PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thizin Pais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thizin Pais has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maia
vs
Pais

167 cm
20
140 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

166 cm
19
153 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thizin Pais!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pais lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maia at a distance.
Pais cracks Maia with an open hand slap.
A telegraphed right hand from Pais misses the target.
Pais lands a lovely overhand right.
Pais throws a nice looking combination but Maia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pais keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maia has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pais finds it's way round the side to connect with Maia's head.

Maia is rocked!
Pais takes a swing at Maia's ribcage but misses.
Pais thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pais connects with a body shot.

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
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!
Maia thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Pais holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maia tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Maia throwing strikes here but Pais is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pais holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maia tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pais tries to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
Maia lands a big shot there that rocks Pais but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Maia sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pais really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pais is bucking up trying to escape but Maia cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Maia working for a guillotine from mount but Pais is in no mood to give up.
Poor strikes thrown by Maia there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Pais wants to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia is working for a guillotine from mount but Pais frees his head quite easily.
BOOM! Maia connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maia throws some wild stikes that Pais manages to avoid easily.
A nice elbow there by Maia.
Maia thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maia lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Maia has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Pais's face.
Maia lands a nice shot to the head.
Maia lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pais is trying desperately to improve position.
Maia looking to ground and pound but Pais is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pais is working to get back to half guard.
Maia landing punches.
Maia with the ground and pound from mount.
The referee warns Pais that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Maia connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maia working Pais over with strikes here.
Maia thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maia lands a big shot there that rocks Pais but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Maia lands a big shot there that rocks Pais but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Pais is rocked!
Maia trying to control but Pais is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia with shots to the head and body - Pais looks very uncomfortable down there.
Pais is in a horrible position here. Maia smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Maia looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pais avoids a series of strikes thrown by Maia.
Maia looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maia scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Maia scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pais is still in real trouble! Can Maia finish him?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pais is squirming around, avoiding Maia's attempts to control the action.
Pais seems to have recovered his senses.
Maia putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maia blocks a low kick nicely.
Pais ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Maia closes the distance and clinches up with Pais, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes Pais against the cage but Pais circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pais lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pais.
Pais will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pais digs a good hook to Maia's body.
Pais throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Maia throws a low kick but Pais moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Maia or perhaps it was just good defense by Pais which made him look bad.
Maia throws out a leg kick but Pais moves out of range and Maia only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pais looks to land a body kick but Maia moved away.
Pais throws a body punch but Maia moves out of range.
Maia fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pais is out of range.
Maia wants to land a leg kick but Pais is out of range.
Pais cracks a nice hook into Maia's ribs.
Pais fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maia is out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Pais finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maia takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pais connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maia.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some bone on bone action there as Pais checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pais blocks a leg kick.
A lazy left from Pais finds it's target.
Maia throws a chopping leg kick but Pais manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maia misses with a leg kick.
Pais scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pais connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pais tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maia throws a leg kick but Pais checks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Pais misses the target.
Maia blocks a head kick by Pais.
Thizin Pais seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pais jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia misses with a low kick.
Pais tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pais looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.

Maia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pais's guard.
Maia throws a big right hand that misses.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pais works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Pais has wrist control.
Pais wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maia trying to control but Pais is working from the bottom.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pais is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pais's guard.
Maia wants to free his trapped foot but Pais is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pais keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pais avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maia.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pais's head.
Maia thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pais's head.
Maia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Thizin Pais will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pais tries to land a body kick

and Maia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maia.
Pais working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
Maia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pais works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pais working a defensive guard here.
Maia throws a big elbow that misses.
Maia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maia advances to half guard.
Pais is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maia's back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Pais's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Maia manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pais's guard. Nice work there by Maia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia throws a big elbow that misses.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maia trying to control but Pais is working from the bottom.
Pais avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pais is trying to control the position but Maia postures up.
Maia is stalling in the full guard.
Pais wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia postures up and lands a big shot to Pais's brow.
Maia postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pais manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Pais.
Fernando Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia 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.
Pais tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Pais is retaining full guard.
Thizin Pais has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maia shoots in but Pais avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thizin Pais is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pais just misses with a punch to the body.
Pais looks to score with a jab to the body but Maia is just out of range.
Maia walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pais checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Pais throws the left hand but Maia avoids the punch easily.
Pais misses with an uppercut
and Maia counters with a good low kick that Pais was not able to check.
Maia attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pais feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maia's calf.
Pais checks a low kick from Maia.
Maia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fernando Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maia 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight for Fernando Maia!
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Fernando Maia!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Fernando Maia!

Fernando Maia wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Fernando Maia made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.