PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Moonlight Maze (ranked 2548 p4p, 320 weight class) and Padraig McNamara (ranked 3071 p4p, 383 weight class). McNamara has chosen Kung liligaya ka sa piling ng iba as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maze
vs
McNamara

189 cm
28
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
28
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Moonlight Maze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Padraig McNamara!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maze throws a right hand that misses
and McNamara cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maze throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McNamara.
Maze takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Maze misses with a looping left.
McNamara moves out of range as Maze strikes.
McNamara throws a leg kick but Maze sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Maze stalks McNamara and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McNamara's face. McNamara staggers backwards, shaken.
McNamara fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

McNamara instigates a clinch.
McNamara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

McNamara gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maze is staying active underneath McNamara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Maze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maze wants to get back to full guard.
Maze wants to control but McNamara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maze wants to improve his position but McNamara is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maze manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maze keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.
Maze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McNamara manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maze won't allow McNamara to sweep him here.

Maze avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maze trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McNamara looking for a sweep. Not yet McNamara, not yet.
Maze is stalling in the full guard.
Maze trying to control but McNamara is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara has momentary wrist control but Maze slips an elbow through the middle.
McNamara keeping full guard, as Maze tries to pass.

McNamara looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maze wants to pass the guard but McNamara is keeping the position.
McNamara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Maze gets full guard.
McNamara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maze wants to sweep here but McNamara controlling him for the moment.
Maze keeping full guard, as McNamara tries to pass.
McNamara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maze looking for subs off his back but McNamara has passed one foot through into half guard.

Maze is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McNamara pulls his head out easily.
Maze wants to improve his position but McNamara is controlling well.
Maze regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maze is trying to control the position but McNamara postures up.
McNamara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maze is keeping the position for now.

Maze working for a triangle but McNamara defends it easily.
Maze looking for a sweep. Not yet Maze, not yet.
McNamara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McNamara must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

McNamara has gone for a leg lock! Maze slips out almost immediately though and dives into McNamara's guard.

Maze passes McNamara's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maze slips a nice elbow through McNamara's hands, connecting with McNamara's forehead.
McNamara 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.
Maze winds up and cracks McNamara with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McNamara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maze drops an elbow to the side of McNamara's head.
McNamara is looking to improve his position.
McNamara on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Maze 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.
McNamara gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Moonlight Maze will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McNamara drops his hands momentarily and Maze takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Maze scores with a shot to the body.
Maze stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maze wants it to stay on the feet.
Maze works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maze thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maze's jab looks to have found its range, popping McNamara under the eye.
Moonlight Maze is winning the standup battle so far.
Maze connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McNamara momentarily.
Maze looks to throw the jab but McNamara is out of range.
McNamara throws a hook but Maze blocks it.
Maze scores with a sloppy right hand. McNamara should have avoided that one.
McNamara slips a jab from Maze.
McNamara misses with a looping right.
Maze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McNamara throws a jab but it's blocked by Maze.
Maze catches McNamara with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McNamara staying out of range there.
McNamara scores with a leg kick.
Maze dips to his left and cracks McNamara with an uppercut!
Maze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maze with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McNamara to score with a decent uppercut.
McNamara ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Maze is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Maze misses with a looping right.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A big left from McNamara misses.
McNamara ducks under a wild hook from Maze.
McNamara lands a leg kick that knocks Maze off balance momentarily.
McNamara takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maze looks to land a right hand but McNamara moved out of range.
Maze misses with a hook.
McNamara tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
McNamara is looking to chop away at Maze's legs.
Maze misses with a straight right.
Maze avoids the head kick by McNamara.
It looked like Maze wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McNamara fails to land the takedown.
Maze is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McNamara can do to turn this around?
McNamara closes the distance and clinches up with Maze, looking for a takedown. McNamara pushes Maze against the cage but Maze circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Moonlight Maze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Padraig McNamara.
Maze lands with a right hand.
McNamara pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maze is out of range and McNamara settles back down.
Maze half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maze throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McNamara buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maze thows a left - swing and a miss!
McNamara loads up on a big right hand but Maze slips the punch.
McNamara misses with a hook
and Maze connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maze misses with a hook.
Maze scores with a punch to the head.
Maze lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McNamara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maze misses the jab.
McNamara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maze moves away.
Maze cracks McNamara with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

McNamara shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maze napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Maze tries to buck McNamara off but McNamara is having none of it.
Maze is working hard here to advance position.
Maze gets back to half guard.

McNamara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Maze looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McNamara is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maze regains full guard. Nicely done.
McNamara throwing strikes from guard but Maze blocks nicely.
McNamara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maze keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.
Maze trying to control the position.
Maze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McNamara manages to get himself to full guard.

McNamara working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maze passes McNamara's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maze scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Maze wants to take a breather but McNamara is having none of it.
McNamara is pressing down on Maze's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maze throwing strikes from guard but McNamara blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maze working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maze is pushing down on McNamara's leg trying to pass to half guard. McNamara is fighting to maintain full guard but Maze has managed to sneak the leg through.
McNamara is trying to get back to full guard.

Maze is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McNamara sees it coming and defends easily.
Maze passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moonlight Maze dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Maze looks to throw the jab but McNamara is out of range.
Maze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McNamara replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Maze blocks it well.
McNamara lets loose with a powerful body kick. Maze will feel that in the morning.
Maze lands with a nice body punch.

McNamara closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maze quickly recovers to half guard.
McNamara throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maze tries to roll over but McNamara keeps him under control.

McNamara is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maze trying to control but McNamara postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maze is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maze manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McNamara postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara wants to pass the guard but Maze is keeping the position.
McNamara is looking to work some ground and pound but Maze has wrist control.

Maze is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Maze has his foot on McNamara's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McNamara works his way back into a safe position though.
McNamara passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maze gets back to half guard.
McNamara throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Maze looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

McNamara is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McNamara wants to take a breather but Maze is having none of it.
Padraig McNamara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maze manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Maze had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McNamara defends it easily.

Maze is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McNamara is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maze 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.

Maze is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McNamara throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

McNamara postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maze is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McNamara, into his guard.

McNamara wants to sweep but no luck.
Maze trying to control the position from guard on top but McNamara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

McNamara throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McNamara keeping moving, preventing Maze from controlling successfully.
McNamara 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.

McNamara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maze defends well.
Maze with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maze landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maze working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maze stopping the sweep attempt from McNamara.
Maze keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McNamara's head.
Maze works over McNamara with some ground and pound from guard.
Maze is working McNamara over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maze won't allow McNamara to sweep him here.
Maze lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maze pushes down on McNamara's leg and manages to get into half guard.

McNamara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Moonlight Maze showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maze, 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Moonlight Maze!
Moonlight Maze was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
In defeat, Padraig McNamara stepped up to the mic, saying 'Chamba'.