booker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Booker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Booker wants to control from the top but Orava keeps moving.
Orava looking to hit a scissor sweep but Booker is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orava looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Booker dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Orava connects with a jab.
Orava connects with a body shot.
Orava scores with a body shot.
Orava misses with a body shot.
Booker tries to counter with a takedown but Orava is quick to defend against it.
Booker takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Booker dodges the punch combination from Orava.
Booker appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orava misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Booker feinted with a counter takedown.
Orava bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orava lunges at Booker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Booker's hand.
Orava throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Booker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Orava lands a body shot.
Orava just misses with a punch to the body.
Orava lands a nice shot to the body.
Booker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orava.
Booker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Orava defends well and Booker ends up having to push Orava into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Orava digs a good body shot into Booker's ribs.
Orava wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Orava.
Orava slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Orava lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orava uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Booker has time to react.
Booker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Orava.
Booker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Booker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Booker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Booker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Orava cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orava getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Orava takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Booker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Orava counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxwell Booker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orava connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Orava looks to land a left hand but Booker moved out of range nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Orava. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Orava.
Booker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Orava throws out the jab.
Booker half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Orava lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker loads up on a big right hand but Orava slips the punch.
Orava thows a left - swing and a miss!
Booker tries to counter with a takedown but Orava is quick to defend against it.
Booker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Orava connects with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Orava misses with a straight left.
Orava lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Booker fails with the takedown
and Orava counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matias Orava really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Booker gets a double leg takedown into Orava's guard.
Orava is looking to stand back up but Booker counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Orava.

Booker lands with a punch from half guard.

Booker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Orava doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Booker.
Booker wants to pass to mount but Orava is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Booker wants to work for an arm triangle but Orava is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Booker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orava is trying to get back to full guard.
Booker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Booker is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Orava wants to get back to full guard.
Booker throwing shots but Orava is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Booker lands a nice short elbow.
Orava is trying to get back to full guard.
Booker lands with a punch from half guard.
Booker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Booker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orava is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Booker.
Booker passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Orava!
Orava is in a horrible position here. Booker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Booker with shots to the head and body - Orava looks very uncomfortable down there.

Orava is rocked!
Booker lands with some strikes.
Orava is still in real trouble! Can Booker finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Booker drops a big elbow. That's hurt Orava! More shots from Booker and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maxwell Booker!
Maxwell Booker retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Maxwell Booker thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.