PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Quinton Bridges (ranked 4675 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Maia (ranked 6837 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonathan Maia has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bridges
vs
Maia

175 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 The Island, Quinton Bridges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jonathan Maia!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bridges's waist but Bridges gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.

Maia shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Maia was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Maia is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bridges will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bridges is trying to get back to half guard.
Maia tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bridges is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges gets back to half guard.
Maia not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bridges pushes Maia off but Maia dives into side control.
Maia happy to just control the position for now.
It looks like Maia might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
You can see the frustration on Bridges's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bridges being controlled for a moment.
Maia wants to stand but Bridges is controlling his arm.
Bridges wants to control but Maia postures up.
Maia in side control, throwing shots but Bridges defends.
Bridges is looking for a sweep.
Maia tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bridges is trying to control Maia's posture but Maia avoids it.
Maia controlling from side mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bridges.
Maia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bridges tries to avoid it but Maia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bridges to the ground. Bridges escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bridges tries to bum rush Maia with a series of wild strikes but Maia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Maia drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maia slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bridges trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bridges preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Bridges is keeping the position.
Maia sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maia looks for a takedown but Bridges sprawls well.
Quinton Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Maia.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bridges pinned against the cage. Bridges gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Maia dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maia shoots in for a takedown but Bridges shows good takedown defense.
Bridges half committed to a counter leg kick.

Maia manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bridges on his heels. He'll look to pass Bridges's guard now, I'm sure.
Bridges will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bridges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maia controls the pace.
Bridges trying to control the position.
Maia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Bridges.
Maia controlling from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Maia tries for a takedown but Bridges sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Quinton Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Maia.
Bridges digs a good body shot into Maia's ribs.
Bridges tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maia shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bridges but Bridges pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maia shoots for a takedown but Bridges saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bridges drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maia sprawls and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bridges or perhaps it was just good defense by Maia, which made it look bad.
A cross from Bridges lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bridges counters with a nice uppercut.

Maia dives in and scores a takedown into Bridges's guard.
Maia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Bridges is keeping the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maia's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Maia is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Maia. No joy for Bridges on that attempt.
Bridges dives in for a single leg takedown but Maia sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Maia feints and as Bridges raises his hands in defense, Maia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maia sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bridges wants to stand but Maia is controlling the position.
Bridges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maia controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia stands and throws Bridges's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maia throwing strikes but Bridges manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Maia is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 Quinton Bridges will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bridges is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Maia's half guard.
Maia tries to kick Bridges off but Bridges keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Bridges is trying to work for a kimura but Maia is defending well.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.

Bridges wants to work for an arm triangle but Maia is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maia tries to kick Bridges off but Bridges keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Maia is looking to escape.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia shoots in looking for a takedown but Bridges manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bridges tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.

Maia feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bridges wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maia pushes down on Bridges's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maia content to control rather than advance.
Bridges wants to get back to his feet.
Maia not doing much here.
Maia wants to pass to mount but Bridges is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Maia stalling.
Maia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bridges. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maia is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Maia tries for a takedown but Bridges circles away easily
letting Bridges counter with a right hand.
Bridges tries to clinch up.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Bridges shows good takedown defense.
Quinton Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Maia.
Maia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bridges avoids it really well and circles away.
Maia tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bridges defends well and Maia ends up having to push Bridges into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bridges is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Bridges circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia closes the distance and clinches up with Bridges, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes Bridges against the cage but Bridges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Maia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bridges looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Maia trying to control the position but Bridges is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges seems a little lost for a moment, as Maia dominates the positioning.
Bridges sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Well, if Maia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maia trying to control from half guard but Bridges is working away.
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maia looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jonathan Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bridges wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Quinton Bridges.
I think Bridges has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quinton Bridges!