PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Maddox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Staples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitch Staples has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maddox
vs
Staples

180 cm
24
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

175 cm
24
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ken Maddox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mitch Staples!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Staples - just one landing.
Maddox defending well as Staples loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot lands for Staples.
Maddox has a takedown stuffed.
Maddox has a takedown stuffed.
Staples is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maddox.
Maddox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Staples swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Maddox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Staples tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maddox bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Staples tries to clinch there but Maddox circles away.
Staples tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Staples just misses with a punch to the body.
Maddox slips under a jab.
Staples tries to clinch but Maddox moves out of range.
Staples lands a nice hook to Maddox's body. Maddox takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Staples takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Maddox circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maddox moves away.
Staples is looking to clinch.
Staples moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mitch Staples seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staples lands with a good body shot.
Staples is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Staples tries to clinch there but Maddox circles away.
Staples displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maddox.
Staples fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maddox manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Staples.
Maddox slips a jab from Staples.
Maddox circles away from the clinch attempt.
Staples tries to close the distance and clinch but Maddox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Staples takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Staples fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staples swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Staples misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maddox blocks an uppercut.
Staples misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maddox.
Staples has a couple of punches blocked by Maddox.
Staples has a couple of punches blocked by Maddox.
Staples scores with a shoulder strike.
Maddox blocks an uppercut.
Staples is working Maddox over against the cage.
Maddox drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maddox is working for takedown but Staples is calmly controlling the position for now.
Staples has a couple of punches blocked by Maddox.
Maddox blocking some punches.
Staples working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Staples.
Staples lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maddox backwards.
A short uppercut from Staples.
Staples misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maddox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Staples throws a head punch that misses.

Maddox has clasped his hands together around Staples's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Staples struggling a bit here.
Maddox postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Maddox throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Staples is looking for a sweep.
Staples wants to control but Maddox postures up.
Staples manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Staples wants to get back to full guard.
Staples really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maddox. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Staples throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maddox sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maddox misses the jab.
Maddox uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Staples.
Staples slips a jab from Maddox.
Mitch Staples is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Staples wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staples tries to clinch but Maddox moves out of range.
Maddox bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Staples tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maddox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Maddox or perhaps it was just good defense by Staples which made him look bad.

Maddox bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Maddox working away.
Staples takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Staples is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Staples is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maddox has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Staples is looking to reverse the position.
Maddox scoring with punches from side control.
Staples is trying to control Maddox's posture but Maddox avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Staples dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maddox scores with a hook.
Staples tries to clinch there but Maddox circles away.
Staples fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maddox is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Staples throws a series of punches but Maddox moves out of range.
Maddox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Staples circles away.
Staples misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maddox uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Staples.

Maddox drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maddox tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Maddox prevents Staples from escaping the position.
Maddox 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.
Staples tries to bench press Maddox off him but Maddox keeps the position.
Maddox throws an elbow but Staples slips to the side and avoids it well.
Staples wants to control but Maddox postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maddox tries to score with some ground and pound. Staples controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staples is trying to control Maddox's posture but Maddox avoids it.
Maddox is chipping away with strikes.
Staples on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Staples tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maddox prevents Staples from escaping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Staples is looking to regain half guard here but Maddox keeps moving and retains side control.
Maddox working away.
Maddox looks up at the clock and then as Staples takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Maddox smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Staples gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Maddox winds up and cracks Staples with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maddox sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Staples defending well though.
Staples looks like he's trying to stand up.
Staples is breathing heavily.
Maddox lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Maddox working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maddox is trying to control the action in half guard but Staples is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maddox sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Staples defending well though.
Staples has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maddox is working away from the top position though.
Maddox wants to take a breather but Staples is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Staples is looking to clinch.
Staples throws the left hand but Maddox avoids the punch easily.
Staples throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Staples lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Staples wants to clinch up but Maddox keeps it at a distance.
Maddox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Staples sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maddox somewhat.
Staples is looking to clinch.
Maddox swats away the attempt to clinch by Staples.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples tries to clinch up.
Maddox takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A looping hook to the body misses from Staples. Maddox does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maddox misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Maddox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maddox staying out of range there.
Staples doesn't manage to clinch there - Maddox circles away.
Staples tries to clinch but Maddox moves out of range.
Maddox misses with a straight right.
Staples looks to land a left hand but Maddox moved out of range nicely.
Staples works Maddox's body with a nice hook.

Staples moves into the clinch successfully.
Maddox wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maddox blocks an uppercut.

That's four 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.
A body shot lands from Staples.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maddox.
Staples lands a shoulder strike.
Staples misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maddox takes a shot to the head.
Staples fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Staples misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Staples swings wildly with an uppercut but Maddox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staples scores with a shot to the side of Maddox's head.
Staples misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Staples fails to land.
Staples swings wildly with an uppercut but Maddox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Staples misses with the head strike.
Maddox has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Staples tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Staples stops a takedown attempt from Maddox.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maddox.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mitch Staples will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Staples as he connects with a hook.
A jab from Staples misses.
A jab from Staples misses.
Staples wants to clinch up but Maddox keeps it at a distance.
Staples keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Staples does it's job there.
Staples throws a lazy right hand but Maddox sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maddox on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Staples is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Staples misses with a jab to the body

and Maddox counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Staples's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maddox landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Maddox creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Staples throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Staples takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Staples finds it's way through Maddox's defenses.
Staples fails to land with a series of punches.
Maddox on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Staples misses with a shot to the body
enabling Maddox to counter with a crisp jab.
Staples missing with a left hand there. Maddox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Staples closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maddox counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maddox throws a combination. Staples tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Staples throws a lazy right hand but Maddox sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Staples. That snapped Maddox's head back.
Staples ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Maddox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Staples throws a series of punches but Maddox moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staples throws a half hearted mid kick.
Maddox throws a body punch but Staples moves out of range.
Staples throws a big shot that misses.
Staples closes the distance but Maddox moves to the side

and Maddox counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Staples's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maddox scoring with some ground and pound.
Maddox postures up in Staples's guard and throws a big left but Staples blocks it.
Staples looking to control.
Maddox trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maddox stopping the sweep attempt from Staples.
Maddox is working Staples over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Staples manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maddox manages to get himself to full guard.
Staples is looking to advance position but Maddox has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staples taking shots to the head.
Staples tries to lock up and control but Maddox gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maddox unloading with bombs!
Staples regains half guard.
Ken Maddox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Staples is trying to stand.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Maddox connects with a nice short shot to Staples's temple.
Staples wants to control but Maddox is keeping busy.
Maddox working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maddox prevents Staples from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Maddox.
Staples is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maddox scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Staples is not content to let Maddox control the position.
Maddox takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Staples has his hands clasped together around Maddox's back. He's all about the action.
Maddox throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maddox working the head and body with strikes.
Staples tries to roll over but Maddox keeps him under control.
Maddox is looking to advance position but Staples won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maddox lands strikes from half guard.
Staples gets full guard.
Ken Maddox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mitch Staples is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Staples wants to get back to his feet but Maddox is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Maddox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Staples 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!