PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iraia Maahuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Maahuta
vs
Swanson

168 cm
18
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
134 lbs
1 - 11 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Iraia Maahuta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Hugh Johnson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maahuta misses with a straight left.
Maahuta connects with a leg kick. Swanson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Maahuta rushes Swanson and presses him up against the cage.

Swanson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Maahuta regains guard immediately.
Maahuta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swanson is one step ahead there.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maahuta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Iraia Maahuta has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Swanson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Iraia Maahuta has been cut.
Mark Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swanson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maahuta throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson connects with a high kick.
Maahuta takes a swing at Swanson's ribcage but misses.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.

Swanson drives through and clinches with Maahuta against the cage.
Maahuta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Swanson's defenses.
Maahuta utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Maahuta using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Swanson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Maahuta lands a left hand.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Maahuta scores a nice knee to the body.
Maahuta lands an elbow inside that Swanson shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maahuta.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Swanson is trying to break free.
Swanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.

Swanson pulls guard effortlessly.
Maahuta controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maahuta has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Swanson is proving hard to escape from.
Maahuta is breathing heavily.
Maahuta trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Swanson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maahuta controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Swanson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maahuta is controlling him.

Iraia Maahuta has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maahuta blocks a head kick by Swanson.
Swanson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Swanson misses with a head kick.
Swanson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Swanson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Swanson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maahuta throws out the jab.
Maahuta lands with a cross.
Maahuta throws a low kick, looking for Swanson's leg but Swanson calmly moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Swanson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Swanson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Swanson.
A head kick misses from Swanson.
Maahuta throws a leg kick but Swanson checks it.
Maahuta misses with a straight right.
Swanson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nice cross by Maahuta.
Maahuta throws a leg kick that is checked
and Swanson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Swanson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Swanson clinches up with Maahuta and pushes him back against the cage.
Maahuta lands an elbow inside.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maahuta works on Swanson's body with a couple of short punches.
Swanson is looking for a takedown.
Nice elbow from Maahuta.
Maahuta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maahuta keeps control of Swanson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maahuta lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Maahuta landing knees to the body.
Maahuta is trying to maintain a safe position but Swanson gets an underhook and turns Maahuta into the cage.
Swanson tries to break free but Maahuta pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Swanson is trying to break free.
Swanson misses with a knee to the head.
Maahuta has Swanson pushed against the cage.
Swanson is trying to push Maahuta away but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Swanson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Iraia Maahuta's cut.
That's time! Maahuta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maahuta drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Maahuta has managed to clinch.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maahuta landing knees to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maahuta.
Maahuta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maahuta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Swanson blocks it with crossed arms.
Maahuta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Swanson's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Maahuta.
Swanson managing to block the knees to the body from Maahuta.
Maahuta lands a nice shot to the body.
Swanson looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maahuta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Swanson's defenses.
Maahuta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Swanson's defenses.
Maahuta effectively controlling the action here.
Maahuta lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson tries to break free but Maahuta pushes him back against the cage.
Swanson takes an elbow to the temple.
Maahuta throws an elbow that misses.
Swanson is trying to force a seperation but Maahuta has the dominant position.
Maahuta stops a takedown attempt from Swanson.
Maahuta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maahuta lands an elbow inside that Swanson shrugs off.
Swanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Maahuta has double underhooks.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maahuta lands an uppercut.
Maahuta misses with a knee strike.
Swanson working hard to break the clinch.
Maahuta has Swanson pressed against the cage, preventing Swanson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maahuta leaning his opponent against the cage.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch but Maahuta keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maahuta tries to stall but Swanson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maahuta tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.
Swanson is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Swanson avoiding damage as Maahuta throws knees to the body.
Maahuta prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.
Swanson blocks an elbow strike from Maahuta.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Swanson blocks an elbow strike.
Swanson tries to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling the position.
Maahuta misses with an elbow over the top.
Swanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maahuta keeps control of Swanson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maahuta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Swanson's efforts to push away.
Swanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Maahuta has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Swanson tries to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling the position.
Swanson tries to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling the position.
Maahuta prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maahuta gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maahuta unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Swanson is trying to push Maahuta away but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Swanson tries to land a knee to the head but Maahuta blocks with his arms.
Maahuta throws a head punch that misses.
Swanson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Swanson wants to get back to striking at distance but Maahuta won't allow it.
Swanson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maahuta prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Swanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Maahuta keeps control of Swanson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Iraia Maahuta has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Swanson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Swanson misses with a knee to the head.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Swanson is trying to push Maahuta away but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Swanson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maahuta lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maahuta utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Swanson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Swanson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Iraia Maahuta's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab from Maahuta.
Swanson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maahuta blocks a head kick by Swanson.
Maahuta throws a hook but Swanson blocks it.
Swanson blocks a jab.
Swanson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maahuta avoids the head kick by Swanson.
A head kick by Swanson misses

and Maahuta counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maahuta.
Maahuta lands a right hand.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Maahuta works on Swanson's body with a couple of short punches.
Maahuta with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A knee to the head by Maahuta.
Maahuta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Maahuta tries a knee to the head but Swanson blocks it.
Nice elbow from Maahuta.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maahuta lands an elbow just above Swanson 's eye.
Swanson takes an elbow to the temple.
Swanson can't break the clinch.
Swanson goes for a takedown attempt but Maahuta pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Maahuta misses with a low kick.
Swanson staying out of range there.
Maahuta throws a poor cross that misses
and Swanson counters with a head kick.
Swanson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Swanson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maahuta misses with a low kick.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maahuta looks to land a right hand but Swanson moved out of range.
Swanson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Swanson misses

and Maahuta counters by moving into the clinch.
Maahuta leaning his opponent against the cage.
Maahuta throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maahuta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Swanson is trying to force a seperation but Maahuta has the dominant position.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
Swanson is trying to push Maahuta away but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maahuta throws an elbow but it misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Maahuta tries a body shot but Swanson blocks it.
Swanson tries to break free but Maahuta pushes him back against the cage.
Swanson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Maahuta is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Swanson is defending well for now.

Swanson pulls guard.

Swanson kicks Maahuta off and gets to his feet.
Maahuta throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maahuta cracks the inside of Swanson's front leg.
Swanson lands with a slapping head kick.
Swanson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Maahuta.
Maahuta misses with a straight right.
Mark Swanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maahuta throws a low kick but Swanson avoids it.

Maahuta clinches with his opponent.
Iraia Maahuta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maahuta trying to land knees to the body.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Swanson can't break the clinch.
Swanson wants to break free but Maahuta has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta is controlling him.
Maahuta prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.
Maahuta throws an elbow but it misses.
Swanson is trying to break free.
Maahuta misses with a knee to the head.
Maahuta connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swanson's face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maahuta putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Swanson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Maahuta prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.
Swanson wants to break the clinch but can't.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Maahuta just misses with a elbow thrown towards Swanson's brow.
Swanson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Swanson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson wants to get back to striking at distance but Maahuta won't allow it.
Swanson is trying to break the clinch but Maahuta has him pressed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Maahuta.
Mark Swanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Swanson is looking to break free of the clinch but Maahuta has double underhooks.

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 Iraia Maahuta.
I think Swanson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mark Swanson!