PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Jacko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sheldon Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacko comes to the cage accompanied by Eye Of The Tiger. Maia is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Basket Case. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jacko
vs
Maia

200 cm
27
199 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

185 cm
21
193 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite 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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Jacko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sheldon Maia!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jacko throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jacko as he jumps to the side.
Jacko misses with a head kick.
Jacko wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.
Jacko lands a right hook to the body.

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Maia slips nicely into half guard.
Jacko gets back to full guard.
Maia wants to control from the top but Jacko keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jacko is on top in guard.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.
Jacko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia pulls Jacko in to control the position.
Maia is trying to keep Jacko in close.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jacko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jacko trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jacko is one step ahead there.
Jacko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maia wants to improve his position but instead Jacko has moved into half guard.
Maia gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maia controls Jacko momentarily but Jacko frees himself.
Jacko wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to keep Jacko in close.
Maia 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.
Jacko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jacko is looking to control Maia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jacko avoid being mounted?
Maia is pressing down on Jacko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jacko is holding on for now.
Jacko is trying to control but can't.
Maia wants to control but Jacko is keeping him busy.

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

Maia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jacko is just riding it out for now. Maia eventually gives up the hold.
Maia passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jacko!
Jacko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Maia wants to finish this one by submission but Jacko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Maia.
Jacko tries to reverse the position but Maia maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jacko stops Maia from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Jacko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sheldon Maia dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jacko misses with a body kick.
Jacko throws a head kick but Maia moves out of range.
Jacko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jacko stuffs the takedown attempt from Maia. Maia gets slowly back to his feet.
Maia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jacko swivels and escapes.
Jacko moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.
Jacko lands a nice shot to the body.
Maia tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice sprawl there from Jacko as Maia shoots in.
James Jacko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sheldon Maia.
Maia misses with a body kick.
Jacko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Jacko has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jacko pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Maia lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Jacko is staying active underneath Maia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jacko wants to control but Maia passes into side.
Jacko struggling a bit here.
Maia wants to control but Jacko is keeping him busy.
Jacko is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maia asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Jacko controls the position for a moment.
Maia staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacko is trying to get back to half guard.
Jacko can't do much from the bottom here.
Jacko gets back to half guard.
Maia moves into full mount! Jacko won't be happy about that!
Jacko is squirming around, avoiding Maia's attempts to control the action.
Jacko is trying to escape the mount but Maia keeps good control and instead manages to take Jacko's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jacko preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Maia.

Maia looking for the choke from the back.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Jacko is keeping busy.
Maia gets his hands free as Jacko looks to control.

Jacko defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Maia tries to keep control of the position but Jacko is staying busy.
Jacko wants to control his opponent's hands but Maia gets his hands free.
Maia is trying to stick to Jacko's back but Jacko is turning into Maia. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Maia's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jacko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia 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.

Maia is looking for a triangle but Jacko pushes his legs off easily.
Jacko won't allow Maia to sweep him here.
Jacko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jacko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
James Jacko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jacko attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jacko.

Jacko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jacko being controlled here, momentarily.
Jacko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sheldon Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Jacko throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.

Maia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jacko tries to improve position but can't.
Maia has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Jacko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maia mounts Jacko! Really nice guard pass there!
Maia with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
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 moves to back control.

Jacko is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maia gets his way!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maia trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jacko trying to control the hands but Maia won't let him.

Maia is working for a rear naked choke. Jacko is not defending it well and Maia has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Jacko refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Jacko's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sheldon Maia!