PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taneli Maija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Gates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Maija
vs
Gates

183 cm
33
177 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

174 cm
29
179 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Maija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Gates!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maija is looking to clinch but Gates is avoiding it.
Maija fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Gates drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gates working the ground and pound but Maija is defending the strikes.
Maija parries the strikes from Gates easily there. Gates is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maija to escape.
Maija struggling a bit here.

Gates working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gates is looking to take a break and control but Maija is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gates tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Maija will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Gates tries for a kimura but Maija is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Maija's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gates tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Maija is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gates off and has taken his back!
Maija misses with a punch to the head.

Maija tightening his grip on Gates, looking for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maija working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Maija looking to break Gates's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gates remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Maija will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Maija is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Maija patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Maija is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Gates defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gates holding both Maija 's hands and preventing any damage.
Gates is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Maija off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Gates covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Gates controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maija is trying to control but Gates is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Maija lands a couple of good shots and Gates has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Maija struggling to keep hold of the position.

Maija tightening his grip on Gates, looking for the choke.

Maija patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gates is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Gates has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taneli Maija dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gates shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Maija napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Maija misses with an elbow from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gates tries to score with some ground and pound. Maija controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gates trying to control the action but Maija is working from the bottom.
Gates tries to move into full mount but can't pass Maija's legs.
Gates working away.
Gates trying to control the action but Maija is working from the bottom.
Maija is looking to reverse the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Maija's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maija is not content to let Gates control the position.
Maija manages to get back to half guard.
Maija gets full guard.
Gates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maija swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gates controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Maija controls Gates momentarily but Gates frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gates must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gates slips nicely into half guard.
Maija moves into full guard.
Gates throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maija works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Maija is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gates is aware though and is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gates postures up.
Gates wants to control from the top but Maija keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maija is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maija swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gates pushing down on Maija's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Maija regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maija thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Maija is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gates wants to control from the top but Maija keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maija is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gates trying to control the position from guard on top but Maija is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Maija throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maija controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gates pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maija is keeping the position for now.

Maija has his foot on Gates's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gates works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Taneli Maija will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gates shoots in and bounces Maija off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maija working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gates.
Gates passes Maija's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gates is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gates is stalling here. Maija is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gates seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Maija has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The ground and pound from Maija seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Maija tries for a kimura but Gates is defending well.
Maija tries to advance position but instead Gates slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gates is trying to stand up here but Maija is controlling him well.
Gates is not content to let Maija control the position.
Maija prevents Gates from standing back up.

Maija 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.
Maija seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gates does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gates is trying to stand.

Maija seems to be working for a kimura but Gates defends the submission attempt.
Maija works his way into full mount!
Gates squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maija trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maija thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Jack Gates has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maija trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gates squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Taneli Maija overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maija is landing with some decent strikes but Gates is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Maija is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gates can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Maija is working for a guillotine from mount but Gates frees his head quite easily.
Maija breaks from Gates's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gates is squirming around, avoiding Maija's attempts to control the action.
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!
Gates is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taneli Maija showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maija, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taneli Maija!
Taneli Maija seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.