PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Maki (ranked 500 p4p, 1765 weight class) and Murilo Ninja (ranked 68 p4p, 214 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maki
vs
Ninja

182 cm
26
186
11 - 3 - 1

176 cm
42
187
29 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Maki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Murilo Ninja!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja takes a swing at Maki's ribcage but misses.
Maki swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ninja throws a nice looking combination but Maki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maki half committed to a counter leg kick.
Murilo Ninja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maki avoids the body shot from Ninja.
Maki jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ninja fails with the takedown
and Maki counters with a leg kick.
Ninja throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Maki to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Murilo Ninja has been cut.
Jab from Ninja.
Ninja misses with a jab to the body
and Maki counters with a stiff right hand.
Ninja fails with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Maki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ninja throws a series of punches but Maki avoids them all with ease.
Maki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ninja throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Maki is fending him off so far but Ninja persists. Nope, Maki circles away and we're back to standing.
Maki half committed to a counter leg kick.
Seppo Maki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Ninja.

Ninja gets the takedown into side control.
Maki tries to buck Ninja off but Ninja is having none of it.
Ninja is looking to take a break and control but Maki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ninja creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Maki sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ninja in side control, throwing shots but Maki defends.
Maki is not content to let Ninja control the position.
Maki can't do much from the bottom here.
An elbow from Ninja crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Maki is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Maki manages to get back to half guard.
Ninja is trying to control the action in half guard but Maki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maki is refusing to be controlled, as Ninja sits in half guard.
Ninja controlling the pace.
Ninja throwing shots but Maki is blocking nicely.
Ninja wants to control but Maki is keeping him busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Ninja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maki defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ninja is keen to just control but Maki is a slippery customer.
Ninja working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ninja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ninja throwing shots but Maki is blocking nicely.
Ninja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maki gets back to full guard.
Ninja postures up in Maki's guard and throws a big left but Maki blocks it.
Ninja is looking to work some ground and pound but Maki has wrist control.
Maki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ninja postures up.
Ninja lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
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.
Ninja lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ninja is looking to work some ground and pound but Maki has wrist control.
Ninja is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ninja is looking to work some ground and pound but Maki has wrist control.
Ninja cracks Maki with a solid left hand.
Ninja throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ninja slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ninja landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Ninja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Murilo Ninja's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ninja shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maki pinned against the cage. Maki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ninja takes a swing at Maki's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ninja is defended easily by Maki.
Maki is looking to counter with a body kick.
Maki throws a solid leg kick but Ninja takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maki.
Ninja tries to close the distance and clinch but Maki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maki throwing a counter right hand but Ninja manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ninja drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Murilo Ninja has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ninja in side control, throwing shots but Maki defends.
Maki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Maki tries to get out of the position.
Maki takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja is chipping away with strikes.
Maki managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ninja.
Maki dodges the ground and pound from Ninja.
Ninja misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ninja trying to control the position but Maki is working away.
Maki takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Maki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ninja connects with a decent elbow.
Ninja is putting a hurting on Maki here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ninja works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ninja cracks Maki with a big elbow.
Ninja throws an elbow but Maki slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja working the head and body with strikes.
Ninja fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Ninja landing strikes.
Ninja wants to control but Maki is keeping him busy.
Maki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ninja on the ground.
Ninja looks up at the clock and then as Maki takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ninja smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ninja looks up at the clock and then as Maki takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ninja smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ninja in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sloppy strikes there by Ninja.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maki tries to bench press Ninja off him but Ninja keeps the position.
Ninja in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja scoring with punches and elbows.
Ninja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ninja connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Maki some visible discomfort.
Ninja lands a few punches from side control.
Ninja working the ground and pound but Maki is defending the strikes.
Maki is letting Ninja control him for a moment.
Ninja lands a few punches from side control.
Maki wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ninja landing a few strikes.
Ninja misses with the ground and pound.
Maki struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Maki some visible discomfort.
Ninja staying calm.
Ninja working the ground and pound.
Ninja scoring with punches from side control.
Maki is looking for a sweep.
Ninja scoring with punches from side control.
Ninja throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Maki works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Ninja working Maki over with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Murilo Ninja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Murilo Ninja's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ninja, as that shot connected.
Murilo Ninja seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ninja changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ninja lands a nice forearm strike.
Maki is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ninja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maki keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Maki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ninja looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maki is avoiding damage well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Ninja fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maki keeps working.
Check out the look on Ninja's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ninja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maki keeps working.
Ninja working the body and head with strikes.
Maki wants to control but Ninja postures up.

That's two 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.
Maki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Maki's face as Ninja controls the position.
Ninja working the body and head with strikes.
Ninja connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Maki some visible discomfort.
Ninja throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ninja lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Maki down.
Maki avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ninja.
Ninja tries to score with some ground and pound. Maki controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Maki takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Maki takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ninja in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ninja is chipping away with strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ninja works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ninja in side control lands a decent elbow.
The strikes coming from Ninja are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maki is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ninja working away.
Ninja scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maki to see if he's OK.
Ninja moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja scoring with punches from side control.
Ninja lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Maki down.
Ninja cracks Maki with a big elbow.
Maki is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ninja connects with a decent elbow.
Ninja trying to control the position but Maki is working away.
Murilo Ninja is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ninja taking a breather here.
Ninja throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Seppo Maki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ninja is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Maki's shoulder. That is not cool.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murilo Ninja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ninja has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murilo Ninja!
Murilo Ninja took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Altitude Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.