PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matija Maestro (ranked 1854 p4p, 2401 weight class) and Leo Vuce (ranked 126 p4p, 152 weight class). Maestro kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Shortwire - Reconfig. The crowd seem to be enjoying Vuce's choice of entrance music: MC Yankoo. Matija Maestro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maestro
vs
Vuce

174 cm
29
145
17 - 2 - 0

180 cm
39
145
28 - 31 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matija Maestro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Vuce!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vuce tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maestro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maestro misses with a takedown attempt - Vuce sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vuce doesn't manage to clinch there - Maestro circles away.
Maestro takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vuce fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maestro throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Vuce connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vuce tries to sprawl but Maestro drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vuce is looking for a sweep. Maestro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vuce misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vuce is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maestro pulls his head out easily.
Maestro is looking to advance position but Vuce won't allow it.
Maestro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Vuce looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Maestro gets the takedown into side control.

Maestro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vuce is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vuce is trying to improve his position.

Maestro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vuce knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maestro swings around for an armbar but Vuce sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maestro's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuce postures up and lands a big shot to Maestro's brow.
Maestro wants to improve his position but instead Vuce has moved into half guard.
Maestro is trying to get back to full guard.
Vuce sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maestro defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Maestro wants to get back to full guard.
Vuce is thwarting Maestro's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vuce takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maestro trying to hold on to Vuce's head to control him but Vuce postures up.
Vuce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maestro's head.
We've been informed that Vuce has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vuce is thwarting Maestro's attempts to control the position.
Maestro slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matija Maestro will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maestro throws a body shot but no joy.
Maestro connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vuce tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maestro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maestro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Maestro cracks Vuce with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Matija Maestro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vuce shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maestro shoots in looking for a takedown but Vuce manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maestro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vuce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maestro connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vuce. Vuce circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Maestro scores with a four punch combination!
Maestro throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vuce tries to clinch up but Maestro circles away and keeps his distance.
Maestro punishes Vuce's body with a nice straight punch.
Vuce keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vuce tries to counter with a clinch but Maestro shakes him off and moves away.
Vuce uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maestro.

Maestro shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vuce napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Maestro tries for a kimura but Vuce is defending well.
Vuce tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maestro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maestro is staying tight to Vuce's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Maestro advances to full mount.
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!
Vuce is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maestro trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maestro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuce is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Maestro controlling the pace for now.
Maestro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vuce can do to turn this around?
Vuce has given up his back. Will we see Maestro going for some submissions?
Vuce is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Maestro off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

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.
Vuce trying to get back to his feet but Maestro is in full control for now.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Maestro controlling the positon.
I really don't envy Vuce right now.
Matija Maestro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Maestro dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maestro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vuce moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Matija Maestro is winning the standup battle so far.
Maestro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vuce swivels and escapes.
Maestro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vuce throws a counter combo.
Maestro dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vuce tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vuce wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maestro fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vuce to the ground. Maestro is now in Vuce's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro tries to free his leg and advance position but Vuce is retaining full guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Maestro is pushing down on Vuce's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vuce is fighting to maintain full guard but Maestro has managed to sneak the leg through.

Maestro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maestro is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Vuce!
Matija Maestro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maestro controlling from mount.
Maestro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vuce is looking to escape.
Vuce has given up his back. Will we see Maestro going for some submissions?
Maestro slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuce can't escape the position.

Maestro working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Vuce is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Maestro has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Vuce taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matija Maestro!
Matija Maestro seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.