PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juuka Makamaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduardo Dantas (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.

Makamaki
vs
Dantas

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Helsinki, Juuka Makamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eduardo Dantas!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makamaki lands a two punch combo.

Makamaki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dantas did well to prevent Makamaki getting side control.
Makamaki wants to take a breather but Dantas is having none of it.
Makamaki is looking to advance position but Dantas won't allow it.
Makamaki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dantas wants to get back to full guard.
Makamaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dantas keeps working.
Makamaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dantas on the ground.
Dantas wants to control but Makamaki is keeping busy.
Makamaki trying to control from half guard but Dantas is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Makamaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dantas tries to avoid it but Makamaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dantas to the ground. Dantas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Makamaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makamaki goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dantas turns into him and now he's in Makamaki's guard.
Dantas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makamaki wants to improve his position but instead Dantas has moved into half guard.
Dantas stalling away here and it's allowed Makamaki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dantas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makamaki is keeping the position for now.
Makamaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Makamaki is looking for a triangle but Dantas pushes his legs off easily.
Makamaki is breathing heavily.
Dantas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dantas trying to control but Makamaki is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Makamaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dantas but Dantas pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Makamaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dantas wants a takedown but no success here.
Dantas wants a takedown.
Dantas looking for a takedown.
Juuka Makamaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eduardo Dantas.

Makamaki is trying to trip Dantas. He has hold of a leg but Dantas is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Makamaki persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Dantas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Makamaki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Makamaki controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantas keeping full guard, as Makamaki tries to pass.

Dantas looking for a guillotine here but Makamaki defends easily.
Makamaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dantas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dantas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Makamaki!
Dantas looking to control but Makamaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makamaki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dantas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Makamaki?
Makamaki wants to hold on but Dantas pushes him away.
Dantas lands a big elbow.
Dantas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Makamaki hang on?

Dantas looking to secure an arm triangle but Makamaki defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makamaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juuka Makamaki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Makamaki looks to land a combination but Dantas avoids it well.
Juuka Makamaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Makamaki moves into the clinch.
Dantas tries to score a body lock takedown but Makamaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dantas letting Makamaki take a breather here.
Dantas prevents a takedown attempt there.

Makamaki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Dantas has a closed guard, preventing Makamaki from standing up.
Dantas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dantas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Makamaki!
Dantas unloading with bombs!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dantas is working for a guillotine from mount but Makamaki frees his head quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makamaki is squirming around, avoiding Dantas's attempts to control the action.
Makamaki avoids a series of strikes thrown by Dantas.
Makamaki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Dantas working for a guillotine from mount but Makamaki is in no mood to give up.
Dantas has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Makamaki's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dantas throws some wild stikes that Makamaki manages to avoid easily.

Dantas is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Makamaki is surviving well by controlling Dantas's body position as best he can.
Dantas thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Makamaki is desperately trying to improve his position but Dantas has a good base and remains in mount.
Makamaki tries to lock up and control but Dantas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dantas breaks from Makamaki's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Dantas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Makamaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Dantas.
Makamaki tries to reverse the position but Dantas maintains control.
Dantas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Makamaki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Dantas jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Makamaki is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Makamaki and Dantas has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Makamaki managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dantas.
Juuka Makamaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Makamaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dantas works to advance to full mount. Makamaki defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dantas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Makamaki is looking to escape.
Makamaki tries to hold on but Dantas pushes him away.
BOOM! Dantas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Dantas prevents Makamaki from getting the reversal.
Makamaki wants to hold on but Dantas pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dantas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Makamaki can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Makamaki tries to reverse the position but Dantas maintains control.
Dantas looking to control but Makamaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
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 Juuka Makamaki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Makamaki fails with the takedown.

Makamaki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dantas's half guard.
Makamaki wants to pass to mount but Dantas is defending the position.
Makamaki thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Dantas to regain full guard.

Dantas working for a triangle but Makamaki defends it easily.

Dantas has his foot on Makamaki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Makamaki works his way back into a safe position though.
Makamaki trying to control but Dantas is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantas striking off his back.
Makamaki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dantas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dantas is looking for a triangle but Makamaki pushes his legs off easily.
Makamaki is stalling in the full guard.
Dantas is trying to control the position but Makamaki postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Dantas as Makamaki shoots in.
Dantas fails with the takedown

and Makamaki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Makamaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Makamaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makamaki has his takedown stuffed

and Dantas counters with a single leg into guard. Makamaki didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juuka Makamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makamaki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Makamaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Makamaki keeping moving, preventing Dantas from controlling successfully.
Makamaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Dantas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makamaki is not content to let Dantas control the position.
Makamaki is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Dantas is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Dantas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Dantas is working for a guillotine from mount but Makamaki frees his head quite easily.
Makamaki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dantas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Makamaki is trying to escape the mount.
Makamaki is working hard here to advance position.
Makamaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Eduardo Dantas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juuka Makamaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Makamaki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Dantas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Makamaki 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Juuka Makamaki!