PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and MIKE HAWK (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maia
vs
HAWK

185 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anderson Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, MIKE HAWK!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

HAWK scores a takedown into full mount!
HAWK throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Maia tries to hold on but HAWK postures up.
HAWK throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
HAWK tries to control but Maia wriggling away.
Maia is trying to escape the mount.
HAWK is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Maia blocking the ground and pound.
HAWK avoids the attempt from Maia to control.

HAWK is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Maia has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Maia!
Maia won't allow HAWK to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HAWK tries to strike from the bottom.
Maia stops HAWK from standing up.
HAWK trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! HAWK is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and HAWK manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into HAWK's guard.
HAWK really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
HAWK wants to sweep but no luck.
HAWK throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maia slips nicely into half guard.

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maia is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HAWK wants to control but Maia is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia prevents HAWK from improving his position.
HAWK is trying to stand.
HAWK trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Maia with shots to the head and body - HAWK looks very uncomfortable down there.
HAWK really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maia wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia avoids the attempt from HAWK to control.
HAWK is desperately trying to improve his position but Maia has a good base and remains in mount.
HAWK wants to control but Maia is having none of it.
HAWK really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
HAWK wants to control but Maia is having none of it.
HAWK is working to get back to half guard.

Maia working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Maia lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
HAWK can't escape the position.

Maia has hold of HAWK's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and HAWK manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Maia avoids the attempt from HAWK to control.
Maia blocks HAWK's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Maia controlling the position easily from mount.
HAWK keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Maia dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

HAWK tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maia is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in HAWK's half guard.
HAWK trying to control here.

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Maia wants to take a breather but HAWK is having none of it.
HAWK wants to stand back up but Maia manages to pass into side control.
Maia working away.
HAWK is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Maia is staying active.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - HAWK looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
HAWK tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
HAWK misses with the combination.

HAWK gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia throwing strikes from guard but HAWK blocks nicely.
HAWK not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
HAWK wants to stand up but Maia is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HAWK is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.

Maia gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
HAWK rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.

Maia throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. HAWK was covering up waiting for the punch and Maia finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maia works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maia is trying to control. HAWK wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
HAWK is trying to get back to full guard.
HAWK wants to get back to his feet.
Maia controlling the action here.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, HAWK has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HAWK looks like he's trying to stand up.
Maia trying to mount his opponent but HAWK defends it.
Anderson Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
HAWK is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maia's back!
Maia turns into HAWK and is now in his guard.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from HAWK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
HAWK trying to control the position.
Maia won't allow HAWK to sweep him here.
Maia showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
HAWK is trying to keep Maia in close.
HAWK is trying to hold Maia in close to prevent damage but Maia has managed to pass into half guard.
Maia is thwarting HAWK's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
HAWK swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Maia dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

HAWK misses with a takedown attempt

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into side control. HAWK won't be happy with that.

Maia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Maia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but HAWK is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on HAWK's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Maia trying to control the action but HAWK is working from the bottom.
HAWK manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HAWK not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maia is trying to control but can't.
Maia won't allow HAWK to pass to mount.
HAWK lands strikes from half guard.
HAWK working over Maia with some ground and pound. Maia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
HAWK not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
HAWK missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
HAWK is keen to just control but Maia is a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
HAWK throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but HAWK is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
HAWK is trying to keep Maia in close.
MIKE HAWK has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. HAWK swivels though and keeps the full guard.
HAWK looking for a sweep. Not yet HAWK, not yet.
HAWK wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
HAWK not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anderson Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Maia scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
HAWK is not content to let Maia control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

HAWK looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
HAWK is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him
Maia keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
HAWK trying to control here.
HAWK wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Maia in particular looking to stall.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jab by Maia.
Anderson Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
HAWK tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four 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.

Maia shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches HAWK napping and manages to drive through into side control!
HAWK wants to get back to his feet but Maia is dominant here and he's now got HAWK's back!
HAWK looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Maia is hanging on to HAWK's back as he tries to escape.
Maia has good solid back control here.
HAWK tries to break free.
HAWK turns into Maia and is now in his guard.
Maia pulls HAWK in close to his closed guard and prevents HAWK from doing any damage or advancing position.
HAWK wants to stand but Maia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Maia!