PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eli Armis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Armis might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Mortal Kombat Theme. Maximus has chosen Time Is Running Out as his entrance music. TJ Maximus has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Eli Armis's chin.

Armis
vs
Maximus

165 cm
25
145 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

176 cm
31
147 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality
Fight Night Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Armis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Maximus!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Armis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Armis showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Armis content to control rather than advance.
Armis'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.
Armis wants to pass the guard but Maximus is defending well.
Armis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maximus is trying to stand.
Armis content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eli Armis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maximus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Eli Armis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Armis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Maximus's guard.
Armis wants to pass the guard but Maximus is keeping the position.
Armis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Armis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eli Armis.
Nice takedown defense from Maximus. No joy for Armis on that attempt.
Maximus's coach down at Full Affliction Fight Team -All Elite Coaching- was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Maximus's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a combination that misses
and Maximus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Armis shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Armis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Armis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Armis is trying to work for a kimura but Maximus is defending well.
Armis controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis is looking to advance position but Maximus won't allow it.

Armis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Armis stops Maximus from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Armis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Armis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximus has his hands clasped together around Armis's back. He's all about the action.
Armis controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Armis dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maximus will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Armis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maximus has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maximus there as he acknowledges the shot.
Armis fails with the takedown.
Armis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Armis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maximus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Maximus stuffs the takedown.

Armis shoots in and bounces Maximus off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maximus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Armis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Armis 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis tries to free his leg and advance position but Maximus is retaining full guard.
Armis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Armis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Armis controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Armis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maximus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maximus is being controlled here.

Armis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Armis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Armis is staying tight to Maximus's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Eli Armis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximus struggling a bit here.
Armis taking a breather here.
Armis works to advance to full mount. Maximus defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Armis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armis is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Maximus to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Maximus shrugs it off.
Armis controlling from mount.

Maximus defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Armis.
Maximus tries to lock up and control but Armis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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.

Eli Armis dominated that second round.
That's time! Armis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Armis tries for a takedown but Maximus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Armis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Armis advances to mount.
Armis controlling from mount.
Maximus wants to hold on but Armis pushes him away.
Armis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eli Armis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice straight punches there by Armis. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Armis.

Maximus gets caught napping as Armis dives in and scores a takedown. Maximus manages to retain guard.
Armis 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eli Armis.
Maximus on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Armis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Armis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maximus defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eli Armis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maximus sprawls well. Maximus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Armis gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Armis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maximus can do to turn this around?
Armis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maximus tries to avoid it but Armis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maximus to the ground. Maximus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maximus scores with a jab to the body.
Armis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Armis darts in looking for a takedown but Maximus gets double underhooks and turns Armis into the cage.
Armis is trying to pull guard but Maximus has him pressed against the cage.
Armis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maximus just stands there and leans against the cage.

Maximus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
TJ Maximus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armis misses with a series of wild punches.
Armis goes for a double leg but Maximus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Maximus continues to drive forward.
Maximus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maximus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Armis is trying to pull guard but Maximus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Armis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maximus walks away with a smile on his face. Armis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armis moves out of range as Maximus strikes.
Maximus throws a hook but Armis blocks it.
Armis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maximus sprawls well. Maximus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Armis gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Armis clearly takes that round.
That's time! Armis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Armis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Maximus's guard.
Maximus keeping full guard, as Armis tries to pass.
Maximus is trying to keep Armis in close.
Armis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Maximus wants to get back to his feet but Armis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Armis works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Armis seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis uses his free foot to push down on Maximus's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maximus.
Maximus is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Armis controlling the pace for now.
Armis fails to move to back control.
Armis controlling his opponent.

Armis is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maximus is surviving well by controlling Armis's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armis controlling the position easily from mount.
Maximus is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Armis goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Maximus turns into him and now he's in Armis's guard.

Armis pushes a forearm under Maximus's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Maximus is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eli Armis!
Eli Armis is the new featherweight champion!
A very excited looking Eli Armis 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.