PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murphy MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Murphy MacManus has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

MacManus
vs
Maia

185 cm
27
196 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

183 cm
28
183 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Murphy MacManus!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Demien Maia!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from MacManus does no damage.
MacManus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

MacManus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
MacManus leaning against his opponent.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. MacManus just stands there and leans against the cage.
MacManus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
MacManus dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

MacManus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
MacManus wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.
Maia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but MacManus avoids it really well and circles away.

MacManus instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus leaning his opponent against the cage.

MacManus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Maia gets tackled into the cage by MacManus. MacManus maintains the clinch.
MacManus tries to land knees in the clinch but Maia avoids the damage to the body.
MacManus lands a hook to the side of the head.

MacManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Murphy MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demien Maia.
MacManus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

MacManus clinches with his opponent.
MacManus manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
MacManus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from MacManus.
A hook to the body from MacManus.
MacManus using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
MacManus stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia managing to block the knees to the body from MacManus.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Maia drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from MacManus.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Murphy MacManus.
Maia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maia closes this distance looking for a takedown but MacManus circles away.
Maia has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from MacManus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia circles away from the clinch attempt.
MacManus throws a head kick but Maia moves out of range.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but MacManus shows good takedown defense.
MacManus tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
MacManus is looking to clinch.
MacManus throws a nice outside leg kick.

MacManus pushes Maia up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

MacManus breaks from the clinch.
MacManus displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacManus throws a front kick aimed at Maia's knee but Maia avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murphy MacManus dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maia tries to keep at a distance but MacManus has taken the fight into the clinch.

MacManus manages to break the clinch.
MacManus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Maia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
MacManus connects with a right hand. Maia shakes it off.
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around MacManus's waist but MacManus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.
Maia blocks a head kick by MacManus.
Maia has a takedown stuffed.

MacManus moves into range and clinches up with Maia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from MacManus.
MacManus utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Maia is breathing heavily.
MacManus just leaning against Maia, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with MacManus for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

MacManus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
MacManus tries to clinch up.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
Nice sprawl there from MacManus as Maia shoots in.
Murphy MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demien Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Maia.
Maia tries for a takedown but MacManus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but MacManus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from MacManus.

MacManus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacManus is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from MacManus. No joy for Maia on that attempt.

MacManus drops Maia with a left right combo! MacManus follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Demien Maia has been cut.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Maia is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacManus decides to stand back up. MacManus steps back and let's Maia get back to his feet.

MacManus darts in and clinches Maia up against the cage.
MacManus lands a hook to the side of the head.

MacManus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice body punch from MacManus.
Murphy MacManus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
MacManus looks to land a combination but Maia avoids it well.
MacManus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maia can do to turn this around?

MacManus clinches up with Maia and pushes him back against the cage.
MacManus lands a body shot.
Murphy MacManus has scored more points in the clinch so far.

MacManus breaks from the clinch.
MacManus misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MacManus clinches.
Maia is trying desperately to land a takedown but MacManus is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Maia.

MacManus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts MacManus as he jumps to the side.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but MacManus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but MacManus shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
MacManus is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maia is looking for a takedown up against the cage. MacManus gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
MacManus scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murphy MacManus dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Demien Maia's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maia shoots in but no luck this time.

MacManus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from MacManus.
Maia has MacManus pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. MacManus manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
MacManus lands a nice shot to the body.
MacManus with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
MacManus is working Maia over against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

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

MacManus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
MacManus working Maia over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacManus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

MacManus clinches.
Maia wants a takedown.
Murphy MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demien Maia.

MacManus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

MacManus darts in and clinches Maia up against the cage.

MacManus breaks from the clinch.

MacManus drives through and clinches with Maia against the cage.
A short body shot lands from MacManus as the two fighters clinch.
Maia tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maia goes for a takedown in the clinch but MacManus prevents it.

MacManus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
MacManus throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia takes one on the chin but seems OK.
MacManus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

MacManus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from MacManus as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, MacManus creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
MacManus displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maia up against the cage.
MacManus misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. MacManus obliges.

MacManus breaks the clinch.
MacManus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
MacManus fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maia looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
MacManus tries to clinch up.
Maia avoids a kick to the body.
Murphy MacManus is winning the standup battle so far.
MacManus's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and MacManus duly obliges.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
MacManus lands with a nice combination. Maia backs away looking to recover.

MacManus clinches.

MacManus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia blocks a head kick by MacManus.
MacManus misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacManus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Maia is rocked!
Maia shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. MacManus defends it nicely.
Maia is still on wobbly legs! Can MacManus finish him?

MacManus clinches up against the cage.
MacManus working the clinch nicely. Maia is working for position but MacManus cracks him with a big knee to the head! Maia crumples up against the cage and MacManus lands two more shots before the ref can save Maia! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Murphy MacManus!
Murphy MacManus is the new middleweight champion!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Murphy MacManus made sure he mentioned [WOT] GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !, along with how happy he was to win his fight.