PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Garth Haverbrook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damien Maia acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Haverbrook
vs
Maia

170 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Garth Haverbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Damien Maia!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia lands a nice shot that snaps Haverbrook's head back.
Maia fails to land with a series of punches.
Haverbrook blocks a jab.
Maia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Haverbrook closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Haverbrook stands up from half guard.
Haverbrook shoots in but Maia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Haverbrook is defended easily by Maia.
Haverbrook fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Haverbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia throws a shot from downtown. Haverbrook moves away and avoids it.
A combination from Maia does no damage.
A swing and a miss from Maia.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Haverbrook counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Haverbrook trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Haverbrook is controlling him.
Maia is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haverbrook trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Haverbrook could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Haverbrook is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two 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.
Haverbrook wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Haverbrook is looking to advance position but Maia has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
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 avoids the attempt from Haverbrook to control.
Maia throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Maia prevents Haverbrook from getting the reversal.
Maia controlling his opponent.
Haverbrook on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Haverbrook tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Haverbrook really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Haverbrook is breathing heavily.
Maia controlling from mount.
Maia looking to control but Haverbrook is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Maia get's back to his feet.
Haverbrook ducks under a wild hook from Maia.
Maia clinches but Haverbrook breaks the clinch

and Haverbrook counters by clinching up.

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.
Maia scores with a shot to the side of Haverbrook's head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Maia is looking to control Haverbrook's arms but Haverbrook gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maia has his back to the cage.
Haverbrook lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Maia misses with a combination
and Haverbrook counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Maia misses with a double jab

and Haverbrook counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maia has a closed guard, preventing Haverbrook from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Haverbrook stands and steps away. Maia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Haverbrook looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garth Haverbrook dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Haverbrook decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Haverbrook is trying to control the action in half guard but Maia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haverbrook is really struggling to control Maia but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Haverbrook stands up and beckons Maia to join him on the feet.
Maia lands a high kick!
Maia lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Haverbrook backs up against the cage.
Haverbrook lands with a cross.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Haverbrook closes the distance and pushes Maia back into the cage.
Haverbrook fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Haverbrook breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia looks to score with a jab to the body but Haverbrook is just out of range.

Haverbrook throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maia was covering up waiting for the punch and Haverbrook finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Haverbrook looking to sit in guard and control but Maia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maia wants to control from the top but Haverbrook keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Maia lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands with a straight right. Haverbrook didn't see that one coming.
Maia throws a hook but Haverbrook blocks it.

Haverbrook clinches up against the cage.
Haverbrook is trying to drag Maia to the mat but Maia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Haverbrook is working for takedown but Maia is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Haverbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Haverbrook gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maia.

Haverbrook has clasped his hands together around Maia's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Maia is trying to control Haverbrook's posture but Haverbrook avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haverbrook taking a breather here.
Maia is working to avoid the ground and pound but Haverbrook connects with a decent elbow.
Haverbrook trying to control the position but Maia is working away.
Haverbrook lands an elbow.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Haverbrook keeps moving and retains side control.
Maia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Haverbrook asserts his dominance and retains side control.

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.
Haverbrook taking a break here but Maia is having none of it and regains half guard.
Haverbrook is taking a breather. Maia says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garth Haverbrook dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maia wants to clinch

and Haverbrook counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Maia makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Haverbrook shoots and misses
and Maia counters with a left and a right that stings Haverbrook.
A punch combination from Maia misses.
A nice combination there by Maia.

Haverbrook clinches.
Haverbrook tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maia smiles and moves away.
Maia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Maia has managed to clinch.
A short right from Haverbrook on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Haverbrook has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Maia regains guard immediately.
Garth Haverbrook overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haverbrook trying to move into half guard but instead Maia has managed to sweep!
Maia won't allow Haverbrook to get back to his feet.

Haverbrook has an active guard here but Maia has managed to pass into half guard.
Haverbrook tries to kick Maia off but Maia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maia is keen to just control but Haverbrook is a slippery customer.
Maia content to control rather than advance.
Let's hope that Maia has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Haverbrook is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him
Maia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Maia wants to stand up but Haverbrook has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Maia prevents Haverbrook from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Haverbrook manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Haverbrook tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maia throws a wild body kick that Haverbrook sees coming a mile off.
Haverbrook fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garth Haverbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia throws a series of strikes that have Haverbrook backpedaling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haverbrook slips under a jab from Maia.
Maia thows a left - swing and a miss!
Damien Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Haverbrook has closed the distance and engaged Maia in a clinch.
Haverbrook goes for a takedown attempt but Maia pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Maia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Haverbrook.
Haverbrook fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maia tries a head kick but it misses.

Haverbrook 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.
Haverbrook trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Garth Haverbrook is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maia managing to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garth Haverbrook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haverbrook, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garth Haverbrook!