PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Arenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Maia
vs
Arenas

180 cm
19
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Death Wish Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Arenas!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arenas is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, Arenas circles away and we're back to standing.

Arenas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Arenas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Maia really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Arenas controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arenas with the ground and pound from mount.

Arenas is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Arenas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arenas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face as Arenas controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arenas fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Maia tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Arenas presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Maia working to try and regain half guard.
Arenas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arenas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Arenas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arenas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Arenas trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arenas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

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.
Arenas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Arenas is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Arenas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Arenas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Arenas lands strikes from half guard.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arenas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arenas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Arenas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arenas rushes Maia and presses him up against the cage.

Arenas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Arenas moves into the clinch.
Arenas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maia up against the cage.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Arenas just stands there and leans against the cage.

Arenas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Arenas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maia's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Arenas stands up and waves to Maia to follow him.

Arenas closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Arenas has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Maia is trying to keep an underhook but Arenas manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arenas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Arenas in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Maia tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Arenas!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Steve Arenas!