PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Journey - Separate Ways. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maia
vs

185 cm
19
199 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akuma !
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
tries to hold on but Maia postures up.
Maia wants to control the pace but is squirming around nicely.
avoids a strike by Maia and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Maia's guard! Fantastic escape!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
with a nice head shot there.
trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maia.
Maia is not content to let control the position.

is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maia has escaped the position, nice work there.
misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

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.
Maia prevents from improving position.

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

Maia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.
lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maia!
Maia is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia wants to hold on but pushes him away.
can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maia is looking to escape.
scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Maia regains half guard.
passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
tries to control but Maia wriggling away.
might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maia kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
cracks Maia with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Maia 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.

Akuma dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

has his takedown stuffed

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

has Maia pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maia tumbling to the mat - dives into Maia's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.
Maia makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Maia has gone for a leg lock! slips out almost immediately though and dives into Maia's guard.
advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
controlling the action here.
Maia tries to get to full guard but has control of the leg.
Maia moves into full guard.
trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Maia has an active guard here but has managed to pass into half guard.
winds up and cracks Maia with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but pulls his head out easily.
is stalling here. Maia is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Maia has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Maia tries to move to mount but blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maia's best efforts.
gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as holds on and takes a little breather.
utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four 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.
is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.
tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia blocks a jab.
Anderson Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
tries to clinch up

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
is staying active underneath Maia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Akuma will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maia connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between 's hands.
scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
throws a series of punches but Maia moves out of range.
throws a combination. Maia tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Maia closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming to the mat! manages to get full guard.
Maia postures up and lands a big shot to 's brow.
lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maia!
Maia can't escape the position.

is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Maia has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia regains half guard.
missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take 's back!
Maia misses with a punch to the head.
Maia landing with strikes.
can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
takes a big shot to the side of the head.
is trying to stand back up.
takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maia connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for to escape the position.

Maia is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Maia off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Anderson Maia!