PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pascal Leopold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Maritato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leopold comes to the cage accompanied by Prodigy - Spitfire. This should be fireworks!

Leopold
vs
Maritato

185 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pascal Leopold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Maritato!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leopold takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Pascal Leopold has been cut.
Maritato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Leopold doesn't seem bothered though.
Leopold keeps the fight on the outside.
Maritato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leopold circles away quickly and effectively.
Maritato shoots in for a double leg but Leopold sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Leopold stuffs the takedown attempt from Maritato. Maritato gets slowly back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maritato bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Leopold! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Leopold is rocked!
Leopold has a closed guard, preventing Maritato from standing up.
Oh Leopold is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Leopold working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maritato doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maritato manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leopold seems to have got his legs back now.
Leopold manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maritato manages to get himself to full guard.
Leopold advances position into side control!
Maritato is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maritato is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Maritato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Leopold is looking to take a break and control but Maritato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Leopold tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Leopold has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maritato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Leopold gets to mount! Maritato was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Leopold wants to finish this one by submission but Maritato is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Leopold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leopold connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Maritato is looking to get to half guard.
Maritato throwing hammer fists to the chest of Leopold. What's that going to do exactly?
Maritato is squirming around, avoiding Leopold's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maritato is looking to improve his position but Leopold isn't that keen on the idea.
Maritato has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Leopold tightening his grip on Maritato, looking for the choke.
Maritato tries to roll but Leopold sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leopold tightening his grip on Maritato, looking for the choke.
Maritato trying to control the position but Leopold manages to sink in the hooks.

Leopold has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Leopold patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Leopold is breathing heavily.
Maritato holding both Leopold 's hands and preventing any damage.

Leopold working for a choke but Maritato is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leopold is looking to control Maritato but Maritato is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Maritato trying to control the action but Leopold just sinks the hooks in.
Maritato wants to get back to his feet.
Maritato tries to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Leopold is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Maritato defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Maritato has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Maritato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pascal Leopold's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maritato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leopold tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maritato swivels and escapes.
Leopold shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Maritato counters by clinching up.
Maritato looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A left hand lands to the body for Maritato.
Maritato wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Leopold has him pressed against the cage.
Maritato gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Leopold.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pascal Leopold. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maritato has clasped his hands together around Leopold's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Maritato working the head and body with strikes.
Maritato working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Maritato decides to stand back up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Leopold tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maritato swivels and escapes.
Maritato is looking to clinch but Leopold is avoiding it.
Leopold looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maritato's corner calls for a 1-2. Maritato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maritato tries to clinch up but Leopold circles away and keeps his distance.
Leopold throws the kick towards the body but Maritato avoids it.
Steven Maritato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leopold keeps the fight on the outside.
Maritato lands a hook that stumbles Leopold back into the cage. Maritato follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Leopold to the canvas! Maritato pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Leopold has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Steven Maritato!