PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fenton Hilton (ranked 4702 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Maia (ranked 20479 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hilton
vs
Maia

170 cm
37
140 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

177 cm
26
143 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fenton Hilton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Maia!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Hilton's guard.
Hilton is looking to stand up but Maia isn't so interested in that idea.
Hilton keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hilton keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hilton keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Maia has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hilton keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia looking to sit in guard and control but Hilton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hilton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia wants to control the position but Hilton says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Maia trying to control here.
Hilton wants to stand up but Maia is controlling the position.
Maia wants to get back to full guard.
Hilton tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Maia.
Maia is looking to control Hilton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maia avoid being mounted?
Hilton is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two 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.
Maia is doing well to control the position and prevent Hilton from advancing to side control.
Hilton prevents Maia from improving his position.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maia has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Maia has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hilton is working away from the top position though.
Hilton tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Maia.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Maia trying to control but Hilton postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia darts in looking for a takedown but Hilton gets double underhooks and turns Maia into the cage.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Hilton.
Hilton fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maia manages to avoid it.
Hilton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maia ducks under a wild hook from Hilton.
Maia takes one on the button.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Fenton Hilton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hilton defends it nicely.
Hilton scores with a nice strike.
Maia dives in and grabs Hilton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hilton pushes down on Maia's head and hops out.
Fenton Hilton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Maia.
Hilton tries to bum rush Maia with a series of wild strikes but Maia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hilton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maia circles away quickly and effectively.

Maia gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hilton has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hilton prevents Maia from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilton is trying to buck Maia off.
Hilton is not content to let Maia control the position.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hilton is trying to buck Maia off.

Maia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hilton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hilton prevents Maia from moving into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fenton Hilton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hilton tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
Maia fails with the takedown.
Maia fails to land the takedown.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hilton was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fenton Hilton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Maia.
Hilton tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Hilton shows good takedown defense.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Hilton.
Nice takedown defense from Hilton. No joy for Maia on that attempt.
Maia dives in for a single leg takedown but Hilton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Maia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hilton.
Hilton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maia drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hilton defends it well.
Hilton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maia can do to turn this around?
Hilton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hilton slaps away a takedown attempt from Maia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hilton defends it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd cheers as Hilton lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maia doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia fails to land the takedown.
Maia moves out of range as Hilton strikes.
Hilton misses with the combination.
Maia shoots in and drives through. Hilton sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maia.

Maia closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Hilton wants to get back to his feet.
Maia trying to control the action but Hilton is working from the bottom.
Hilton is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Hilton trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hilton, who protects the arm well.

Maia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Maia goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hilton has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Maia but great work by Hilton.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.
Hilton tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Hilton stands up.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.
Hilton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hilton misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia gets tackled into the cage by Hilton. Hilton maintains the clinch.
Hilton throws a punch but it's blocked by Maia.
Hilton lands with a right to the head.
Hilton digs a right hand underneath Maia's ribcage. Maia let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Maia blocks an uppercut.
Maia is trying to pull guard but Hilton has him pressed against the cage.
Hilton can't find room to land a body shot as Maia controls the action.
Hilton scores with a shoulder strike.
Hilton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hilton working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Hilton.
Maia is trying to pull guard but Hilton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hilton throws a punch but it's blocked by Maia.
Hilton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maia is trying to pull guard but Hilton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia takes an elbow to the temple.
Hilton swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short uppercut from Hilton.
Hilton can't find room to land a body shot as Maia controls the action.
Hilton lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Maia blocks an elbow strike.
Hilton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hilton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maia.
Hilton misses with an elbow over the top.
A short left from Hilton.
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hilton walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fenton Hilton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hilton tests Maia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
No joy there for Hilton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hilton throws the left hand but Maia avoids the punch easily.
A little jabbing left from Maia on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
No luck for Maia with that takedown attempt.
Maia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hilton.
A jab from Hilton does it's job there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Hilton.
Maia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hilton but Hilton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fenton Hilton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Maia.
Hilton throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.

Maia dives in and scores a takedown into Hilton's guard.
Hilton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Hilton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hilton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Maia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hilton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hilton has escaped and now he's on top!

Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilton is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hilton defends well.
Hilton is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.
Maia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hilton wants to stand but Maia is controlling his posture from full guard.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hilton defends well.

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.

Maia is looking for a triangle here but Hilton uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Maia is trying to work for a sweep but Hilton has mounted him!
Maia regains half guard.
Hilton wants to get back to his feet.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Hilton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hilton tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Maia wants to improve his position but Hilton is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Hilton has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Maia is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hilton is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Fenton Hilton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maia keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hilton tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Maia bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hilton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maia is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maia trying to control the position but Hilton is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maia tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Carlos Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fenton Hilton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maia in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fenton Hilton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hilton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fenton Hilton!
Fenton Hilton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.