PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rockford Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giuseppe Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Knight might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Stars that Play with Laughing Sams Dice by Jimi Hendrix. Maldini has chosen Just one cornetto as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Knight
vs
Maldini

206 cm
38
277 lbs
36 - 12 - 0

210 cm
35
275 lbs
32 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Museum of Monsters & Madmen
Hellbent

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rockford Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 1, fighting out of London, Giuseppe Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight wants to land a leg kick but Maldini is out of range.
Maldini lands a nice hook to Knight's body. Knight takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Knight cracks Maldini with a good jab.
Maldini explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Knight swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
Knight checks a leg kick.
Knight tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldini was well out of range. Poor timing from Knight.
Knight throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Knight throws a low kick but Maldini avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Knight. Those never looked like landing.
Knight lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Knight avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Knight throws a leg kick but Maldini moved away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maldini lands a body punch.
Maldini blocks an uppercut.
Maldini misses with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knight prevents a body shot from Maldini.
Maldini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Rockford Knight has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Maldini scores with a nice short uppercut.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knight lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maldini circles away quickly and effectively.
Knight sets himself, and Maldini steps forward looking for the clinch! Knight avoids it this time.
Maldini throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knight takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Knight takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
Maldini blocks a low kick nicely.
Maldini scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maldini scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Knight has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Knight there as he acknowledges the shot.

Maldini gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knight.
Maldini has a couple of punches blocked by Knight.
Knight swings wildly with an uppercut but Maldini uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maldini lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
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!
Maldini digs a right hand underneath Knight's ribcage. Knight let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Knight is breathing heavily.
Maldini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Knight prevents a body shot from Maldini.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini controlling the action here for a moment.
Maldini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight prevents a body shot from Maldini.
Maldini tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maldini lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Maldini lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maldini.
Knight misses with the head strike.
Maldini lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Knight being controlled against the cage.
Maldini misses with a punch on the inside.
Knight misses with the head strike.
Maldini tries to stall but Knight uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knight working aggressively here.
Maldini is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Maldini scores with a shoulder strike.
Maldini blocking some punches.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.
Maldini stalling in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maldini creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knight tries a body shot but Maldini blocks it.
Knight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maldini lands a nice uppercut.
Maldini blocks an uppercut.
Knight's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maldini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knight lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maldini backwards.
Maldini trying to stall but Knight improves his position.
Maldini misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maldini tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Maldini back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maldini stalling against the cage.
Maldini lands a body shot.
Maldini misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knight blocking some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knight lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maldini backwards.
Maldini content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Maldini avoiding damage.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.
Maldini tries to work over Knight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maldini misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knight misses with the head strike.
A short body shot lands from Knight as the two fighters clinch.
Maldini struggles to land a body shot inside as Knight controls his hands.
Maldini misses with the head strike.
Maldini working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Maldini dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rockford Knight's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Maldini.
A jab from Maldini does it's job there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A jab lands there for Maldini.
Maldini goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Knight looks for the body kick but Maldini saw that one coming.
Maldini tries to counter by closing the distance.
Knight moves out of range of the body kick.
Knight looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Knight scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Knight throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maldini.
Maldini throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Maldini tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Maldini in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Knight will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A shot to the liver by Maldini. Beautiful body shot.
Knight attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Maldini 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.
Knight tried to counter with a leg kick but Maldini avoided it.
Knight is looking to chop away at Maldini's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knight missing with a left hand there. Maldini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maldini checks a leg kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini lands a nice looking body kick.
Knight misses with a looping right.
Maldini pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maldini throws a wild body kick that Knight sees coming a mile off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maldini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knight tries a low kick but Maldini avoids it.
Giuseppe Maldini seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maldini lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Decent striking displayed by Knight there.
Maldini moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maldini throws a wild body kick that Knight sees coming a mile off.
Maldini is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Knight rather than just go for the knockout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldini. Knight does a little dance to reset his feet.
A left lands for Knight.
Maldini moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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!
Knight throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maldini slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maldini throws a series of punches but Knight moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands a jab to the head.
Knight lands a jab.
Maldini looks for the body kick but Knight saw that one coming.
Maldini fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Knight.
Knight takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maldini lands with a straight right. Knight didn't see that one coming.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knight fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maldini tries to work over Knight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Giuseppe Maldini seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maldini pushes Knight back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rockford Knight's cut is getting worse.
Maldini has Knight pressed against the cage.
Knight is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maldini is defending well for now.
Maldini blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maldini stalling in the clinch but Knight improves position.
Maldini blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knight is leaning against Maldini and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knight with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maldini tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maldini tries a body shot but Knight blocks it.
Maldini blocks an elbow strike.
Maldini pushes Knight back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Maldini prevents a body shot from Knight.
Maldini is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Knight is keeping busy.
Maldini has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knight misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Maldini.
Maldini throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Knight lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Maldini.
Maldini stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Maldini.
A short uppercut from Knight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Knight breaks the clinch.
Maldini looks to land a body kick but Knight moved away.
Maldini misses the shot to the body.
Knight lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maldini dodges the punch combination from Knight.
Giuseppe Maldini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good standup being displayed there by Knight as he connects with a hook.
Knight swings and misses with a hook to the body.
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!
Knight ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maldini.
A thudding body kick lands there by Knight!
Maldini moves out of range of the leg kick from Knight.
Knight displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maldini throws out the jab.
Maldini walks into a jab.
Knight keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giuseppe Maldini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rockford Knight's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Maldini fails to land with a series of punches.
Maldini connects with a single shot there.
A head kick misses from Maldini.
Maldini blocks a head kick by Knight.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Maldini is just out of range.

Maldini moves into the clinch successfully.
Knight tries a body shot but Maldini blocks it.
Maldini throws a head punch that misses.
Knight blocks a body shot from Maldini.
Maldini misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maldini misses with a body punch.
Maldini lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.
Maldini misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.
Maldini misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Knight pushes Maldini back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Maldini fails to land.
Knight misses with an elbow strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Maldini - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knight lands a left hand.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maldini has Knight pressed against the cage.
Knight misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knight lands a nice shot to the body.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maldini blocks an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Maldini.
Knight lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini working aggressively here.
Maldini misses with a punch to the body.
Maldini's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Maldini tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Maldini back against the cage.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Maldini.
A left hand lands to the body for Knight.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rockford Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maldini lets loose with a powerful body kick. Knight will feel that in the morning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maldini misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maldini scores with a nice body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Knight.
Knight ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maldini moves away.
Maldini lands a two punch combo.
Maldini throws a half hearted mid kick.
Knight missing with a left hand there. Maldini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Giuseppe Maldini is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight blocks the body kick.
Maldini connects with a leg kick. Knight looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Maldini looks to land a combination but Knight avoids it well.
A big left from Knight misses.
Knight ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Knight throws a push kick but Maldini slaps the foot to one side.
Knight swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maldini cracks the inside of Knight's front leg.
Knight blocks a head kick by Maldini.
Knight was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Knight looks to land a left hand but Maldini moved out of range nicely.
Maldini jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Maldini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Knight.
Maldini wants to counter with a clinch but Knight pushes him away.
Knight looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Knight takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Maldini swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knight looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Knight, as that shot connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldini throws a nice outside leg kick.
A good leg kick by Maldini.
Maldini digs a good body shot into Knight's ribs.
Maldini throws a right hand that Knight ducks under and follows up with a left that Knight also avoids with ease.
Knight appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Maldini listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Maldini works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Knight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldini.
Knight appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Maldini.
Some bone on bone action there as Knight checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Knight throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maldini goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Maldini uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knight.
Knight attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Knight closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Knight throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giuseppe Maldini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maldini 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giuseppe Maldini!
During a confident post fight interview, Giuseppe Maldini thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.