PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maiah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hands Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maiah
vs
Stone

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Demian Maiah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hands Stone!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone closes the distance and clinches up with Maiah, looking for a takedown. Stone pushes Maiah against the cage but Maiah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maiah slaps away a takedown attempt from Stone, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Stone misses.
Maiah throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maiah misses with a combination

and Stone counters with a single leg into guard. Maiah didn't expect that.
Maiah is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maiah is on top in guard.
Stone wants to get back to his feet but Maiah is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maiah.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stone keeping moving, preventing Maiah from controlling successfully.
Maiah seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Stone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maiah. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maiah seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stone for as long as he can get away with.
Stone looking to control.
Stone keeping moving, preventing Maiah from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maiah throws a series of punches but Stone avoids them all with ease.

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.
Maiah scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Maiah defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stone.
Demian Maiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hands Stone.
Stone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Stone closes the distance and clinches up with Maiah, looking for a takedown. Stone pushes Maiah against the cage but Maiah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stone looks gassed!

Stone darts in and clinches Maiah up against the cage.
Stone misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maiah.
Maiah prevents a takedown attempt there.

Maiah pulls guard successfully.
Maiah trying to control the position here.
Stone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stone trying to control but Maiah is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maiah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stone defends it easily.

Stone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maiah has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stone has managed to get both his arms back between Maiah's legs - danger averted.
Stone postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stone seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Maiah is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Maiah trying to keep a closed guard but Stone is proving a slippery customer.

Maiah has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Demian Maiah will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maiah defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stone.
Demian Maiah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stone shoots in for a double leg but Maiah sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stone shoots in but Maiah avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Demian Maiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hands Stone.
Stone shoots for a double leg takedown but Maiah sprawls well. He's pushed Stone's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stone stuffs the takedown attempt from Maiah. Maiah gets slowly back to his feet.
Maiah looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stone is fending him off so far but Maiah persists. Nope, Stone circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone is looking to clinch.
Maiah defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stone.
Stone is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone misses with a low kick.
Stone doesn't manage to clinch there - Maiah circles away.
Stone dives in and grabs Maiah's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maiah pushes down on Stone's head and hops out.
Maiah waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stone.
Maiah tries for a takedown but Stone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maiah has a takedown stuffed.
Stone takes a swing at Maiah's ribcage but misses.
Stone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maiah but Maiah pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Maiah looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as Maiah sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Maiah seems to be looking for submissions.
Maiah thows a huge punch but Stone dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stone is refusing to be controlled, as Maiah sits in half guard.
Maiah thows a huge punch but Stone dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maiah swats away the attempt to clinch by Stone.
Maiah misses with a straight left.
Stone tries to clinch but Maiah moves out of range.
Maiah shoots in for a double leg but Stone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maiah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stone.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
No luck for Stone with that takedown attempt.

Stone scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maiah is trying to control Stone's posture but Stone avoids it.
Maiah is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Maiah's face as Stone controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Demian Maiah will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stone throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stone shoots in and drives through. Maiah sprawls well.
Stone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maiah.
Stone closes the distance and clinches up with Maiah, looking for a takedown. Stone pushes Maiah against the cage but Maiah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Demian Maiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hands Stone.
Maiah thows a body kick. Stone tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Maiah pushes Stone up against the cage in a clinch.

Maiah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maiah is defended easily by Stone.
Maiah shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stone defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maiah shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Stone to counter with a crisp jab.
Stone shoots in looking for a takedown. Maiah tries to sprawl out of it but Stone keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maiah manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stone closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maiah counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maiah.
Stone is trying to break the clinch but Maiah has him pressed against the cage.
Stone looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maiah letting Stone take a breather here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stone gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maiah.
Stone wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stone jumps guard but Maiah stands there with Stone around his waist. Stone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stone tries to pull guard but Maiah won't allow it.

Maiah jumps guard.
Maiah has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Maiah looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maiah lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stone!
Stone tries to hold on but Maiah postures up.
Maiah thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maiah wants to control the pace but Stone is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stone wants to get back to his feet.
Maiah takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Stone is squirming around, avoiding Maiah's attempts to control the action.
Stone tries to hold on but Maiah postures up.
Hands Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demian Maiah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maiah punching from mount but Stone doing a good job of avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Maiah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maiah 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Maiah!