PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Maldini (ranked 2243 p4p, 2160 weight class) and Hatake Kakashi (ranked 238 p4p, 229 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maldini
vs
Kakashi

181 cm
32
154
13 - 4 - 0

181 cm
23
156
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Maldini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hatake Kakashi!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakashi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Maldini lands a jab to the head.
Kakashi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kakashi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maldini makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kakashi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maldini with a nice cross.
Kakashi has his takedown stuffed
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Kakashi moves away from the strike by Maldini.
Kakashi misses with a double jab
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maldini throws a right and a left that Kakashi avoids nicely.
Kakashi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kakashi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldini was well out of range. Poor timing from Kakashi.
It looks like Maldini has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Maldini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kakashi circles away quickly and effectively.
Kakashi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakashi misses with a hook to the body
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kakashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kakashi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maldini pinned against the cage. Maldini gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paulo Maldini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi dives in and grabs Maldini's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maldini pushes down on Kakashi's head and hops out.
Maldini swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kakashi feints the counter takedown.
Nice straight punches there by Maldini. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maldini.
Kakashi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maldini tries to avoid it but Kakashi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maldini to the ground. Maldini escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kakashi ducks under a wild hook from Maldini.
Kakashi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maldini sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kakashi swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
A nice combination there by Maldini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maldini takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kakashi misses the body punch
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kakashi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hatake Kakashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldini throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kakashi slips under a jab.
Maldini ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kakashi moves away.
Maldini cracks Kakashi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kakashi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Paulo Maldini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body punch from Maldini.
Kakashi moves forwards but Maldini connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kakashi throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Kakashi misses
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini looks to score with a jab to the body but Kakashi is just out of range.
Kakashi throws a chopping leg kick but Maldini manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kakashi misses with a shot to the body
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kakashi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Maldini rather than just go for the knockout.
Good exchange - Maldini coming out on top.
Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kakashi.
Maldini walks into a jab.
Maldini ducks under a wild hook from Kakashi.
Kakashi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kakashi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maldini throws out the jab.
Kakashi feints the counter takedown.
Kakashi misses the jab.
Kakashi swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini throws a lazy right hand but Kakashi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini checks a low kick from Kakashi.
Maldini lands a jab to the nose.
Maldini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maldini throws a shot from downtown. Kakashi moves away and avoids it.
Maldini slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldini lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kakashi misses the body punch
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maldini misses with a two punch combination.
Kakashi misses with a hook
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maldini scores with a sloppy right hand. Kakashi should have avoided that one.
Kakashi just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Maldini wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kakashi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kakashi slips a straight right by Maldini.
Kakashi slips a straight right by Maldini.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Maldini dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Maldini takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kakashi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maldini moves away.
Maldini appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Maldini uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kakashi has time to react.
Kakashi misses with a kick to the body
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kakashi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kakashi misses with a hook to the body
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Maldini staying out of range there.
Kakashi misses with a body shot
and Kakashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maldini is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kakashi can do to turn this around?
Kakashi shoots in looking for a takedown but Maldini manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kakashi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakashi misses with a body shot
and Maldini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kakashi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maldini lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kakashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakashi misses the shot to the body.
Kakashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maldini manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kakashi ducks under a wild hook from Maldini.
Kakashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Maldini is just out of range.
Maldini swinging wildly here.
Kakashi misses with a hook to the body
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kakashi misses the shot to the body.
Maldini is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kakashi misses with a takedown
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Kakashi tries a head kick but it misses.
Kakashi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice defenses there by Kakashi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakashi throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Maldini on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kakashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maldini.
Maldini throws an overhand right that lands on Kakashi's shoulder, as Kakashi tries to avoid the shot.
Maldini throws a series of strikes that have Kakashi backpedaling.
Kakashi avoids the body shot from Maldini.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldini connects with a jab.
Maldini throws a looping overhand right but Kakashi ducks down to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Maldini - just one landing.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Kakashi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Maldini has got the better of the exchanges.
Kakashi misses the shot to the body.
Kakashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldini lands a jab to Kakashi's midsection.
Maldini throws a series of punches but Kakashi moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakashi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maldini manages to avoid it.
Maldini takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kakashi throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Kakashi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A swing and a miss from Maldini.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kakashi.
Kakashi throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldini scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kakashi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maldini.
Maldini connects with a crisp jab.
Maldini lands a nice shot to the body.
Kakashi misses with a body punch
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kakashi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Maldini defends it well.
Kakashi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldini misses with a body shot.
Maldini scores with a jab to the body.
Kakashi is trying desperately to land a takedown but Maldini is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Kakashi.
Maldini cracks Kakashi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maldini throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maldini throws a shot from downtown. Kakashi moves away and avoids it.
Maldini connects with a crisp jab.
An inside leg kick from Kakashi misses.
Kakashi misses with a body shot
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maldini misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kakashi.
Maldini lands with a nice body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Maldini dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kakashi slips a jab from Maldini.
Kakashi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Maldini throws a right and a left that Kakashi avoids nicely.
The fighters circling - Maldini throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kakashi swings widly with a right hand
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Good standup being displayed there by Maldini as he connects with a hook.
Maldini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kakashi misses with a leg kick
and Maldini counters with a left to the body.
Maldini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kakashi. Maldini does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maldini.
Maldini scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maldini throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maldini lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kakashi.
Maldini smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jab by Kakashi.
Nice uppercut lands for Maldini. That snapped Kakashi's head back.
Kakashi throws a big shot that misses.
Kakashi misses with a left hand
and Maldini counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kakashi throws a right hand that misses
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
A cross from Kakashi lands.
Maldini misses with a body shot.
Good exchange - Maldini coming out on top.
Maldini keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kakashi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldini counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maldini connects with a body shot.
Kakashi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldini fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kakashi on the side of the head.
Kakashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A punch lands to the side of Kakashi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kakashi moves out of range as Maldini strikes.
Kakashi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kakashi takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
Maldini appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kakashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Maldini is just out of range.
Maldini is looking to counter punch.
Kakashi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldini.
Kakashi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Maldini fails to land with a series of punches.
Kakashi on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kakashi moves out of range of the strikes.
Maldini is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kakashi.
Kakashi shoots for a double leg takedown but Maldini sprawls well. He's pushed Kakashi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kakashi looks to score with a jab to the body but Maldini is just out of range.
Kakashi misses with a body shot
and Kakashi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maldini jabs at Kakashi's body.
Maldini scores with the left hand. Kakashi knows he should have avoided that one.

Maldini rushes Kakashi and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kakashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Maldini breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kakashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldini. Kakashi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kakashi misses the shot to the body.
Maldini throwing a counter right hand but Kakashi manages to avoid it.
Kakashi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hatake Kakashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldini blocks a head kick by Kakashi.
An attempted straight right counter from Maldini misses the target.
Kakashi misses with a jab to the body
and Maldini counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Kakashi misses
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldini jabs Kakashi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kakashi throws a sloppy body shot
and Maldini counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kakashi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paulo Maldini is winning the standup battle so far.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maldini.
Kakashi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maldini counters with a straight right hand.
Kakashi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Maldini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maldini has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Paulo Maldini!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Paulo Maldini!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Paulo Maldini!

Paulo Maldini wins by unanimous decision!
Paulo Maldini opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.