PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Keenan Jr (ranked 1871 p4p, 1958 weight class) and Matija Maestro (ranked 143 p4p, 151 weight class). Maestro has chosen Shortwire - Reconfig as his entrance music. Matija Maestro told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Keenan Jr
vs
Maestro

179 cm
37
158
21 - 16 - 0

174 cm
31
145
18 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡
Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gareth Keenan Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matija Maestro!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maestro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan Jr slips a jab and a cross from Maestro.
Keenan Jr went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Maestro throws a left and a right that both miss

and Keenan Jr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keenan Jr.
Maestro tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maestro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Keenan Jr is looking to break free of the clinch but Maestro has double underhooks.

Keenan Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keenan Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maestro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Keenan Jr is fending him off so far but Maestro persists. Nope, Keenan Jr circles away and we're back to standing.
Gareth Keenan Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matija Maestro.
Keenan Jr misses with a combination
and Maestro counters with a nice body shot.
Matija Maestro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan Jr connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Maestro throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maestro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Keenan Jr seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Keenan Jr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maestro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Keenan Jr has control of Maestro's left arm, preventing Maestro from doing any damage.
Maestro trying to control but Keenan Jr is working from the bottom.
Keenan Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keenan Jr is controlling Maestro's posture.
Maestro advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr trying his best to control but Maestro has mounted him.
Maestro wants to control the pace but Keenan Jr is squirming around nicely.
Keenan Jr is working to get back to half guard.
Keenan Jr wants to hold on but Maestro pushes him away.
Keenan Jr is looking to improve his position but Maestro isn't that keen on the idea.
Maestro wants to control the pace but Keenan Jr is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr is desperately trying to improve his position but Maestro has a good base and remains in mount.
Maestro content just to control the position here.
Keenan Jr is squirming around, avoiding Maestro's attempts to control the action.
Keenan Jr wants to hold on but Maestro pushes him away.
Keenan Jr is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maestro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maestro tries to control but Keenan Jr wriggling away.

Maestro goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Keenan Jr turns into him and now he's in Maestro's guard.
Maestro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keenan Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Maestro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Maestro dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Keenan Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Keenan Jr tries to move into range but Maestro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Keenan Jr tries to clinch but Maestro moves out of range.
Keenan Jr slips under a jab from Maestro.

Keenan Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Maestro lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Keenan Jr or not.
Keenan Jr misses with a body punch.

Maestro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keenan Jr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan Jr with a nice calf kick.
Maestro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Keenan Jr.
Maestro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Keenan Jr as he jumps to the side.
Keenan Jr seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro throws a lazy right hand but Keenan Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maestro connects with a right hand. Keenan Jr shakes it off.
Matija Maestro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maestro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Keenan Jr but Keenan Jr pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Keenan Jr throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Keenan Jr takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gareth Keenan Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maestro cracks a nice hook into Keenan Jr's ribs.
A jab lands there for Maestro.
Keenan Jr throws a sloppy body shot
and Maestro counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Maestro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gareth Keenan Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matija Maestro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Maestro circles away.
Keenan Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
Keenan Jr drops his hands momentarily and Maestro takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maestro.
Keenan Jr was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Maestro scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan Jr is looking to control Maestro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Keenan Jr avoid being mounted?
Maestro is taking a breather. Keenan Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Maestro is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr tries to get to full guard but Maestro has control of the leg.
Keenan Jr is in trouble now - Maestro has advanced to mount!
Maestro with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Maestro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Keenan Jr is looking to escape.
Keenan Jr is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr wants to control but Maestro is having none of it.
Maestro controlling the pace for now.
Keenan Jr is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Matija Maestro has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maestro avoids the attempt from Keenan Jr to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matija Maestro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Keenan Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Maestro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Keenan Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Keenan Jr throws a sloppy head kick
and Maestro counters with a two punch combo.
Keenan Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Keenan Jr lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Keenan Jr tries to clinch up.
Maestro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maestro. Keenan Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maestro misses with an uppercut. Keenan Jr saw that one coming.
Keenan Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Maestro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Keenan Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Keenan Jr swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gareth Keenan Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maestro fails with the takedown
and Maestro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maestro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Keenan Jr lands with a good body shot.
Maestro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Keenan Jr throws a leg kick

so Maestro counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Maestro passes Keenan Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Maestro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Keenan Jr defends it well.
Maestro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Keenan Jr keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maestro is looking for a kimura but Keenan Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maestro to get the leverage.
Keenan Jr trying to hold on to Maestro's head to control him but Maestro postures up.
Maestro looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Maestro is trying to control. Keenan Jr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maestro content to control rather than advance.
Keenan Jr tries to roll over but Maestro keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.
Keenan Jr keeping full guard, as Maestro tries to pass.
Maestro preventing the sweep.
Maestro wants to control from the top but Keenan Jr keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Maestro changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gareth Keenan Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maestro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gareth Keenan Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matija Maestro.

Maestro feints and as Keenan Jr raises his hands in defense, Maestro changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Keenan Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Keenan Jr is working for a kimura but Maestro is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maestro trying to hold on to Keenan Jr's head to control him but Keenan Jr postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matija Maestro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maestro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matija Maestro!
A very excited looking Matija Maestro made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.