PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sheldon Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maia's choice of entrance music: Bleed It Out. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Maia

182 cm
25
197 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
193 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Firebird Designs
Broken Halo Pride Nutrition

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sheldon Maia!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Sheldon Maia has been cut.
Smith throws a lazy head kick
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Dan Smith has been cut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Maia crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Smith - the referee stops the clock and Maia gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Smith. Maia manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Maia tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a good low kick that Maia was not able to check.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Maia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt
and Maia takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Maia tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Maia is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Dan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sheldon Maia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thows a leg kick but Maia checks it
and Maia counters with a leg kick.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maia.
Maia takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maia thinking.
Maia shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.

That has opened up Sheldon Maia's cut even more.
Smith throws a head kick but Maia moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a nice leg kick.
Maia looks gassed!
Smith fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maia has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith lands a lovely overhand right.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a solid body kick.
Smith throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Maia trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith pulls Maia in close to prevent any damage.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Maia trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Dan Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maia with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Dan Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Maia shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good work by Maia as he checks the leg kick.
Smith scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maia doesn't seem bothered though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Smith dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Smith moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maia has his takedown stuffed
letting Smith counter with a right hand.

The cut above Sheldon Maia's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Maia is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maia fails with the takedown
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Dan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sheldon Maia.
Maia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Maia tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia fails with the takedown
and Smith counters with an inside leg kick.
Smith throws a head kick but Maia moves out of range.
Smith tries to score with a low kick but Maia moves his leg out of the way.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Smith fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a front kick.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a nice body kick.
Smith lands with a right hand.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Smith counters with a big head kick but Maia shrugs it off.

Sheldon Maia's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some bone on bone action there as Maia checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks the inside of Maia's front leg.
Maia has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Smith.
Smith looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maia shoots and misses
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Smith getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Smith is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maia can do to turn this around?
Smith stops Maia from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Smith dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maia tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a straight right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Maia really felt that one!
Smith tries to work over Maia's front leg with a kick but Maia checks it.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Smith counters with a body kick.
Dan Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sheldon Maia.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Maia blocks the low kick.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a big head kick but Maia shrugs it off.
Maia on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maia keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a lazy body kick

so Maia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia advances to half guard.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maia tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.
Maia wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.
Smith wants to control but Maia is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maia passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Smith!
Maia trying to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith is working to get back to half guard.

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.
Smith has given up his back. Will we see Maia going for some submissions?

Maia looking for the RNC.

Maia looking for the choke from the back.
Sheldon Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Maia has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Maia lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sheldon Maia.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Smith!