PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maia
vs
Romero

175 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anderson Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mario Romero!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Romero pinned against the cage. Romero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Romero wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.

Romero closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Romero keeps moving and retains side control.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.
Romero trying to control the position but Maia is working away.
Romero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maia is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Romero postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Romero misses with a wild combination.
Romero doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura but Romero is defending well.

Maia is looking for a kimura here.

Maia seems to be working for a kimura but Romero defends the submission attempt.
Romero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia wants to work for an arm triangle but Romero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Romero is positioning himself well to prevent Maia advancing to mount.
Romero pushes Maia off looking to stand but Maia dives back in and keeps control.
Romero has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maia is working away from the top position though.
Romero is looking for a sweep. Maia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Romero is trying to maintain the position but Maia is very close to passing his half guard.

Maia seems to be working for a kimura but Romero defends the submission attempt.
Romero is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to improve his position but Maia is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Maia doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Romero counters with a series of strikes. Maia will be more careful next time no doubt.
Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.
Romero has his takedown stuffed

and Maia counters with a takedown into side control.

Maia is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Romero is trying to escape and Maia transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Romero is forced to tap! Nice work there by Maia! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anderson Maia!