PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Blair (ranked 5236 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd Maxon (ranked 4488 p4p, 0 weight class). Maxon has chosen Everything is Awesome as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blair
vs
Maxon

215 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oliver Blair!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Todd Maxon!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maxon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Blair to score with a decent uppercut.

Maxon moves into range and clinches up with Blair.
Blair keeps control of Maxon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Maxon breaks from the clinch.

Blair scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maxon is trying to maintain the position but Blair is very close to passing his half guard.
Blair slips a nice elbow through Maxon's hands, connecting with Maxon's forehead.

Blair decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Maxon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maxon looking for a takedown.
Maxon drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maxon unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blair gets underhooks to prevent Maxon's takedown attempt.
Oliver Blair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Maxon.
Maxon lands a body punch in the clinch.
Blair with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blair really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maxon looking to slow down the pace here.
Maxon just leaning against Blair, taking a breather.
Maxon tries to pull guard but Blair won't allow it.

Blair manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blair is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blair missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maxon is trying to maintain the position but Blair is very close to passing his half guard.
Blair working Maxon over with strikes.
Blair scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blair not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blair winds up and cracks Maxon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Blair is working for a kimura but Maxon is defending it quite comfortably.
Blair thows a huge punch but Maxon dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blair is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maxon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Blair.
Maxon controlling the position well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maxon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Blair.
Maxon wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Maxon pushes Blair off and gets back to his feet.
Maxon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It looked like Blair was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Maxon takes the fight into the clinch.

Maxon breaks the clinch.

Maxon moves into the clinch.
Maxon is trying to drag Blair to the mat but Blair just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maxon can't break the clinch.
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 Oliver Blair will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maxon has Blair up against the cage in a clinch.
Blair tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maxon just stands there and leans against the cage.

Maxon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Todd Maxon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maxon clinches with his opponent.
Blair stalling the fight.
Blair jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maxon walks away with a smile on his face. Blair gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blair lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Maxon rushes Blair and presses him up against the cage.
Maxon is trying to break the clinch but Blair is controlling him.
Blair tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Blair. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maxon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blair gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maxon leaning against his opponent.

Blair successfully pulls guard.
Maxon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Blair looking to control but Maxon passes into half guard.

Blair looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maxon tries to pass to full mount but Blair defends it.
Blair is looking to improve his position.

Maxon is working for a submission of some sort.
Blair gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blair is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Maxon presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Maxon breaks the clinch.

Maxon gets a clinch.
Maxon misses with a knee strike.

Blair decides to pull guard.

Blair is looking for a triangle here but Maxon uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Maxon cracks Blair with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maxon stands up and beckons Blair to his feet.

Maxon clinches with his opponent.

Blair drags the fight down to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maxon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Maxon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Maxon wants to pass the guard but Blair is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Blair will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Blair got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maxon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blair has managed to get both his arms back between Maxon's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Todd Maxon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maxon moves into the clinch successfully.
Maxon changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blair fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Maxon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maxon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maxon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maxon holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Maxon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blair pulls his leg out and moves away.
Oliver Blair has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd Maxon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maxon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maxon taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Todd Maxon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maxon is looking for a takedown.
Maxon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maxon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maxon tries to score a body lock takedown but Blair shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Maxon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blair goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maxon content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blair jumps guard.
Blair lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blair scoring with punches to the head and body.
Blair working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Blair stands up and waves to Maxon to follow him.

Maxon has closed the distance and engaged Blair in a clinch.
Blair tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Maxon is trying to maintain a safe position but Blair gets an underhook and turns Maxon into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blair tries to pull guard but Maxon holds him up against the cage and eventually Blair drops back down to his feet.
Blair takes a knee right on the jaw!

Blair is rocked!

It looks like Oliver Blair has been cut.

Maxon pulls Blair into guard.
Oh Blair is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Maxon working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blair doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blair manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blair seems to have got his legs back now.
Blair with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blair postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Blair drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maxon looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maxon looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maxon!

Maxon stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maxon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maxon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Blair smiles and moves away.

Maxon closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maxon fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Todd Maxon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maxon 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Todd Maxon!
Todd Maxon took some time post fight to say the following; '3:16 says Todd Maxon just whooped your ass!'.