PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cedric Maake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale has chosen Dead Sara - Weatherman as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maake
vs
Hale

178 cm
28
180 lbs
20 - 10 - 1

174 cm
29
182 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu
GREEN!160

Spartan Nutrition
GREEN!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 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cedric Maake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Hale!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maake attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hale slips under a jab.
Maake uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hale.
Hale misses with a few strikes there.
Maake throws a front kick aimed at Hale's knee but Hale avoids it well.
Maake avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maake throws a looping overhand right but Hale ducks down to avoid it.
Cedric Maake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some bone on bone action there as Hale checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hale takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A head kick from Maake lands but Hale takes it in his stride.
Maake throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hale on the side of the head.
Maake misses the jab.
Hale throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maake throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hale looks to score with a jab to the body but Maake is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maake tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hale is able to avoid easily.
Hale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maake scores with a nice strike.
Hale checks a leg kick.
Hale throws a nice looking combination but Maake bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maake lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maake lands a nice shot to the body.
Maake wants to clinch
letting Hale counter with a right hand.
Maake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hale was well out of range. Poor timing from Maake.
Maake connects with the punch.
A big right from Maake misses.
Maake tries to clinch there but Hale circles away.
Maake throws a shot from downtown. Hale moves away and avoids it.
Maake has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Zero Tolerance in the buildup to the fight.
Maake on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maake pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maake.
Hale throws out a leg kick but Maake moves out of range and Hale only half commits.
Maake throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hale has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hale loads up on a big right hand but Maake slips the punch.
Maake connects with the punch.
Hale scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maake uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hale.

Hale feints and as Maake raises his hands in defense, Hale changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Maake is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hale defends well.

Hale avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maake swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maake is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hale throws a big elbow that misses.
Hale wants to control from the top but Maake keeps moving.
Hale makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Maake working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hale doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hale manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hale not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hale wants to control from the top but Maake keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maake trying to control the position.
Maake is pulling down on Hale's head. It's preventing any offense from Hale, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Maake looking for a guillotine here but Hale defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hale wants to control from the top but Maake keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cedric Maake dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maake wants to land a leg kick but Hale is out of range.
Maake lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hale looks to land a right hand but Maake moved out of range.
Maake wants to land a leg kick but Hale is out of range.
Maake lunges at Hale with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hale's hand.
Maake misses with a leg kick
and Hale counters with a left and a right that stings Maake.
Maake takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hale scores with a leg kick.
Maake walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hale scores with a kick to the midsection.
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!
Hale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maake looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maake lands with a shot to the body.
Maake fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hale checks it well.
Hale fakes the leg kick and cracks Maake in the body.
Hale throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maake moves out of range as Hale strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maake misses with a left hand
and Hale counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hale throws a big shot that misses.
Hale moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maake takes a swing at Hale's ribcage but misses.
Hale sizes up Maake with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Maake throws a hook to the side of Hale's head but Hale sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cedric Maake is winning the standup battle so far.
Hale lands a nice shot to the body.
Good work by Hale as he checks the leg kick.
Maake lands the left hand.
Hale looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cedric Maake is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hale keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Good leg kick by Hale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maake.
It seemed like Hale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice jab there from Hale.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hale scores with a hook.
Maake swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maake does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maake throws an overhand right that lands on Hale's shoulder, as Hale tries to avoid the shot.
Maake is looking to score with low kicks.
Hale throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hale wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maake misses with a straight left.
Hale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maake is looking to counter punch.
Maake throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hale counters with a stiff right hand.
Hale has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hale scores with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Maake.
Hale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maake takes a step back to recover.
Maake misses with a two punch combination.
Hale connects with a body shot that sends Maake's belly button to the back.
Hale throws a shot to the body.
A big right from Maake misses.
Maake dips to his left and cracks Hale with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maake fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hale.
Maake steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hale.
Hale scores with a kick to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maake throws a jab but it's blocked by Hale.
Hale throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maake misses with a looping right.
Maake lands with an overhand left.
Maake throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hale.
Maake takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Maake drives through and clinches with Hale against the cage.
A short left from Maake.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hale scores with a shoulder strike.
Maake struggles to land a body shot inside as Hale controls his hands.
Maake is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Maake avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Maake works on Hale's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Hale has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Maake is trying to keep an underhook but Hale manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hale throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maake keeps working.
Maake is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hale's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hale's back!
Hale wants to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
What can Hale do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Hale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hale displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maake throws out the jab.
Maake rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maake throws a jab but it's blocked by Hale.
Hale looks to score with a jab to the body but Maake is just out of range.
A jab from Hale misses.
Maake throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maake misses with a lunging right hand
and Hale counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maake thinking.
Maake fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hale on the side of the head.
Hale slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Maake lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hale doesn't seem phased though.
Jab by Hale.
Maake misses with a looping left.
Hale now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Maake takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maake tries a head kick but it misses.
Hale appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maake misses with a double jab
and Hale counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hale avoids the head kick by Maake.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Maake is predictable there
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hale throws a looping overhand right but Maake ducks down to avoid it.
Hale moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maake misses with a right hand
and Hale counters with an outside leg kick.
Hale throws a hook to the side of Maake's head but Maake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maake walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Maake looks to land a body kick but Hale moved away.
Maake is looking to score with low kicks.
Maake tries a low kick but Hale avoids it.
Maake throws a leg kick
and Hale counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maake throws a right hand that misses
letting Hale counter with a right hand.
Maake looks to land a combination but Hale avoids it well.
Hale lands a nice shot that snaps Maake's head back.
Hale connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maake gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maake rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hale lands a really nice looking cross but Maake seems unphased.
Decent striking displayed by Maake there.
Maake looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hale throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Maake swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hale goes for a double leg but Maake avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Maake continues to drive forward.
Hale slips a straight right by Maake.
Maake backing away here, and Hale unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Maake takes a swing at Hale's ribcage but misses.
Maake misses with a double jab
and Hale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maake misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hale! But no joy.
Maake lands a jab.
Maake misses with an uppercut. Hale saw that one coming.
It seemed like Hale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maake throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hale stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maake showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hale.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maake waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hale.
Hale flicks out a counter leg kick but Maake steps away.
A solid body kick from Hale.
Hale throws an overhand right that lands on Maake's shoulder, as Maake tries to avoid the shot.
Hale ducks under a wild hook from Maake.
Hale is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Maake with a body shot.
Maake has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hale.
Maake waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hale.
Hale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maake.
A telegraphed right hand from Maake misses the target.
Maake throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maake walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hale checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maake as he jumps to the side.
Maake misses with a body punch
and Hale counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maake thinking.
Hale throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hale slips a jab and a cross from Maake.
Maake does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hale connects with an inside leg kick.
Maake tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hale was well out of range. Poor timing from Maake.
Hale dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maake.
Maake throws a shot from downtown. Hale moves away and avoids it.

Hale fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maake sprawls well initially but Hale persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maake is trying to control but can't.
Hale is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Hale seems to be working for a kimura but Maake defends the submission attempt.
Brandon Hale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hale prevents Maake from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hale 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Hale!
Brandon Hale was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.