PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Maurice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paolo Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurice comes into the arena with Doce Discipulos blaring out of the sound system. Paolo Ribeiro will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Maurice
vs
Ribeiro

185 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andy Maurice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro stalks Maurice and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Maurice's face. Maurice staggers backwards, shaken.
Maurice takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ribeiro misses with a looping left.
Maurice slips a jab from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ribeiro stuffs the takedown.
Maurice looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ribeiro is fending him off so far but Maurice persists. Nope, Ribeiro circles away and we're back to standing.
Maurice fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Maurice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab-cross combination lands for Ribeiro and sends Maurice crashing to the mat! Ribeiro follows him down to the mat - Maurice regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Maurice is rocked!
Maurice is breathing heavily.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura here.
Ribeiro tries to stand but can't do so whilst Maurice controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurice wants to get back to his feet.

Maurice has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Ribeiro escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Ribeiro!
Ribeiro gets to mount! Maurice was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Ribeiro looking to control but Maurice is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two 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.
Maurice regains half guard.
Ribeiro trying to control from Maurice's half guard. Maurice has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Maurice has his foot on Ribeiro's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ribeiro works his way back into a safe position though.

Maurice throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maurice not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ribeiro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Maurice looking for a guillotine here but Ribeiro defends easily.

Maurice looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ribeiro passes into half guard.

Maurice is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ribeiro pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maurice is looking for a sweep. Ribeiro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ribeiro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maurice keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ribeiro blocks the strikes from Maurice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Ribeiro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ribeiro bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maurice's head.
Paolo Ribeiro seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ribeiro gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maurice to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maurice postures up and lands a big shot to Ribeiro's brow.
Ribeiro is looking to stand back up but Maurice counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maurice.

Maurice is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Maurice is thwarting Ribeiro's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurice lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Maurice is looking for a kimura but Ribeiro is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maurice to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ribeiro has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maurice is working away from the top position though.
Ribeiro is trying is best to control the position here.
Ribeiro trying to hold on to Maurice's head to control him but Maurice postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ribeiro wants to control but Maurice is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to stand back up but Maurice is controlling him

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maurice tries to clinch up.
Maurice gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maurice fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maurice looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maurice takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ribeiro misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maurice is looking to clinch but Ribeiro is avoiding it.
Nice shot lands for Ribeiro.
Ribeiro swinging wilding here.
Maurice keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ribeiro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ribeiro misses with a double jab.
Andy Maurice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.

Maurice shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Maurice looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ribeiro taking shots to the head.
Ribeiro reaches up to try and control the position but Maurice seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Ribeiro rolls and tries to escape and now Maurice has his back!
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 Andy Maurice will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maurice gets a takedown into half guard.

Maurice decides to stand and escape the position.
Ribeiro misses with a looping right.
Paolo Ribeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maurice drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maurice wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping him busy.
Maurice landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurice scores with a couple of short elbows.
Maurice grinds an elbow into Ribeiro's temple.
Maurice is looking to take a break and control but Ribeiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Maurice is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ribeiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ribeiro is looking to regain half guard here but Maurice keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two 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.
Ribeiro dodges the ground and pound from Maurice.
You can see the frustration on Ribeiro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Maurice is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ribeiro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro can't do much from the bottom here.

Maurice is working to tighten is grip on Ribeiro's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Ribeiro has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Maurice is really squeezing tight and eventually Ribeiro passes out! Maurice breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Andy Maurice!