PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Monika Szlesz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Szlesz
vs
Maia

164 cm
25
158 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
151 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Granite chin

Das Labor
Das Labor

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Monika Szlesz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Szlesz rushes Maia and presses him up against the cage.
Maia drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szlesz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Szlesz clinches up with Maia and pushes him back against the cage.

Maia drags the fight down to the ground.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Szlesz sitting in guard here, content to control.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Szlesz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Szlesz is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.
Szlesz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szlesz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Szlesz defends it easily.
Szlesz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Szlesz 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.
Maia working a defensive guard here.
Szlesz controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Monika Szlesz.
Maia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Szlesz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlesz avoids a punch combination nicely.

Szlesz moves into the clinch successfully.
Maia stalling in the clinch but Szlesz improves position.

Szlesz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Szlesz moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Szlesz.

It looks like Damian Maia has been cut.

Szlesz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szlesz tries to advance to mount but can't.
Szlesz trying to control the position but Maia is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia stops Szlesz from passing to mount.
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia is trying to get back to his feet.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Szlesz keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Maia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maia is trying to escape the position but Szlesz is controlling the position.

Maia explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Szlesz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Maia is not content to let Szlesz control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Szlesz's guard.
Szlesz has Maia pulled in close to control his posture.
Maia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Szlesz is proving hard to escape from.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Szlesz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Szlesz manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Szlesz's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szlesz working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monika Szlesz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damian Maia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Szlesz's guard.
Szlesz keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Szlesz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maia trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maia lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Szlesz wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Szlesz dives on top into guard.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Szlesz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szlesz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Maia has a closed guard, preventing Szlesz from standing up.
Szlesz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Szlesz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maia is proving hard to escape from.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Szlesz stuffs the takedown attempt from Maia. Maia gets slowly back to his feet.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt
and Szlesz counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Maia does no damage.
Maia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Szlesz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Monika Szlesz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Maia.
Szlesz lands a nice uppercut.

Szlesz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maia fails to land with a series of punches.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Szlesz shows good takedown defense.
Maia is breathing heavily.

Szlesz closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maia quickly recovers to half guard.
Szlesz prevents Maia from improving his position.
Szlesz is pressing down on Maia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maia is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions off his back.
Szlesz is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maia is trying to escape the mount.
Maia wants to hold on but Szlesz pushes him away.
Monika Szlesz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Szlesz stands up from mount. Strange move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Szlesz has closed the distance and engaged Maia in a clinch.
Szlesz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Szlesz lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Monika Szlesz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damian Maia's cut.
That's time! Szlesz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Maia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Szlesz's guard.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses.
Szlesz keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Szlesz is adopting a defensive guard.
Maia pushing down on Szlesz's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Maia trying to pass the guard but Szlesz defending well.
Maia looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to pass the guard but Szlesz is defending well.
Maia is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Szlesz reverses the position - he's now on top in Maia's guard.

Maia has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Szlesz is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maia.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Szlesz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
Maia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Szlesz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Maia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Szlesz leaves Maia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maia misses with a takedown

and Szlesz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Monika Szlesz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Maia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Szlesz gets to his feet. Maia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Szlesz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Szlesz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Szlesz throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia dives in and grabs Szlesz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szlesz pushes down on Maia's head and hops out.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Szlesz sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Szlesz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Szlesz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maia throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Damian Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia avoids the head kick by Szlesz.

Szlesz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Szlesz wants to take a breather but Maia is having none of it.
Monika Szlesz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monika Szlesz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Szlesz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monika Szlesz!