PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kananga Vasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasco comes to the cage accompanied by Whiskey in the Jar. Bruno Maia 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!

Vasco
vs
Maia

188 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

WIN Nutritional
WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kananga Vasco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Maia!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vasco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Vasco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Vasco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vasco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Vasco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vasco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vasco is fighting to break Maia's control of his arms but Maia is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Vasco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Vasco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vasco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maia controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vasco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Vasco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vasco is breathing heavily.

Vasco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Vasco drops back looking for a leg! Maia is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maia manages to kick Vasco off! Vasco jumps back into Maia's guard.

Maia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vasco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vasco's guard.
Maia slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia forces his way into half guard.
Well, if Maia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maia is working for a kimura but Vasco is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maia wants to work for an arm triangle but Vasco is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maia is taking a breather. Vasco 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.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Vasco is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Maia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maia throws a head kick that misses.
Maia throws a low kick, looking for Vasco's leg but Vasco calmly moves out of range.
Maia tries to close the distance and clinch but Vasco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vasco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vasco fails with a takedown attempt.
Bruno Maia 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.
Maia tries to clinch but Vasco is having none of it.
Vasco dives in and grabs Maia's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maia pushes down on Vasco's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vasco has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kananga Vasco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maia scores with a takedown into Vasco's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bruno Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Vasco looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Vasco looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Vasco!
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.

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

Vasco tries for a kimura but Maia is defending well.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasco tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maia sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia is positioning himself well to prevent Vasco advancing to mount.
Maia makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maia.

Maia looking for a triangle here. Vasco is fighting it but it looks tight! Maia pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Vasco is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Bruno Maia!