PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Doan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pietro Maximoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Doan
vs
Maximoff

180 cm
18
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Lightning Fight Gear
Wellness Policy Muscle

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Doan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Pietro Maximoff!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Doan - just one landing.

Maximoff is rocked!
Doan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maximoff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maximoff is still on wobbly legs! Can Doan finish him?
Doan doesn't manage to clinch there - Maximoff circles away.
Maximoff seems to have recovered his senses.

Doan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Doan showed some decent athleticism there.
Maximoff is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Doan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Doan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Doan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Doan blocks the strikes from Maximoff.
Doan is keen to just control but Maximoff is a slippery customer.
Doan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Doan thows a huge punch but Maximoff dodges it nicely.
Maximoff gets back to full guard.
Doan sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Doan wants to control from the top but Maximoff keeps moving.
Maximoff wants to stand up but Doan is controlling him.
Maximoff doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Doan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Maximoff is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Maximoff pushes Doan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Maximoff doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Doan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maximoff looks gassed!
Doan tries to clinch but Maximoff moves out of range.

Doan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Doan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Doan postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doan controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Doan stands up from Maximoff's guard - Doan perhaps looking for a knockout.
Doan digs a good hook to Maximoff's body.

Doan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maximoff looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Maximoff takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Maximoff is trying to improve his position.
Maximoff can't do much from the bottom here.

Doan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maximoff knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff manages to get back to half guard.

Maximoff pushes Doan off and gets back to his feet.
Maximoff checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maximoff with a lazy takedown attempt

and Doan counters with a single leg into guard. Maximoff didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maximoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maximoff is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximoff 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Doan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maximoff rushes Doan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maximoff is trying to break the clinch but Doan has him pressed against the cage.
Doan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Maximoff lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Maximoff tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Doan just stands there and leans against the cage.

Maximoff is fighting off a takedown attempt but Doan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Maximoff to the mat. Maximoff regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Doan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maximoff is keeping the position for now.
Doan trying to control but Maximoff is working from the bottom.

Maximoff is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Doan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Doan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Maximoff is working an open guard so Doan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doan wants to clinch.
James Doan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Doan shoots in and bounces Maximoff off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maximoff is trying to control the position but Doan postures up.

Doan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Doan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Doan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Doan prevents Maximoff from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Doan is one step ahead there.

Maximoff has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Doan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Doan stops Maximoff from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Doan tries to clinch but Maximoff moves away
and Maximoff counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Maximoff lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doan misses with a double jab
and Maximoff counters with an outside leg kick.
Doan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maximoff manages to avoid it.
Maximoff lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maximoff scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Maximoff tries for a takedown but Doan circles away easily

and Doan counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Maximoff scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Doan darts in trying to clinch
and Maximoff counters with a head kick. That will keep Doan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Doan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Doan feints and as Maximoff raises his hands in defense, Doan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
James Doan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Doan is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Doan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maximoff being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Doan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Doan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maximoff looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Maximoff trying to remain calm as Doan controls from the top position.
Doan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. James Doan just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Maximoff moves out of range of the body kick.

Doan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maximoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maximoff is trying to stand up here but Doan is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maximoff with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Doan content to control rather than advance.
Maximoff manages to get to full guard.
Maximoff controls Doan momentarily but Doan 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.

Maximoff wriggles free and stands up.
Doan tries to clinch up but Maximoff circles away and keeps his distance.
Doan missing with a left hand there. Maximoff was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maximoff fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Doan manages to avoid it.
Maximoff doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Doan counters with a takedown into side control.
Maximoff manages to get back to half guard.
Doan tries to pass to full mount but Maximoff defends it.
Maximoff pushes Doan off looking to stand but Doan dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff gets full guard.
Maximoff is looking to stand up but Doan isn't so interested in that idea.
Doan looking to sit in guard and control but Maximoff gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maximoff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Doan rushes Maximoff and presses him up against the cage.

Doan drags the fight down to the ground.
Doan wants to get back to his feet but Maximoff is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maximoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Doan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maximoff manages to get himself to full guard.
Doan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Maximoff keeping moving, preventing Doan from controlling successfully.
Maximoff trying to control the position.
Maximoff scores with a short punch from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Doan clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maximoff scores with a nice body kick.
Doan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Doan throws a leg kick but Maximoff sees it coming and moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Doan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Maximoff avoids the head kick by Doan.
Maximoff lands a front kick.
Maximoff with a lazy takedown attempt

and Doan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Doan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maximoff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Doan trying to control but Maximoff is working from the bottom.
Maximoff is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Doan content to stall in guard here.
Maximoff is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximoff throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Maximoff controls Doan momentarily but Doan frees himself.
Doan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maximoff throws a combination that misses

and Doan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Doan thows a huge punch but Maximoff dodges it nicely.
Doan prevents Maximoff from standing back up.
Doan blocks the strikes from Maximoff.
Maximoff is looking to improve his position.
Doan prevents Maximoff from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff is trying to maintain the position but Doan is very close to passing his half guard.
Maximoff tries to kick Doan off but Doan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Doan takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Doan clinches.
Doan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Maximoff is trying to stall.

Doan manages to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Doan is on top in guard.
Doan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Doan wants to control from the top but Maximoff keeps moving.
Maximoff wants to stand but Doan is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff trying to keep a closed guard but Doan is proving a slippery customer.
Maximoff tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Doan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Doan wants to control from the top but Maximoff keeps moving.

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

Maximoff gets caught flat footed, as Doan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Doan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Doan keeps the fight on the outside.

Doan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Doan showed some decent athleticism there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maximoff is staying active underneath Doan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maximoff is looking for a sweep. Doan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Doan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Doan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Doan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Doan stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximoff is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Doan had his way with Pietro Maximoff in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Doan tries to clinch up.
Doan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Doan tries to land a body kick
and Maximoff counters with a head kick.
Maximoff blocks the body kick.
Doan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maximoff can do to turn this around?
Doan tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maximoff counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Doan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Maximoff jumps guard but Doan stands there with Maximoff around his waist. Maximoff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Doan breaks the clinch.
Maximoff wants to clinch but Doan slips to the side

and Doan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Maximoff!
Maximoff wants to get back to his feet.
Doan unloading with bombs!
Maximoff is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Doan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Maximoff manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Doan trying to control the action but Maximoff is working from the bottom.
Maximoff is trying to improve his position.
Maximoff wants to get back to his feet.
Doan slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Doan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maximoff to his feet.

Doan instigates a clinch.
Doan controlling the action here for a moment.
Maximoff tries to break the clinch but Doan is controlling the position.
Doan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maximoff fails to pull guard.
James Doan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pietro Maximoff.

Doan breaks the clinch.
Doan misses with a combination
and Maximoff counters with a big head kick but Doan shrugs it off.

Doan pushes Maximoff up against the cage in a clinch.
Doan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Doan jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doan pulls Maximoff in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Doan is on top in guard.
Maximoff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Doan is one step ahead there.
Maximoff keeping moving, preventing Doan from controlling successfully.
Maximoff keeping full guard, as Doan tries to pass.
Maximoff is looking to sweep but instead, Doan has passed into half guard.
Doan wants to take a breather but Maximoff is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maximoff trying to hold on to Doan's head to control him but Doan postures up.
Maximoff wants to improve his position but Doan is controlling well.
Doan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Doan clinches but Maximoff breaks the clinch
and Maximoff counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maximoff closes the distance but Doan moves to the side

and Doan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maximoff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Doan is controlling him.
Doan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Doan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Doan, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for James Doan!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for James Doan!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for James Doan!

James Doan wins by unanimous decision!
James Doan retains his welterweight title!