PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helios black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viko Maafala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). black comes to the cage accompanied by Beastie Boys - Intergalactic. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Viko Maafala was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

black
vs
Maafala

190 cm
22
294 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
290 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Helios black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viko Maafala!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maafala rushes black and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maafala is stalling here.
black tries to score a body lock takedown but Maafala shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Maafala lands a right hand that snaps the head of black backwards.
Maafala prevents the takedown attempt.
Maafala with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maafala tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
black is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maafala gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helios black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
black takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Helios black has been cut.
black is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maafala pulls him back up using the underhooks.
black looking for a takedown.
black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maafala stops a takedown attempt from black.
Maafala gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from black.
Maafala pushes black back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
black is breathing heavily.
Maafala lands a right hand.
Maafala looking to throw knees to the head but black is blocking nicely.
Maafala lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down black.
Maafala lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of black backwards.
black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Maafala fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Maafala clinches up with black and pushes him back against the cage.
Maafala lands an elbow inside that black shrugs off.
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!

Maafala tightens his grip and picks black up, before dumping him to the ground. black manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala postures up and lands a big shot to black's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maafala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maafala landing with the ground and pound.
Maafala working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Maafala 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.
Maafala trying to control the position from guard on top but black is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maafala lands a couple of elbows.
Maafala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Maafala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Maafala moves into the clinch successfully.

Maafala pulls guard.
Maafala throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maafala keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maafala throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Maafala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. black manages to get himself to full guard.
Maafala is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
black can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maafala controls the pace.
Maafala with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maafala tries to free his leg and advance position but black is retaining full guard.
black keeping moving, preventing Maafala from controlling successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maafala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maafala stopping the sweep attempt from black.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maafala is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Maafala works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maafala slips a nice elbow through black's hands, connecting with black's forehead.

Maafala is working for a kimura but black is defending it quite comfortably.
Maafala winds up and cracks black with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

black looking for submissions off his back.

black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maafala is nestled in close to black, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maafala wants to control but black is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafala drops an elbow to the side of black's head.
Maafala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

black actively working from the bottom here.
Maafala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Maafala passes to side control.
black takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
black takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maafala scoring with punches from side control.
Maafala grinds an elbow into black's temple.
black looks to move to half guard but instead Maafala has passed into mount! Damn!
Maafala postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. black looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viko Maafala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helios black's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maafala bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
black is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Maafala passes to full mount! That's big trouble for black!
black slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Maafala wants to control but black is keeping him busy.
black on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Maafala is looking for a kimura but black is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maafala to get the leverage.
black is looking to improve his position.
black flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Maafala wants to lay and pray for a moment but black keeps working.
black is in trouble now - Maafala has advanced to mount!
Maafala blocks black's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish black?

Maafala working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Maafala landing punches.
black swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Maafala prevents black from getting the reversal.
Maafala with the ground and pound from mount.

Maafala looking to secure an arm triangle but black defends it well.
Maafala is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. black can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
black manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Maafala is looking for a kimura but black is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maafala to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
black missing with punches from the bottom.
Maafala winds up and cracks black with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
black landing small, sideways elbows.
Maafala works his foot free and advances to mount.
black really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maafala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
black manages to regain half guard. Good work.
black is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Viko Maafala has got the better of the ground game so far.
black taking some punishment here, with Maafala in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maafala trying to control the action but black is working from the bottom.

black looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maafala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Maafala blocks the strikes from black.

Maafala is trying to work for a kimura but black is defending well.
Maafala scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Maafala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
black tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Maafala seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maafala content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maafala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Maafala there.
black is refusing to be controlled, as Maafala sits in half guard.
Maafala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. black defending well though.
black throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Maafala 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.
black keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viko Maafala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Helios black's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

black has his takedown stuffed
and Maafala counters with a nice leg kick.

Maafala moves into range and clinches up with black.

Maafala has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but black regains guard immediately.
black keeping full guard, as Maafala tries to pass.
Maafala advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on black's face as Maafala controls the position.
black is looking to regain half guard here but Maafala keeps moving and retains side control.
black tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Maafala working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maafala is looking to take a break and control but black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maafala cracks black with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Maafala wants to lay and pray for a moment but black keeps working.

Maafala looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
black misses with an elbow from the bottom.
black is trying to improve his position.
Maafala works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
black tries to bench press Maafala off him but Maafala keeps the position.
Maafala trying to control the action but black is working from the bottom.
black wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maafala darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Maafala closes the distance and clinches.
Maafala landing knees to the head.
Maafala stalling in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Maafala - that landed with a thud.
Maafala throws a knee to the head but misses.
black takes an elbow to the forehead.
black has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Maafala avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maafala connects with a nasty looking knee right to black's face.
black tries for a takedown but Maafala manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helios black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
black is working for takedown but Maafala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Maafala controlling the action here for a moment.
Maafala lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Maafala pulls black into guard.

Maafala working for a triangle but black defends it easily.
black pushing down on Maafala's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
black 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.
Maafala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Maafala is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but black pulls his head out easily.
Maafala wants to improve his position but black is controlling well.
Maafala slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Viko Maafala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maafala seems keen to control black's posture.
Maafala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from black.
Maafala looking to control.

That's four 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.
black postures up and lands a big shot to Maafala's brow.
black throws and elbow that misses. Maafala uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in black's guard. Nice move by Maafala!
black 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.
black is striking from the bottom but Maafala uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Maafala controlling the pace.
Helios black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Maafala is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
black flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
black landing rabbit punches to the side of Maafala's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viko Maafala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maafala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viko Maafala!