PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kronos - Bloodtower. Duran has chosen Hatebreed - Live for this as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maria
vs
Duran

193 cm
30
222 lbs
24 - 7 - 0

199 cm
30
280 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Umberto Duran!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran lands a really nice looking cross but Maria seems unphased.
Duran throws a looping overhand right but Maria ducks down to avoid it.
Duran throws a shot from downtown. Maria moves away and avoids it.
Duran looks to land a right hand but Maria moved out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Duran tried to score with a low kick but Maria checks it.
Duran throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maria sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maria throws a sloppy head kick and Duran moves out of range easily.
Duran stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Duran misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria misses with a head kick.
Maria throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Duran scores with a nice head shot.
Maria throws a wild body kick that Duran sees coming a mile off.
Duran misses with a double jab
and Maria counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Duran connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maria. Maria circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran tries to bum rush Maria with a series of wild strikes but Maria uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maria moves out of range as Duran strikes.
Duran jabs Maria to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Maria needs to keep his hands up - Duran had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Maria blocks a jab.
Duran slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Duran throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria throws a series of strikes that have Duran backpedaling.
Duran pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maria staying out of range there.
Duran looks to land a right hand but Maria moved out of range.
Maria throws a right hand that Duran ducks under and follows up with a left that Duran also avoids with ease.
A head kick from Maria lands but Duran takes it in his stride.
Maria throws a combination that misses
and Duran counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran swings widly with a right hand
and Maria counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Duran misses with a few strikes there.
Duran misses with a straight right.
Duran throws a leg kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duran checks a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maria staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Duran dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Duran misses with a straight left.
Good standup being displayed there by Duran as he connects with a hook.
Duran misses with a looping right.
A head kick by Maria misses
and Duran counters with a stiff right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Duran, as that shot connected.
Umberto Duran seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Duran misses.
Maria throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No joy there for Maria, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maria throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Duran is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maria.
Maria thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Duran if he has to take too many more of those.
Maria tries to bum rush Duran with a series of wild strikes but Duran uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duran lands a jab to Maria's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Duran with a nice cross.
Duran smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Maria defending well as Duran loads up on a big left hand.
Duran scores with a hook to the body. Maria takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Duran throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maria is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maria looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Duran throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A cross from Duran lands.
Duran tries to bum rush Maria with a series of wild strikes but Maria uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Duran misses with a wild body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Maria. Those never looked like landing.
Maria keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Duran.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Joaquim Maria is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maria lands a leg kick that knocks Duran off balance momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Duran. Maria does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maria scores with a head kick.

It looks like Umberto Duran has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duran rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maria counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Duran, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Duran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Umberto Duran's cut.
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!

Maria throws a head kick but Duran moves out of range.
Maria displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duran throws out the jab.
Jab, jab by Duran - just one landing.
Duran misses with an uppercut. Maria saw that one coming.
Maria displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duran throws out the jab.
Duran throws a right hand that misses
and Maria counters with a body kick that stops Duran in his tracks momentarily.
Duran stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maria.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran blocks a head kick by Maria.
Good leg kick by Maria there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Duran avoids the head kick by Maria.
Maria throws a hook but Duran avoids it easily.
Maria slips a straight right by Duran.
A left and a right from Duran both land. Nice combination.
Duran throws a leg kick that is checked
and Maria makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Duran really felt that one!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran throws a jab when Maria was well out of range.
Good leg kick by Duran there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maria avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Duran avoids the head kick by Maria.
A head kick misses from Maria.
Maria throws a lazy right hand but Duran sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran jabs Maria to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Maria tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maria has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maria there as he acknowledges the shot.
Duran lands a jab.
Duran scores with a sloppy right hand. Maria should have avoided that one.
Duran walks into a stiff left hand from Maria.
Joaquim Maria has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maria counters with a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duran throws an off balance right hand
enabling Maria to counter with a crisp jab.
Maria tries to score with a low kick but Duran moves his leg out of the way.
Maria plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Duran throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Umberto Duran is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maria misses with a low kick as Duran jumps back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joaquim Maria.
Well Duran has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Duran!
Umberto Duran thanked the fans post fight for their support.