PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Jovani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maynard is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Madcon Beggin. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Jovani
vs
Maynard

174 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oscar Jovani!
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, Gray Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jovani darts in and clinches Maynard up against the cage.
Maynard wants a takedown.
Maynard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A frustrated look appears on Jovani's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Maynard has Jovani pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Maynard pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Jovani tumbling to the mat - Maynard dives into Jovani's guard.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.
Maynard prevents Jovani from getting back to his feet.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.
Maynard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Maynard throws and elbow that misses. Jovani uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maynard's guard. Nice move by Jovani!
Maynard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Jovani stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Maynard shoots in for a double leg but Jovani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Oscar Jovani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gray Maynard.
Jovani misses with a looping left.

Maynard gets a takedown into half guard.
Jovani is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard trying to control the action but Jovani is working from the bottom.
Jovani looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jovani is breathing heavily.
Maynard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jovani defending well though.
Maynard is controlling the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Maynard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Jovani has his feet on Maynard's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Maynard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jovani throws a jab but it's blocked by Maynard.

Maynard tries to keep at a distance but Jovani has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jovani working hard to break the clinch.
Jovani gets underhooks to prevent Maynard's takedown attempt.
Jovani prevents the takedown attempt.
Maynard wants a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Jovani fails to land.
Maynard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jovani gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Maynard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maynard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maynard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maynard wants a takedown.

Jovani breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jovani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Jovani breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maynard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Jovani uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Jovani throws a lazy right hand but Maynard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Maynard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maynard stops Jovani from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard landing with the ground and pound.
Maynard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jovani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maynard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jovani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maynard postures up in Jovani's guard and throws a big left but Jovani blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jovani keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jovani tries to clinch up but Maynard circles away and keeps his distance.
Jovani throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Jovani gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maynard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maynard stops Jovani from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jovani's guard.

Jovani is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Maynard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jovani fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Maynard scores with a takedown into Jovani's guard.
Maynard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Jovani keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jovani pushes Maynard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Jovani gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maynard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jovani is looking to clinch but Maynard is avoiding it.
Oscar Jovani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maynard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Jovani keeps moving.

Jovani pushes Maynard off and scrambles back to his feet.

Maynard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jovani sprawls well initially but Maynard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jovani is trying to stand up here but Maynard is controlling him well.
Maynard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jovani taking some punishment here, with Maynard in his half guard.
Maynard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Maynard is nestled in close to Jovani, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maynard wants to take a breather but Jovani is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maynard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maynard gets a takedown into half guard.
Maynard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jovani is trying to stand back up but Maynard is controlling him
Maynard is trying to control the action in half guard but Jovani is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maynard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Jovani pushes Maynard off looking to stand but Maynard dives back in and keeps control.
Jovani is refusing to be controlled, as Maynard sits in half guard.
Gray Maynard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jovani pushes Maynard off looking to stand but Maynard dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is taking a breather. Jovani 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.
Maynard trying to control from half guard but Jovani is working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gray Maynard.

Maynard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jovani is trying to stand back up but Maynard is controlling him
Maynard stalling.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jovani looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Jovani tries to kick Maynard off but Maynard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maynard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Jovani is trying to stand.
Maynard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Maynard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Maynard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jovani trying desperately to get to his feet.
Maynard trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Maynard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jovani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You get the feeling that Jovani really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Maynard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Maynard scoring with strikes but Jovani is staying in there.
Maynard is landing with some decent strikes but Jovani is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Maynard wants to control the pace but Jovani is squirming around nicely.
Maynard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maynard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Jovani wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maynard scores with a takedown into Jovani's guard.
Maynard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jovani wants to stand and escape but Maynard is having none of it.
Maynard trying to control but Jovani is working from the bottom.
Jovani wants to stand and escape but Maynard is having none of it.
Maynard sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Let's hope that Maynard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gray Maynard.
Jovani goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Maynard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jovani is not content to let Maynard control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard throwing shots but Jovani is blocking nicely.
Well, if Maynard 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.
Jovani is looking to escape.
Maynard is pressing down on Jovani's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jovani is holding on for now.
Jovani is trying to stand.
Maynard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Jovani is staying active underneath Maynard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jovani misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Maynard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jovani is trying to stand.
Maynard working over Jovani with some ground and pound. Jovani looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nice strikes from Maynard there.
Jovani is trying to stand up here but Maynard is controlling him well.
Maynard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Maynard trying to control from half guard but Jovani is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Jovani gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard postures up in Jovani's guard and throws a big left but Jovani blocks it.
Maynard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Maynard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jovani wants to stand up but Maynard is controlling him.
Maynard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maynard is looking to work some ground and pound but Jovani has wrist control.
Maynard wants to control from the top but Jovani keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Maynard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to take a break and control but Jovani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maynard prevents Jovani from standing back up.

Jovani kicks off Maynard and gets to his feet.

Maynard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jovani looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jovani is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Jovani avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maynard.
Maynard lands an elbow.
Oscar Jovani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gray Maynard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maynard trying to control the action but Jovani is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gray Maynard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maynard 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Maynard!