PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Earl Maxwell (ranked 5111 p4p, 514 weight class) and Bill Rash (ranked 5274 p4p, 530 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maxwell
vs
Rash

191 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Earl Maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Rash!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Maxwell misses.

Rash closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rash lands in his opponent's guard.

Maxwell looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rash has picked Maxwell up and slammed him! Maxwell can't keep hold of the triangle and Rash manages to pass to side control!
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Maxwell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maxwell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rash off and has taken his back!
Rash covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Maxwell is persistently looking for the submission but Rash is defending it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maxwell has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rash has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Maxwell is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rash is defending well though. Maxwell let's go of the attempt for now.

Maxwell has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Rash's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rash manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maxwell's guard. Nice work there by Rash.
Maxwell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell keeping full guard, as Rash tries to pass.

Maxwell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rash gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maxwell looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rash looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Maxwell wants to stand up but Rash is controlling him.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maxwell isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rash stacks Maxwell on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rash!
Maxwell tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Rash easily slips into full mount!
Rash controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Rash has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Rash looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell is trying to reverse the position but instead Rash has taken his back - oops!

Rash is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Maxwell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Maxwell tries to break free.
Maxwell trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Rash is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Maxwell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rash biding his time, controlling Maxwell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maxwell connects with a nice looking jab.
Rash takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Maxwell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Maxwell working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rash has passed into half guard!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rash trying to control the pace.

Maxwell actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell is looking to escape.

Maxwell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maxwell tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rash has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rash content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rash is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Maxwell is in real trouble.
Maxwell turns into Rash and is now in his guard.
Rash keeping full guard, as Maxwell tries to pass.
Maxwell is working Rash over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maxwell throws a strike but Rash rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Maxwell has an active guard here but Rash has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maxwell trying to control here.
Rash content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rash looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Maxwell trying to control here.
Rash controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Maxwell has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rash is on him like a limpet, forcing Maxwell back against the cage.
Rash is trying to drag Maxwell to the mat but Maxwell just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rash is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bill Rash will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maxwell, as that shot connected.

Rash bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Maxwell pushes Rash away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rash gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rash is staying tight to Maxwell's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Maxwell gets back to half guard.
Bill Rash has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maxwell is looking to get back to is feet but Rash passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maxwell misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Maxwell is trying to control Rash's posture but Rash avoids it.
Maxwell tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxwell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rash asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Maxwell tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rash presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Maxwell is just holding on here. Rash manages to take his back.

Maxwell is holding on to Rash 's glove but Rash gets free and slips his arm under Maxwell 's chin. This could be big trouble! Yes, Maxwell is tapping furiously and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Bill Rash!