PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Honor Guard (ranked 4670 p4p, 4661 weight class) and Don Maroni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Guard
vs
Maroni

158 cm
24
205
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Honor Guard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Maroni!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guard scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Guard connects with a right hand. Maroni shakes it off.
Guard misses with an uppercut.
Jab, jab by Guard - just one landing.
Guard misses with an uppercut.
Maroni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guard throws a hook but Maroni avoids it easily.
Guard scores with a nice right hand.
Guard cracks Maroni with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Guard really is a fat lump.
Maroni looks to land a combination but Guard avoids it well.
Maroni on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maroni ducks under a wild hook from Guard.
Maroni throws a counter combo.
A jab from Guard misses.
Guard throws a looping overhand right but Maroni ducks down to avoid it.
Guard thuds his right hand into Maroni's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Guard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Maroni's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guard throws a hook to the side of Maroni's head but Maroni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Despite the aggression on Maroni's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A jab from Guard finds it's way through Maroni's defenses.
Maroni misses with a two punch combination.
Guard looks to land a right hand but Maroni moved out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maroni! But no joy.
Maroni gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Guard.
Guard is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Maroni steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Guard.
The fighters circling - Maroni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Guard jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Guard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maroni blocks a jab.
Maroni is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Guard darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Maroni ducks under a wild hook from Guard.
Guard is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Maroni takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Guard throws a hook but Maroni blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Guard paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Guard misses the target.
Maroni tries to clinch up but Guard circles away and keeps his distance.
Guard misses with an uppercut.
Guard throws a hook but Maroni blocks it.
Maroni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maroni slips under a jab.
Maroni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Guard.
Guard tests Maroni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maroni ducks under a wild hook from Guard.
Maroni appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Guard throws a hook but Maroni avoids it easily.
Maroni ducks under a wild hook from Guard.
A countering left hand to the body from Maroni misses.
Guard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Guard is breathing heavily.
Guard throws the left hand but Maroni avoids the punch easily.
Guard misses the jab.
Maroni feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maroni avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maroni is looking for the big counter here.
Maroni takes a jab right on the kisser.
Maroni staying out of range there.
Maroni is looking for the big counter here.
Maroni tries to close the distance and clinch but Guard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big left from Guard misses.
Guard throws a jab when Maroni was well out of range.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Maroni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Guard.
Maroni unleashes a big counter combination but Guard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Maroni takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Guard misses with a looping right.
Guard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maroni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maroni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Guard.
Guard misses with a straight right.
Guard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Honor Guard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guard misses with an uppercut. Maroni saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guard misses with a straight left.
Maroni throws a counter combo.
Guard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Guard throws a looping overhand right but Maroni ducks down to avoid it.
Maroni lands an overhand right.
Guard looks to land a right hand but Maroni moved out of range.
Maroni is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Maroni throws a low kick but Guard moves out of range easily.
Guard misses with an uppercut. Maroni saw that one coming.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Maroni fails to land with a series of punches.
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!
Maroni misses with a series of wild punches.
Maroni uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Guard.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Honor Guard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maroni tries to clinch but Guard is having none of it.
Guard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Guard throws a shot from downtown. Maroni moves away and avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Honor Guard 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.

Guard missing with a left hand there. Maroni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maroni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sloppy strikes from Maroni. Those never looked like landing.
Guard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Guard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maroni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maroni slips under a jab.
Maroni throws a counter combo.
A big right from Guard misses.
Guard looks to throw the jab but Maroni is out of range.
Guard lands a glancing blow to the side of Maroni's head.
Maroni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Guard.
Guard misses with a hook.
Maroni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guard missing with a left hand there. Maroni was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Despite the aggression on Maroni's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Guard throws a hook but Maroni avoids it easily.
Maroni throws a counter combo.
Guard throws a hook to the side of Maroni's head but Maroni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Guard misses with a hook. Maroni ducked under it nicely.
Honor Guard is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maroni ducks under a wild hook from Guard.
Maroni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maroni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Guard looks to throw the jab but Maroni is out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice defenses there by Maroni.
Maroni throws a counter combo.
Guard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maroni.
Guard looks to land a left hand but Maroni moved out of range nicely.
Maroni looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Guard misses with a looping left.
Maroni moves out of range of the strikes.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Guard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maroni can do to turn this around?
Guard throws a jab but it's blocked by Maroni.
Guard misses with a looping right.
Nice defenses there by Maroni.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Maroni might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Guard has got the better of the exchanges.
Maroni fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circling - Guard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maroni is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guard throws a hook to the side of Maroni's head but Maroni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maroni slips under a jab.
Maroni now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Guard avoids the body shot from Maroni.
Guard throws a jab when Maroni was well out of range.
Maroni feints the counter takedown.
The fighters circling - Guard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Maroni misses with the combination.
Maroni defending well as Guard loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Maroni on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Guard throws a shot from downtown. Maroni moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Maroni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maroni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An attempted straight right counter from Guard misses the target.
Maroni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice jab there from Guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guard blocks the body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Guard on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Guard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maroni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Guard.
Maroni displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Guard throws out the jab.
Maroni is looking for the big counter here.
Guard misses with an uppercut. Maroni saw that one coming.
Maroni unleashes a big counter combination but Guard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Guard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Guard throws an overhand right that lands on Maroni's shoulder, as Maroni tries to avoid the shot.
Maroni is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Maroni moves out of range as Guard strikes.
Nice defenses there by Maroni.
Despite the aggression on Maroni's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Guard is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Maroni's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Guard keeps the fight on the outside.
A jab from Guard misses.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Guard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little jabbing left from Maroni on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maroni uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Guard.
Maroni tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guard misses with a straight right.
Maroni throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maroni throws a series of punches but Guard avoids them all with ease.
Don Maroni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maroni slips a straight right by Guard.
Maroni changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Maroni tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A big right from Guard misses.
Maroni looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Guard checks a leg kick nicely.
Maroni staying out of range there.
Maroni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maroni steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Guard.
Despite the aggression on Maroni's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Maroni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Guard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Guard is looking to counter punch.
Guard throws a jab but it's blocked by Maroni.
Maroni lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maroni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Honor Guard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Guard throws a jab when Maroni was well out of range.
Maroni changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Guard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maroni.
Guard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Guard misses with a hook. Maroni ducked under it nicely.
Guard misses with a straight left.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
Guard misses with a hook
and Maroni counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maroni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Guard circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fighters circling - Guard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Guard backs off Maroni throws a huge counter combo but Guard manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maroni moves out of range as Guard strikes.

Maroni has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maroni wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guard has him pressed against the cage.
Guard working aggressively here.
Maroni is trying to break the clinch but Guard has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maroni tries to pull guard but Guard won't allow it.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Guard.
Maroni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Guard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Guard scores with a shoulder strike.
Guard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maroni drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Guard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Honor Guard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Maroni.
Guard prevents the takedown attempt.
Guard is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Guard fails to land.
Maroni looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short right from Guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maroni blocks an uppercut.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
Guard blocks an uppercut.
Guard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maroni tries for a takedown but Guard manages to get underhooks.
Guard gets through Maroni's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Maroni stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
Guard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Guard misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maroni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guard working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Guard.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
Guard misses with some punches.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Guard throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Guard.
Guard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Guard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maroni backwards.
Maroni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maroni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Guard misses with a hook from the clinch.
Guard throws a punch but it's blocked by Maroni.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maroni is looking to control Guard's arms but Guard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maroni has his back to the cage.
Guard misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Guard fails to land.
Guard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maroni backwards.

Maroni turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maroni sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Guard is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Maroni lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Guard down.
Don Maroni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guard is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Maroni landing a few strikes.
Guard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maroni on the ground.
Guard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Maroni working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Maroni has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Guard is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Maroni yanks on the arm and Guard is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Maroni.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Don Maroni!