PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddy Maiden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Rapture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maiden comes to the cage accompanied by Wildfire in the streets. Rapture has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Eddy Maiden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maiden
vs
Rapture

185 cm
37
169 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

175 cm
31
155 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Eddy Maiden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joaquim Rapture!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapture misses with a low kick.
Maiden has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maiden there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maiden throws a poor cross that misses

and Rapture counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maiden won't be happy with that.
Maiden regains half guard, as Rapture was trying to land strikes.
Maiden trying to control from the bottom.
Rapture content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rapture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maiden keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rapture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maiden's head.
Rapture wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maiden keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapture sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maiden defending well though.
Rapture has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maiden is staying active underneath Rapture, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rapture throwing shots but Maiden is blocking nicely.
Rapture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rapture is looking for a kimura but Maiden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rapture to get the leverage.
Rapture takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rapture uses his free foot to push down on Maiden's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maiden.
Maiden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapture controlling from mount.
Rapture scoring with strikes but Maiden is staying in there.
Maiden sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rapture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rapture looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Maiden with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rapture wants to free his trapped foot but Maiden is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maiden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rapture.
Rapture trying to control the action but Maiden is working from the bottom.
Rapture throwing shots but Maiden is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maiden is trying to maintain the position but Rapture is very close to passing his half guard.
Rapture throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rapture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maiden's head.
Rapture stalling.
Maiden taking some punishment here, with Rapture in his half guard.
Maiden trying to control from the bottom.
Maiden gets back to full guard.
Maiden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maiden looking to control.
Rapture cracks Maiden with a solid left hand.
Rapture is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rapture is looking to work some ground and pound but Maiden has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rapture wants to pass the guard but Maiden is keeping the position.
Rapture works over Maiden with some ground and pound from guard.
Rapture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rapture trying to control but Maiden is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rapture lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rapture wants to control from the top but Maiden keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Rapture dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maiden lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rapture uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maiden.
Maiden darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rapture takes a jab right on the kisser.
Maiden throws a hook but Rapture blocks it.
Rapture is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rapture ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maiden throws the left hand but Rapture avoids the punch easily.
Eddy Maiden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rapture crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Maiden - the referee stops the clock and Rapture gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Maiden. Rapture manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rapture ducks under a wild hook from Maiden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rapture looks to land a left hand but Maiden moved out of range nicely.
Maiden looks to land a left hand but Rapture moved out of range nicely.

Rapture drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rapture trying to control but Maiden is working from the bottom.
Maiden tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapture scoring with some ground and pound.
Rapture wants to pass the guard but Maiden is keeping the position.
Rapture showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Maiden keeping moving, preventing Rapture from controlling successfully.
Maiden is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two 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.
Maiden keeping moving, preventing Rapture from controlling successfully.
Rapture distracts Maiden with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maiden has control of Rapture's left arm, preventing Rapture from doing any damage.
Rapture trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rapture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maiden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maiden keeping moving, preventing Rapture from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rapture avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Maiden.
Maiden falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rapture counters with a shoot takedown. Maiden fights it but they end up in guard.
Maiden is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rapture trying to control the position from guard on top but Maiden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maiden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rapture keeping moving, preventing Maiden from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rapture is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maiden is aware though and is defending well.
Rapture has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rapture had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maiden defends it easily.
Rapture looking for a sweep. Not yet Rapture, not yet.
Maiden trying to control the position from guard on top but Rapture is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maiden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rapture 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.

Rapture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maiden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Eddy Maiden will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rapture lands with a nice body punch.
Maiden thuds a left hand into Rapture's body.
Maiden cracks a nice hook into Rapture's ribs.
Rapture avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maiden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rapture was well out of range. Poor timing from Maiden.
Rapture throws out a loose jab but Maiden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rapture misses the shot to the body.
Maiden misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maiden takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rapture throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maiden throws a head kick but Rapture moves out of range.
Maiden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rapture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maiden throws a right hand that Rapture ducks under and follows up with a left that Rapture also avoids with ease.
A cross from Rapture lands.
Maiden cracks Rapture with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maiden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rapture on the side of the head.
Maiden throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rapture counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Maiden turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maiden thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rapture swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A big right from Rapture misses.
Rapture tried to score with a low kick but Maiden checks it.
Maiden dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rapture. That did some damage!
Rapture throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maiden misses with an uppercut

and Rapture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maiden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rapture manages to get himself to full guard.

Rapture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maiden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rapture working for a triangle but Maiden defends it easily.

Maiden got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rapture has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maiden has managed to get both his arms back between Rapture's legs - danger averted.

Rapture working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maiden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maiden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rapture is looking for a triangle but Maiden pushes his legs off easily.
Maiden won't allow Rapture to sweep him here.

Rapture looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maiden being controlled here momentarily.
Rapture trying to control the position.
Maiden makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four 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.
Maiden chips away with some ground and pound.
Maiden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Rapture escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maiden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maiden slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rapture is looking to regain half guard here but Maiden keeps moving and retains side control.
Rapture manages to work his way to half guard, despite Maiden's best efforts.
Rapture is pressing down on Maiden's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Our spies down at at Heavy Metal inform us that Rapture has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Maiden looking to pass the guard.
Maiden loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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 Eddy Maiden.
I think Maiden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eddy Maiden!
Eddy Maiden gave a mention to Arcticus University: London in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).