PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mag NE (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). NE is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Blå and Black - Nephew. Mag NE will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Maia
vs
NE

185 cm
20
199 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

(GTI) PROLETARIAN
(GTI) PROLETARIAN

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anderson Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mag NE!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia shoots in but NE avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.
NE uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maia.
Maia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
NE throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
No joy there for NE, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A jab from NE misses.
Maia staying out of range there.
Maia misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NE looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
NE swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from NE.
NE loads up on a big right hand but Maia slips the punch.
NE moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
NE jabbing away but nothing is landing.
NE swinging wildly here.
Good standup being displayed there by NE as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NE misses with a series of wild punches.
NE throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maia shoots for a takedown but NE saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Maia looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for NE!
NE tries to hold on but Maia pushes him away.

Maia looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Maia sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Maia lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NE is trying to escape the mount.
NE wants to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
Maia unloading with bombs!
NE tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maia raining down shots from the mount!
Maia is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. NE can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NE is in a horrible position here. Maia smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
NE can't escape the position.
Maia landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maia tries to control but NE wriggling away.
NE is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maia has hold of NE's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and NE manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Maia working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Maia dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

NE throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. NE tries to avoid it but Maia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag NE to the ground. NE escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
NE misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maia.
Maia dodges the punch combination from NE.
Maia moves out of range as NE strikes.
NE uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maia has time to react.
Maia shoots in looking for a takedown. NE tries to sprawl out of it but Maia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. NE manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? NE is fending him off so far but Maia persists. Nope, NE circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
NE misses with a double jab.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from NE.
Maia defending well as NE loads up on a big left hand.
NE swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
NE keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mag NE seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
NE rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mag NE is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by NE.
NE scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
NE swinging wildly here.

NE lands a left and a right that send Maia crashing to the mat, dazed. NE thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Maia is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
NE misses with a combination

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maia stops NE from standing up.
NE looking for a sweep. Not yet NE, not yet.
Maia is pushing down on NE's leg trying to pass to half guard. NE is fighting to maintain full guard but Maia has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia wants to take a breather but NE is having none of it.
NE wants to control but Maia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maia moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NE tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Maia looking to punish the body of his opponent here but NE is avoiding damage well.
Maia misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
NE misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from NE.

Maia feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maia is fighting to break NE's control of his arms but NE is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but NE is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia with a flurry of punches that miss.
NE trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.
NE keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia throwing strikes from guard but NE blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mag NE showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maia misses with a few strikes there.
NE throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maia counters with a stiff right hand.
NE swings and misses with a hook to the body.
NE scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Anderson Maia has been cut.
Mag NE seems to be getting the better of the standup.

NE lands a big uppercut and Maia crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Maia looks OK. NE waves Maia back to his feet!
Oh Maia is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maia tries for a takedown but NE sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
NE throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maia seems to have got his legs back now.
NE misses with a combination

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. NE fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maia with a flurry of punches that miss.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! NE is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and NE manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into NE's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
NE keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
NE wants to stand but Maia is controlling the position.
Maia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
NE preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
NE controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
NE swings for the body but Maia moves out of range.
Maia moves out of range of the strikes.
NE throws a combination that misses
and NE takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A leg kick checked by NE.
Maia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maia takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
NE lands a nice looking body shot.
NE rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
NE throws a right and a left that Maia avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
NE connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maia. Maia circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
NE lands a right hook to the body.
NE changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
NE misses with a two punch combination.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
NE trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.
NE is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
NE keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
NE 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.
Maia wants to pass the guard but NE is keeping the position.

NE working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as NE works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maia shoots in for a double leg but NE sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mag NE comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think NE 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mag NE!