PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Maron (ranked 853 p4p, 1443 weight class) and Harrison Kiely (ranked 99 p4p, 171 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Harrison Kiely enters the cage!

Maron
vs
Kiely

189 cm
24
291
6 - 2 - 0

197 cm
27
270
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Maron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harrison Kiely!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiely thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kiely scores with a decent looking hook.
Maron throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kiely with the counter takedown but Maron avoids it easily.

Kiely closes the distance and pushes Maron back into the cage.
Kiely looking for a takedown.
Maron looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kiely is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kiely throws a punch but it's blocked by Maron.
Kiely keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maron's efforts to push away.
Kiely misses with a punch on the inside.
Maron wants to break free but Kiely has control.

Maron breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maron lands with a kick to the temple. Kiely shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Maron lands a head shot.
Kiely cracks Maron with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maron misses with an uppercut.
Maron throws a hook but Kiely avoids it easily.
Maron throws a shot from downtown. Kiely moves away and avoids it.
Maron shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kiely lands a nice shot that snaps Maron's head back.
Maron tries to bum rush Kiely with a series of wild strikes but Kiely uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maron throws a hook to the side of Kiely's head but Kiely sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maron misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kiely.
Kiely drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Maron defends it well.
Kiely misses with a straight right.
Kiely misses the jab.
Maron lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kiely has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Jab, jab by Kiely - just one landing.
Kiely waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maron.
It looked like Maron wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Kiely closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maron quickly recovers to half guard.
Kiely controlling the action here.

Maron actively working from the bottom here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Kiely is working for a kimura but Maron is defending it quite comfortably.

Maron is defending against the submission attempts here by Kiely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maron looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kiely wants to pass the guard but Maron is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kiely keeps trying to improve his position.
Kiely is keen to just control but Maron is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiely keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kiely frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kiely controlling the position easily from mount.
We've been hearing good reports from Maron's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maron is looking to improve his position but Kiely isn't that keen on the idea.

Kiely is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Maron has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Maron!
Maron trying to control but Kiely is working from the bottom.
Kiely looking for a sweep. Not yet Kiely, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Harrison Kiely will probably get the nod.
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.

Maron ducks under a wild hook from Kiely.
Maron misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maron fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kiely looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kiely lands with a straight right. Maron didn't see that one coming.
The fighters circling - Kiely throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kiely ducks under a wild hook from Maron.
Kiely wants to clinch.
Kiely takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kiely moves out of range of the body kick from Maron.
Maron works the jab nicely.
Kiely moves out of range as Maron throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danga de danga de dang - Maron scores with a four punch combination!
A telegraphed right hand from Kiely misses the target.
Kiely walks into a stiff left hand from Maron.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A decent looking cross lands there for Kiely.
A telegraphed right hand from Maron misses the target.
Maron stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kiely shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Maron kicks off Kiely and gets to his feet.
The fighters circling - Maron throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maron avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice straight punches there by Maron. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maron.
A jab from Maron misses.
Maron takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kiely blocks a jab.
Mike Maron seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kiely defending well as Maron loads up on a big left hand.
Kiely thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maron looks to land a right hand but Kiely moved out of range.
Kiely misses with a looping right.
Maron takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maron lands a nice looking body shot.
Maron misses with a body shot.
Maron throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Kiely counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kiely.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Maron manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maron wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kiely has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Maron after a bit of a struggle.
Kiely misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maron blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kiely wants a takedown but no success here.
Kiely lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Maron or not.
Maron wants to break free but Kiely has control.
Kiely softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kiely is trying to maintain a safe position but Maron gets an underhook and turns Kiely into the cage.

Maron breaks the clinch.
Maron throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maron gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maron lands a glancing blow to the side of Kiely's head.
Maron throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kiely sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kiely lands with an uppercut that bounces Maron off the cage and back into range.
Maron ducks under a wild hook from Kiely.
A swing and a miss from Kiely.
Maron misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiely ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maron missing with a left hand there. Kiely was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maron slips under a jab from Kiely.
Kiely scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab from Kiely does it's job there.
Kiely fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maron avoids it really well and circles away.
Mike Maron has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harrison Kiely.
Kiely loads up on a big right hand but Maron slips the punch.
Maron gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kiely.
Maron scores with a one two! Kiely had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kiely ducks under a wild hook from Maron.
Maron throws the kick towards the body but Kiely avoids it.
Maron misses with a wild body shot.
Maron lands a jab to Kiely's midsection.
Kiely avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maron gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maron just misses with a punch to the body.
Kiely has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Maron fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kiely manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiely throws out a loose jab but Maron uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kiely gets a double leg takedown into Maron's guard.
Kiely trying to control but Maron is working from the bottom.
Kiely is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kiely passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kiely wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maron keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kiely moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Kiely has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Maron will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kiely throws a good cross that connects.
Kiely lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maron ducks under a wild hook from Kiely.
Maron swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kiely avoids the body shot from Maron.
Maron scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kiely cracks Maron with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maron moves out of range as Kiely strikes.
Maron swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kiely scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maron tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiely was well out of range. Poor timing from Maron.
Maron is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kiely.
Maron walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kiely might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kiely has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kiely there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maron dips to his left and cracks Kiely with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maron misses with a wild combination.
Maron keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kiely.
A jab from Kiely misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kiely misses the target.
Maron looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kiely will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kiely misses with a straight right.
Mike Maron is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiely throws a hook but Maron avoids it easily.
Maron takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Kiely closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maron sneaks out the side door and pushes Kiely away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Kiely stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maron.
Maron lands with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiely uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maron.
Kiely drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Maron defends it well.
A nice leg kick from Maron, right into the meat of the thigh.
A telegraphed right hand from Kiely misses the target.
Maron scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kiely doesn't seem bothered though.
Kiely's corner calls for a 1-2. Kiely obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maron missing with a left hand there. Kiely was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kiely looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maron misses with a straight left.
Maron uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kiely.
Maron listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Maron has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kiely finds it's way round the side to connect with Maron's head.
Maron jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kiely scores with a sloppy right hand. Maron should have avoided that one.
Maron looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kiely catches Maron with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maron moves forwards but Kiely connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kiely moves away from the strike by Maron.
Kiely throws a hook but Maron blocks it.
Maron misses with a looping right.
Kiely shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Maron ducks under a wild hook from Kiely.
Maron connects with a leg kick.
Maron slips a straight right by Kiely.

Kiely scores with a takedown into Maron's guard.
Kiely looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kiely wants to control from the top but Maron keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiely tries to free his leg and advance position but Maron is retaining full guard.
Kiely showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kiely trying to control but Maron is working from the bottom.
Kiely passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kiely tries to move to full mount but Maron actually manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maron won't allow Kiely to pass to mount.
Kiely stops Maron from getting back to his feet.

Kiely is looking for a kimura but Maron is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kiely to get the leverage.

Kiely is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kiely is just content to waste time from the top position. Maron takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kiely tries to free his leg and advance position but Maron is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harrison Kiely.
I think Kiely 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Harrison Kiely!
A relieved looking Harrison Kiely thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.