PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Purcell Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonio Maia looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Maia
vs
Purcell Jr

190 cm
23
255 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

200 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eddie Purcell Jr!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Purcell Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Purcell Jr has managed to clinch.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but Purcell Jr shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Purcell Jr is pressed up against the cage. Maia has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Purcell Jr down to the mat. Purcell Jr avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Purcell Jr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Purcell Jr misses with the combination.
Maia shoots for a takedown but Purcell Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maia is breathing heavily.

Purcell Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Purcell Jr in side control, throwing shots but Maia defends.
Maia taking punishment in the form of punches.
Maia dodges the ground and pound from Purcell Jr.
Purcell Jr tries to score with some ground and pound. Maia controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia is not content to let Purcell Jr control the position.
Purcell Jr scoring with punches from side control.
Purcell Jr in side control, throwing shots but Maia defends.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purcell Jr wants to control but Maia is keeping him busy.
Purcell Jr landing a few strikes.
Purcell Jr looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maia is avoiding damage well.
Purcell Jr tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Maia tries to improve position but can't.
Purcell Jr creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Maia sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Purcell Jr prevents Maia from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Purcell Jr rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Purcell Jr lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Antonio Maia has been cut.
Purcell Jr throws a right and a left that Maia avoids nicely.
Purcell Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Purcell Jr throws a combination. Maia tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Purcell Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Purcell Jr shoots in and bounces Maia off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Purcell Jr wants to stand but Maia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Purcell Jr is posturing up here but Maia has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Purcell Jr tries to roll out but it's too tight and Purcell Jr has to tap! Slick submission there by Maia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antonio Maia!