PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phil Maroni (ranked 22336 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Ove Waldner (ranked 5000 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maroni
vs
Ove Waldner

177 cm
29
190 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

187 cm
23
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Maroni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jan Ove Waldner!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maroni thows a leg kick but Waldner checks it
and Waldner counters with an outside leg kick.
Waldner throws a head kick that half lands.
Waldner has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Maroni is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Waldner blocks a low kick nicely.
Maroni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maroni. That's going to slow Waldner down.
Maroni has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maroni there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maroni pivots, looking for a leg kick but Waldner is out of range and Maroni settles back down.
Waldner scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maroni plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Maroni fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Waldner checks it well.
Maroni with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Waldner to score with a decent uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Waldner checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Waldner moves into range and connects with a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maroni. That's going to slow Waldner down.
Waldner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Waldner throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waldner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Waldner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maroni can pounce on him.
Maroni takes one to the chin there.
Maroni pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maroni steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Waldner. That one must have hurt.
Maroni throws a sloppy head kick and Waldner moves out of range easily.
Waldner jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Waldner throws a nice outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Waldner.
Waldner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Maroni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Waldner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maroni misses with a wild body shot.
Waldner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maroni.
Waldner scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maroni tries to work over Waldner's front leg with a kick but Waldner checks it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Waldner.
Maroni wants to land a leg kick but Waldner is out of range.
Maroni takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Maroni takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Maroni takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Waldner blocks a low kick nicely.
Waldner checks a leg kick nicely.
Waldner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Waldner lands a head kick!
Maroni takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A low kick from Maroni is predictable there
and Waldner counters with a thumping low kick.
Waldner scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Maroni misses with a hook
and Maroni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waldner scores with a shot to the body.
Waldner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Maroni.
Waldner appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maroni is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice body punch from Waldner.
Waldner throws a leg kick which misses Maroni's front leg but catches the back leg as Maroni tries to avoid it.
Waldner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maroni wants to clinch up but Waldner keeps it at a distance.
Waldner lands a glancing blow to the side of Maroni's head.
A thudding body kick lands there by Waldner!
Maroni takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Waldner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A shot to the liver by Waldner. Beautiful body shot.
Waldner keeps Maroni at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Waldner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maroni dodges the punch combination from Waldner.
Waldner is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Maroni had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Waldner feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maroni's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waldner checks the leg kick.
Maroni throws a poor cross that misses
and Waldner counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maroni.
Maroni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maroni tries to work over Waldner's front leg with a kick but Waldner checks it.
Waldner lands with a shot to the body.
Maroni is looking to chop away at Waldner's legs.
Maroni tries to clinch but Waldner moves out of range.
Waldner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maroni's sensitive parts.
Maroni pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Waldner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maroni.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waldner lets loose with a powerful body kick. Maroni will feel that in the morning.
Maroni takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maroni takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Ove Waldner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maroni throws a sloppy head kick and Waldner moves out of range easily.
Maroni takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Waldner is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Maroni rather than just go for the knockout.
Maroni throws a low kick but Waldner avoids it.
Maroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Waldner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maroni misses with a low kick.
Waldner scoring well with a low kick there.
Waldner with a nice cross.
Waldner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Maroni crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Waldner - the referee stops the clock and Maroni gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Waldner. Maroni manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Waldner lands a nice looking body kick.
Waldner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Waldner checks a leg kick.
Waldner throws a leg kick which misses Maroni's front leg but catches the back leg as Maroni tries to avoid it.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Maroni might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maroni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Waldner checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maroni 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maroni tries a head kick but it misses.
Maroni throws a low kick but Waldner moves out of range easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Waldner.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maroni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maroni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Waldner with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Waldner avoids the head kick by Maroni.
Waldner stuns Maroni with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Waldner's corner calls for a 1-2. Waldner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Waldner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maroni's sensitive parts.
Waldner checks a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Waldner.
Waldner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maroni's sensitive parts.
A nice inside leg kick there by Waldner. That's going to slow Maroni down.
Waldner thows a body kick. Maroni tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Waldner lands a slapping body shot.
Waldner fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waldner lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maroni takes a step back to recover.
Jan Ove Waldner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Waldner delivers a nice body kick.
Maroni doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Waldner works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Waldner fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maroni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Waldner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Waldner lands with a nice body kick.
Maroni takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Waldner lands with an overhand left.
Waldner moves out of range of the leg kick from Maroni.
Maroni takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Waldner lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maroni takes a step back to recover.
Waldner throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waldner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Waldner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Waldner throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maroni.
Waldner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Waldner cracks the inside of Maroni's front leg.
Maroni 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.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Waldner checks a leg kick.
Donk. Waldner catches Maroni right on the button with a cross.
Waldner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice shot lands for Waldner.
Maroni throws a lazy head kick
and Waldner counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Waldner punishes Maroni's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good leg kick by Waldner there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Waldner throws a shot to the body.
Waldner throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Waldner, right into the meat.
Maroni takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Maroni sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Waldner pushes Maroni away with a front kick.
Waldner jabs Maroni to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Waldner chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Waldner feints and then cracks Maroni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maroni down.
Waldner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Waldner scoring well with a low kick there.
Maroni throws a head kick but Waldner moves out of range.
Waldner shapes to counter with a head kick.
A low kick from Maroni misses
and Waldner counters with a nice low kick that buckles Maroni's knee momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waldner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maroni.
Waldner thuds a left hand into Maroni's body.
Waldner scores with a hook.
Maroni moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Ove Waldner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Maroni's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Waldner throws a good cross that connects.
Waldner wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good standup being displayed there by Waldner as he connects with a hook.
Maroni misses with a low kick as Waldner jumps back.
Waldner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maroni thows a leg kick but Waldner checks it
and Waldner counters with an inside leg kick.
Waldner lands a nice shot that snaps Maroni's head back.
Waldner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Waldner throws out a counter right but Maroni avoids it with no problem.
Waldner lands the left hand.
Waldner scores with a head kick.
Phil Maroni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Waldner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Waldner connects with a leg kick. Maroni looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Waldner thuds his shin into the meat of Maroni's side.
Waldner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Waldner lands a nice hook to Maroni's body. Maroni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maroni looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waldner lands a body shot.
Waldner lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maroni doesn't manage to clinch there - Waldner circles away.
Maroni stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Waldner.
Waldner connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Waldner.
Maroni wants to slow Waldner down by chopping away at his legs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Waldner.
Nice body kick from Waldner.
Maroni throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Maroni will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Waldner throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Waldner buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Waldner lands 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!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Waldner.
Waldner connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waldner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maroni misses with a wild combination.
Waldner lands with a nice body punch.
Maroni on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jan Ove Waldner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Waldner.
Maroni misses with a double jab
and Waldner makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Maroni really felt that one!
Maroni takes a swing at Waldner's ribcage but misses.
Maroni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Waldner checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice jab there from Waldner.
Waldner throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Waldner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maroni takes one to the chin there.
Waldner scores with a body shot.
Waldner keeps Maroni at a distance using the push kick.
Maroni stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Waldner.
Waldner lands a head kick!
Phil Maroni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Waldner moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Maroni throws a right and a left that Waldner avoids nicely.
Maroni takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maroni on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Waldner throws a head kick that Maroni semi-blocks.
Maroni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Waldner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maroni tries a low kick but Waldner avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maroni tries to clinch
and Waldner counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Maroni 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 Waldner has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Waldner and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Maroni throws a leg kick that is checked
and Waldner counters with a left to the body.
Waldner throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maroni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Waldner appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maroni throws a leg kick
and Waldner counters with a solid body kick.
Good work by Waldner as he checks the leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Waldner - that will leave a mark!
Waldner lands a front kick.
Waldner lands with a good body shot.
Waldner lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maroni takes a step back to recover.
Waldner digs a good hook to Maroni's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Waldner fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maroni.
Waldner lands a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Ove Waldner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Waldner 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 Josh West scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Ove Waldner!
The defeated Phil Maroni had this to say: 'He was the better man tonight'.