PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damon Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arapeta Ma Aka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arapeta Ma Aka acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Newton
vs
Ma Aka

178 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
161 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damon Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arapeta Ma Aka!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Chris Dean and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Newton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Newton is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Newton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Newton trying to control but Ma Aka is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ma Aka regains half guard.
Ma Aka is looking for a sweep. Newton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton thows a huge punch but Ma Aka dodges it nicely.
Ma Aka is looking to improve his position.
Ma Aka is trying to maintain the position but Newton is very close to passing his half guard.
Newton sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Newton trying to pass the guard but Ma Aka defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ma Aka tries to roll over but Newton keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Newton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ma Aka tries to get to full guard but Newton has control of the leg.
Newton wants to control but Ma Aka is keeping him busy.
Newton is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Newton is landing with some decent strikes but Ma Aka is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ma Aka regains half guard.
Newton throwing shots but Ma Aka is blocking nicely.
Newton is trying to control. Ma Aka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Newton is really struggling to control Ma Aka but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ma Aka is trying to maintain the position but Newton is very close to passing his half guard.
Ma Aka gets back to full guard.
Ma Aka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Newton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ma Aka has a closed guard, preventing Newton from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ma Aka.
Newton half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Newton tries to clinch up.
Ma Aka fails to land the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Damon Newton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arapeta Ma Aka.
Newton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Newton wants it to stay on the feet.
Newton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damon Newton 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.

Newton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Ma Aka tries to counter it with a takedown but Newton pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Newton closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ma Aka circles away.

Ma Aka is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Newton's half guard.
Newton is trying to get back to full guard.
Ma Aka controlling the pace.
Newton is looking for a sweep. Ma Aka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ma Aka is looking to take a break and control but Newton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ma Aka trying to control the pace.
Ma Aka is trying to control the action in half guard but Newton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Newton controls Ma Aka momentarily but Ma Aka frees himself.
Ma Aka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Newton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've been informed that Ma Aka has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Newton fails with a takedown attempt.
Newton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ma Aka's waist but Ma Aka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newton off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damon Newton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Newton fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ma Aka.
Newton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Ma Aka counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ma Aka content to stall in guard here.
Newton keeping moving, preventing Ma Aka from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton keeping full guard, as Ma Aka tries to pass.
Newton trying to control the position.

Ma Aka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ma Aka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ma Aka not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ma Aka is trying to control. Newton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Newton wants to improve his position but Ma Aka is controlling well.
Well, if Ma Aka 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.
Newton is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Newton tries to kick Ma Aka off but Ma Aka keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arapeta Ma Aka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Newton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ma Aka shoots in but no luck this time.
Damon Newton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Newton shoots in and bounces Ma Aka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ma Aka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Newton is stalling in the full guard.
Newton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Damon Newton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Newton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ma Aka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Newton tries to avoid it but Ma Aka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Newton to the ground. Newton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Newton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ma Aka is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Newton fails with a takedown attempt.
Ma Aka with the counter takedown but Newton avoids it easily.
Ma Aka stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damon Newton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ma Aka avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ma Aka shoots in and gets a takedown into Newton's guard.
Newton wants to sweep but no luck.
Ma Aka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Newton seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Newton can't keep his opponent in guard - Ma Aka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Newton is staying active underneath Ma Aka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ma Aka content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ma Aka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newton keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ma Aka stalling.
Newton is looking to control Ma Aka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Newton avoid being mounted?
Newton moves into full guard.
Newton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ma Aka controls the pace.
Newton trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Newton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ma Aka is aware though and is defending well.
Newton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Newton controlling the position.
Ma Aka forces his way into half guard.
Ma Aka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ma Aka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Newton knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ma Aka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arapeta Ma Aka.
Well Ma Aka 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arapeta Ma Aka!
A very excited looking Arapeta Ma Aka 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.