PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Spinning Fire (ranked 5250 p4p, 140 weight class) and John Maben (ranked 5528 p4p, 49 weight class). Spinning Fire has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Fire
vs
Maben

209 cm
18
290 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
26
243 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Maben!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maben shoots in for a takedown but Fire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maben shoots for a double leg takedown but Fire sprawls well. He's pushed Maben's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fire half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Maben.
Spinning Fire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Maben.
Maben shoots in for a takedown but Fire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fire half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maben looks winded!
Maben shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fire as he avoids it easily.
Maben fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fire avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maben throws a right hand that misses

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Fire is staying tight to Maben's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Fire grinds an elbow into Maben's temple.
Fire remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Fire working the body and head with strikes.
Maben takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Fire will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Maben seems a little lost for a moment, as Fire dominates the positioning.
Fire is chipping away with strikes.
Fire lands a nice forearm strike.
A lull in the action here as Fire stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire landing strikes.
Maben really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fire. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fire cracks Maben with a big elbow.
Fire lands some shots froms side control.
A lull in the action here.
Fire landing strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Maben for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire is putting a hurting on Maben here, landing some big shots from side control.
Fire cracks Maben with a big right hand but Maben just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Fire controlling the position from side mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maben can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maben takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
A big shot lands for Fire! That's hurt Maben! Will he recover? Fire fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Spinning Fire!
Our winner, Spinning Fire, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.