PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ray Luciano (ranked 1683 p4p, 1570 weight class) and Osiris Maharajah (ranked 226 p4p, 209 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Luciano might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SHORT PEOPLE. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Luciano
vs
Maharajah

187 cm
30
187
16 - 8 - 2

186 cm
28
190
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Â© Trap House
Conviction

PWNAGEâ„¢
Northern Zombie

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 16 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Ray Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Osiris Maharajah!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maharajah doesn't manage to clinch there - Luciano circles away.
Maharajah swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice jab there from Luciano.
Maharajah looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Maharajah throws a leg kick

and Luciano counters with a single leg into guard. Maharajah didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maharajah working for a triangle but Luciano defends it easily.

Luciano drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Maharajah dives on top into guard.

Luciano is looking for a triangle but Maharajah pushes his legs off easily.
Luciano lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Maharajah is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Luciano defends well.
Luciano wants to control from the top but Maharajah keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luciano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Maharajah is looking for a triangle but Luciano pushes his legs off easily.

Maharajah escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luciano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Maharajah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Luciano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Luciano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Luciano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Luciano postures up.

Maharajah looking for a guillotine here but Luciano defends easily.
Luciano trying to control but Maharajah is working from the bottom.
Luciano controlling from the top position.
Luciano wants to control from the top but Maharajah keeps moving.
Luciano advances position into side control!
Maharajah is looking for a sweep.
Maharajah can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano wants to control but Maharajah is keeping him busy.

Luciano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maharajah is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Luciano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maharajah keeps working.
Maharajah is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Luciano off and has taken his back!

Luciano defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Maharajah looking for the choke from the back.
Luciano is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Ice Cream Parlour, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
You can see the frustration on Luciano's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Luciano trying to control the action but Maharajah just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Luciano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Luciano is pressing down on Maharajah's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maharajah makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Luciano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maharajah's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maharajah trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luciano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Luciano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maharajah defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Luciano looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Maharajah passes into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Osiris Maharajah will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Luciano shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maharajah but Maharajah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maharajah doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Maharajah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maharajah has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maharajah there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maharajah throws a half hearted mid kick.
Maharajah misses with a two punch combination.
Maharajah swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Maharajah takes the fight into the clinch.
Maharajah blocks an uppercut.
Maharajah lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Luciano backwards.
Maharajah goes for a takedown in the clinch but Luciano prevents it.
Maharajah lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maharajah jumps guard but Luciano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Luciano working aggressively here.
Maharajah is trying to pull guard but Luciano has him pressed against the cage.
Ray Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Osiris Maharajah.

Maharajah has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Luciano regains guard immediately.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano keeping full guard, as Maharajah tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano trying to control the position.
Maharajah trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Luciano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Luciano is on top in guard.

Maharajah looking to control but Luciano passes into half guard.

Maharajah looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luciano trying to control the action but Maharajah is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maharajah tries to get to full guard but Luciano has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maharajah manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Luciano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Luciano is looking to take a break and control but Maharajah is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Osiris Maharajah has got the better of the ground game so far.

Maharajah looking for submissions off his back.
Maharajah is controlling Luciano's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Luciano wants to work for an arm triangle but Maharajah is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Luciano is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Maharajah!

Luciano jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maharajah manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Maharajah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maharajah gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Luciano is looking for a kimura here.
Luciano wants to pass the guard but Maharajah is defending well.
Maharajah wants to control but Luciano is keeping busy.
Maharajah wants to improve his position but Luciano is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maharajah won't allow Luciano to pass to mount.

Luciano wants to work for an arm triangle but Maharajah is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maharajah is trying to maintain the position but Luciano is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Luciano seems content to control.
Maharajah is refusing to be controlled, as Luciano sits in half guard.
Maharajah is pressing down on Luciano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maharajah is looking for a triangle but Luciano pushes his legs off easily.
Luciano trying to control the position from guard on top but Maharajah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Osiris Maharajah will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Luciano leaves Maharajah with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maharajah tries for a takedown but Luciano circles away easily
and Luciano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maharajah throws a lazy right hand but Luciano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Luciano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maharajah steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Luciano. That one must have hurt.
Maharajah rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Luciano counters with a body kick that stops Maharajah in his tracks momentarily.
Luciano scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Luciano moves out of range of the body kick from Maharajah.
Maharajah chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Luciano can pounce on him.
Luciano throws out a powerful jab.
Maharajah takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Luciano gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano looking to control but instead Maharajah has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Maharajah is trying to control but can't.

Luciano is looking for a kimura here.
Maharajah gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maharajah looking for a guillotine here but Luciano defends easily.

Maharajah escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luciano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Luciano passes Maharajah's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maharajah has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Luciano is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Maharajah looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maharajah trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Luciano manages to pass to mount!

Luciano working for a guillotine from mount but Maharajah is in no mood to give up.
Maharajah is working to get back to half guard.
Ray Luciano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luciano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maharajah really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano wants to take Maharajah's back here but Maharajah is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Maharajah is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Luciano looking for a guillotine from mount but Maharajah is having none of it.
Maharajah wants to hold on but Luciano pushes him away.
Luciano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maharajah tries to reverse the position but Luciano maintains control.
Maharajah holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Luciano tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Luciano throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Maharajah because Luciano loaded up on that one.
Maharajah tries to hold on but Luciano pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano tries to control but Maharajah wriggling away.
Maharajah is working to get back to half guard.
Luciano looking to control but Maharajah is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Luciano fails to take his opponent's back.
Maharajah is wriggling around trying to escape.
Luciano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maharajah can't escape the position.
Maharajah wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maharajah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!