PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Steve (ranked 1317 p4p, 2007 weight class) and Aslak Maitonaama (ranked 187 p4p, 278 weight class). Stephen Steve could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aslak Maitonaama's chin.

Steve
vs
Maitonaama

180 cm
30
177
15 - 13 - 0

185 cm
29
175
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aslak Maitonaama!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve throws a hook but Maitonaama blocks it.

Maitonaama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maitonaama works to advance to full mount. Steve defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Maitonaama controlling his opponent.
Steve is squirming around, avoiding Maitonaama's attempts to control the action.
Steve is trying to escape the mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve tries to lock up and control but Maitonaama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve working to try and regain half guard.
Steve is squirming around, avoiding Maitonaama's attempts to control the action.
Steve taking shots to the head.
Maitonaama scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Steve tries to reverse the position but Maitonaama maintains control.
Maitonaama tries to control but Steve wriggling away.
Steve is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve controls the position.
Steve working to try and regain half guard.
Steve tries to lock up and control but Maitonaama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steve is trying to escape the mount.
Steve tries to hold on but Maitonaama pushes him away.
Steve is in all sorts of trouble here.
Steve is squirming around, avoiding Maitonaama's attempts to control the action.
Maitonaama prevents Steve from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries to lock up and control but Maitonaama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steve is in a horrible position here. Maitonaama smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Steve is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maitonaama has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Steve's face.
Steve tries to lock up and control but Maitonaama gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Steve gets back to half guard.
Maitonaama content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maitonaama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Steve's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama trying to control the action but Steve is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steve has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maitonaama is working away from the top position though.
Steve is looking for a sweep. Maitonaama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Steve keeping control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steve is looking for a sweep. Maitonaama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aslak Maitonaama dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Steve. No joy for Maitonaama on that attempt.
Stephen Steve is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maitonaama keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maitonaama avoids the body shot from Steve.
It seemed like Maitonaama was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maitonaama.
Steve comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maitonaama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Steve.
A shot to the liver by Steve. Beautiful body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve misses with a combination
and Maitonaama counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Maitonaama misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Maitonaama misses.
Steve bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Steve.
Steve connects with a solid leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Steve.
Steve dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maitonaama. That did some damage!
Steve throws the left hand but Maitonaama avoids the punch easily.
Maitonaama now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Steve fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maitonaama has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Steve throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steve moves into range and clinches up with Maitonaama.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Steve is leaning against Maitonaama and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve lands a good knee to the midsection. Maitonaama won't want to take too many of those.
Maitonaama misses with a knee to the head.
Maitonaama is working for takedown but Steve is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steve gets through Maitonaama's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Maitonaama is breathing heavily.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
Maitonaama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Steve has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Steve.
Maitonaama working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steve misses with a left hand
and Maitonaama counters with a left to the body.
Maitonaama throws a body punch but Steve moves out of range.
Steve half committed to a counter leg kick.
Steve throws a body punch but Maitonaama moves out of range.
Steve connects with a leg kick.
Steve feints and then cracks Maitonaama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maitonaama down.
Steve scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick from Steve, right into the meat of the thigh.
Steve throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve moves out of range of the strikes.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maitonaama.
Maitonaama misses with a looping left.
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maitonaama.
A big left from Maitonaama misses.
Maitonaama misses with a right hand
and Steve counters with a nice body shot.
Steve with the inside leg kick.
Maitonaama takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
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!
Steve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maitonaama.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maitonaama slips under a jab from Steve.
Maitonaama throws out a counter right but Steve avoids it with no problem.
Maitonaama takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maitonaama misses with a hook
and Steve counters with a series of strikes. Maitonaama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Steve takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Steve swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maitonaama throws a right hand that misses

and Steve holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Steve can't break the clinch.
Steve stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve just leaning against Maitonaama, taking a breather.
Steve throws a head punch that misses.
Maitonaama landing knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Steve fails to land.
Maitonaama is working for takedown but Steve is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steve putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maitonaama in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Maitonaama's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Steve tries a body shot but Maitonaama blocks it.
Steve lands a left hand.
Steve lands a shoulder strike.
Maitonaama looking for a takedown.
Maitonaama changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Steve fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stephen Steve has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aslak Maitonaama.
Steve takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maitonaama in his tracks.
Steve throws a lazy uppercut
and Maitonaama counters with a nice body shot.
Maitonaama lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steve throws a sloppy head kick and Maitonaama moves out of range easily.
Steve connects with a body shot that sends Maitonaama's belly button to the back.

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

Steve throws Maitonaama to one side and escapes!
Steve scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Steve throws a one two combo.
Maitonaama shoots and misses
and Steve counters with a leg kick.
Maitonaama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maitonaama looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Maitonaama is just out of range.
Maitonaama drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Steve defends it well.
Steve dips to his left and cracks Maitonaama with an uppercut!
Steve is looking to wear down Maitonaama with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Steve misses the body punch
and Maitonaama counters with a left to the body.
Maitonaama fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Steve.
Maitonaama wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steve throws a quick inside leg kick.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Steve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maitonaama.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maitonaama swings away with a body shot that misses
and Steve counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stephen Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Maitonaama.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Steve has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Steve!
Stephen Steve was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.