PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Petersen (ranked 2716 p4p, 336 weight class) and Moonlight Maze (ranked 1337 p4p, 188 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maze's choice of entrance music: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Petersen
vs
Maze

182 cm
29
190 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

189 cm
29
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Moonlight Maze!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Maze.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Petersen cracks Maze with an open hand slap.
Petersen moves out of range of the strikes.
Petersen takes a swing at Maze's ribcage but misses.
Petersen moves away from the strike by Maze.
Petersen looks to score with a jab to the body but Maze is just out of range.
Maze tried to score with a low kick but Petersen checks it.
Petersen throwing a counter right hand but Maze manages to avoid it.
Maze ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A low kick from Maze misses

and Petersen counters with a single leg into guard. Maze didn't expect that.
Petersen postures up.

Maze is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Petersen trying to control but Maze is working from the bottom.
Petersen chips away with some ground and pound.

Maze looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
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.
Petersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Maze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen won't allow Maze to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen working some strikes from top position.
Petersen is pushing down on Maze's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maze is fighting to maintain full guard but Petersen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maze trying to control from the bottom.

Maze actively working from the bottom here.

Petersen is working for a submission of some sort.
Maze is looking for a sweep. Petersen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've been hearing good reports from Petersen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Petersen trying to control from half guard but Maze is working away.
Petersen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Petersen wants to pass the guard but Maze is defending well.

Petersen is working for a kimura but Maze is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen controlling the action here.
Maze wants to improve his position but Petersen is controlling well.
Petersen stalling.
Petersen prevents Maze from improving his position.
Maze is not content to let Petersen control the position.
Maze works his way to full guard. Good work.

Maze looking for a guillotine here but Petersen defends easily.

Petersen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze wants to sweep here but Petersen controlling him for the moment.

Maze has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petersen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Petersen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Petersen postures up and lands a big shot to Maze's brow.

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

Maze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petersen is one step ahead there.

Maze has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petersen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen lands a couple of digs.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Maze keeps moving.
Maze trying to control the position.
Petersen chips away with some ground and pound.
Petersen looking to pass the guard.
Maze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petersen is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petersen forces his way into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maze is pressing down on Petersen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Maze looking for a guillotine here but Petersen defends easily.
Petersen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrel Petersen dominated that 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.

Maze cracks Petersen with a good jab.

Petersen gets a double leg takedown into Maze's guard.

Maze has his foot on Petersen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Petersen works his way back into a safe position though.
Petersen pushes down on Maze's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Petersen wants to control but Maze is keeping him busy.
Petersen slips a nice elbow through Maze's hands, connecting with Maze's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maze is staying active underneath Petersen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Petersen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Maze looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Petersen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Petersen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maze does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Petersen is looking for a kimura but Maze is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Petersen to get the leverage.
Maze tries to roll over but Petersen keeps him under control.
Maze is still trying to improve position.
Maze wants to control but Petersen is keeping busy.
Petersen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petersen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Petersen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maze is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Petersen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Petersen's back!
Petersen is covering up but some of the strikes from Maze are getting through and doing damage.
Petersen covers up after that shot from Maze.
Maze misses with punches from the back.
Petersen takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Darrel Petersen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Maze.
Petersen has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Maze.
Maze is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Petersen. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Maze.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petersen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maze's guard. Nice work there by Petersen.
Petersen with a nice head shot there.
Petersen tries to free his leg and advance position but Maze is retaining full guard.

Maze is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Petersen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Petersen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maze wants to sweep here but Petersen controlling him for the moment.
Petersen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Maze keeps moving.
Petersen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maze is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Petersen defends well.
Petersen works over Maze with some ground and pound from guard.
Petersen trying to control but Maze is working from the bottom.
Maze controls Petersen momentarily but Petersen frees himself.
Petersen trying to control the position from guard on top but Maze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen controlling from the top position.
Petersen pushes down on Maze's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maze moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Petersen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Petersen lands a couple of elbows.
Petersen landing with the ground and pound.
Petersen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Maze keeps moving.
Maze keeping full guard, as Petersen tries to pass.

Maze working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Petersen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Petersen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maze looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petersen trying to control but Maze is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Darrel Petersen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Both fighters circling a little - Maze finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maze throws a body kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Petersen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Petersen dips to his left and cracks Maze with an uppercut!
Petersen ducks under a wild hook from Maze.
It looked like Petersen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Maze.
Maze slips under a jab from Petersen.
Maze connects with a right hand. Petersen shakes it off.
Maze throws a leg kick but Petersen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Petersen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maze circles away.
Petersen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maze throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petersen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Petersen misses with a body shot.
Petersen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maze was well out of range. Poor timing from Petersen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maze throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Good standup being displayed there by Maze as he connects with a hook.
Petersen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maze throws out the jab.
Maze is looking to slow Petersen down with leg kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maze catches Petersen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Maze tries to bum rush Petersen with a series of wild strikes but Petersen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen misses the shot to the body.
A nice side step and Maze releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Petersen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Petersen wants to take a breather but Maze is having none of it.
Petersen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maze knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Maze is looking to improve his position.

Petersen 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.

Petersen is working for a kimura but Maze is defending it quite comfortably.
Petersen trying to control from half guard but Maze is working away.
Moonlight Maze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Petersen connects with a nice short shot to Maze's temple.

Petersen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maze has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maze wants to improve his position but Petersen is controlling well.
Petersen is pressing down on Maze's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maze is holding on for now.
Petersen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Maze tries to lock up and control but Petersen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Petersen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Maze's face.
Maze is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maze taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petersen landing punches.
Petersen looking to finish Maze with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maze!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze wants to hold on but Petersen pushes him away.
Petersen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Petersen is working for a guillotine from mount but Maze frees his head quite easily.
Maze regains half guard.
Maze tries to roll over but Petersen keeps him under control.
Petersen wants to take a breather but Maze is having none of it.
Maze trying to hold on to Petersen's head to control him but Petersen postures up.
Petersen wants to take a breather but Maze is having none of it.

Maze looking for submissions off his back.

Maze looking for submissions off his back.
Maze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Petersen trying to mount his opponent but Maze defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen passes to full mount!
Maze tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Petersen looking to control but Maze is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Petersen landing punches.
Petersen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maze can do to turn this around?
Petersen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maze is looking to escape.
Maze is working to get back to half guard.
Darrel Petersen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Petersen controlling his opponent.

Petersen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maze is surviving well by controlling Petersen's body position as best he can.
Maze is squirming around, avoiding Petersen's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darrel Petersen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Petersen, 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 Tiny Johnson 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... Darrel Petersen!