PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Joyce (ranked 5510 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Mauer (ranked 5519 p4p, 0 weight class). 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 John Mauer was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Joyce
vs
Mauer

177 cm
24
161 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Joyce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Mauer!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joyce shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mauer pinned against the cage. Mauer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mauer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mauer tries for a takedown but Joyce sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mauer fails to land the takedown.
Joyce feinted with a counter takedown.

Joyce shoots in and bounces Mauer off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mauer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mauer trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Joyce 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.

Mauer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Joyce trying to control but Mauer is working from the bottom.
Mauer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Joyce's guard.

Mauer won't allow Joyce to sweep him here.
Mauer trying to control but Joyce is working from the bottom.

Joyce is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mauer won't allow Joyce to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mauer trying to control the position from guard on top but Joyce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mauer tries to free his leg and advance position but Joyce is retaining full guard.
Joyce bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mauer's guard.

Joyce trying to control but Mauer is working from the bottom.
Joyce postures up and lands a big shot to Mauer's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mauer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mauer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Mauer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Joyce gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Joyce trying to control the position from guard on top but Mauer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mauer misses with an uppercut.
Joyce wants to clinch.

That's four 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.

Mauer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mauer controlling the action here.
Joyce wants to improve his position but Mauer is controlling well.
Joyce is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joyce is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mauer scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Mauer will probably get the nod.
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.

Mauer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joyce fails to land the takedown.

Mauer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mauer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joyce keeps working.
Joyce is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joyce prevents Mauer from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyce wants to control but Mauer postures up.
Joyce takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Joyce manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mauer's best efforts.
John Mauer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joyce has hold of Mauer's hands but Mauer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Joyce avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mauer.
Mauer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joyce gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joyce is on top in guard.

Joyce lands a couple of elbows.
Joyce wants to control from the top but Mauer keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyce lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Joyce working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Joyce pushes down on Mauer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Mauer tries to roll over but Joyce keeps him under control.
Joyce lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joyce 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyce is keen to just control but Mauer is a slippery customer.
Mauer wants to get back to full guard.
Joyce lands with a punch from half guard.
Mauer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mauer.
Mauer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joyce postures up in Mauer's guard and throws a big left but Mauer blocks it.
Joyce trying to control but Mauer is working from the bottom.
Joyce tries to free his leg and advance position but Mauer is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mauer keeping moving, preventing Joyce from controlling successfully.
Joyce controlling from the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mauer 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Joyce tries to clinch up but Mauer circles away and keeps his distance.
Mauer loads up on a big right hand but Joyce slips the punch.
Joyce has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mauer finds it's way round the side to connect with Joyce's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joyce shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mauer as he avoids it easily.
Mauer changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Joyce throws a body punch but Mauer moves out of range.
Joyce missing with a left hand there. Mauer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Mauer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Joyce steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mauer.
Joyce throws a body punch but Mauer moves out of range.

Mauer gets a takedown into half guard.
Mauer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joyce is looking for a sweep. Mauer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mauer drops an elbow to the side of Joyce's head.
Mauer is keen to just control but Joyce is a slippery customer.
Joyce is pressing down on Mauer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mauer stopping the sweep attempt from Joyce.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mauer forces his way into half guard.
Joyce manages to get to full guard.
Mauer lands a couple of digs.
Mauer preventing the sweep.
Mauer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joyce 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.
Mauer scoring with some ground and pound.
Michael Joyce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Mauer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyce throws a couple of heel strikes.
Joyce 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.
Joyce bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mauer's guard.

Mauer keeping full guard, as Joyce tries to pass.
Mauer working a defensive guard here.
Joyce is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mauer is trying to control the position but Joyce postures up.
Joyce is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mauer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mauer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joyce is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Joyce.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joyce lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Joyce landing strikes.
Mauer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Joyce working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mauer takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Joyce showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mauer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for John Mauer!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Michael Joyce!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for John Mauer!

John Mauer wins by split decision!