PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iago Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Robinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iago Maldonado has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maldonado
vs
Robinson

200 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iago Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldonado lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Robinson looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Maldonado has Robinson up against the cage in a clinch.
Robinson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Maldonado breaks from the clinch.
Robinson shoots in and drives through. Maldonado sprawls well.

Maldonado darts in and clinches Robinson up against the cage.
Robinson has a couple of punches blocked by Maldonado.
Maldonado stalls.
Robinson tries to stall but Maldonado uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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

Maldonado fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Robinson, pushing him back against the cage.

Maldonado wants the takedown. Robinson is fighting it off but Maldonado persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Robinson's guard against the cage.
Robinson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maldonado controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Robinson is working an open guard so Maldonado takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Maldonado drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maldonado passes Robinson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maldonado performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Maldonado's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado wants to free his trapped foot but Robinson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maldonado controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Iago Maldonado has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Maldonado instigates a clinch.

Maldonado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Maldonado closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Robinson quickly recovers to half guard.

Maldonado stands up out of the half guard.

Maldonado pushes Robinson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado breaks from the clinch.

Maldonado bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here as Maldonado stalls from top position.

Maldonado stands up.

Robinson gets tackled into the cage by Maldonado. Maldonado maintains the clinch.

Maldonado gets control of Robinson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Maldonado will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maldonado tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Maldonado wriggles free and stands up.

Maldonado moves into range and clinches up with Robinson.

Maldonado gets control of Robinson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Maldonado will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

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

Maldonado fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Robinson sprawls well initially but Maldonado persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maldonado is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Robinson tries to get to full guard but Maldonado has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iago Maldonado dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maldonado rushes Robinson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maldonado tries for a takedown but Robinson manages to get underhooks.
Maldonado working hard to break the clinch.
Maldonado wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Maldonado has clasped his hands together around Robinson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Maldonado decides to stand back up. Maldonado steps back and let's Robinson get back to his feet.

Maldonado looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Maldonado gets to his feet - Robinson follows without any prompting.

Maldonado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Robinson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Maldonado from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado looking to sit in guard and control but Robinson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Robinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maldonado works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maldonado wants to sweep but no luck.
Maldonado manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Robinson manages to get himself to full guard.
Robinson is trying to keep Maldonado in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Robinson is looking for a triangle but Maldonado pushes his legs off easily.
Maldonado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Robinson can do to turn this around?

Maldonado stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Maldonado darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Robinson is trying to stand back up but Maldonado is controlling him
Robinson wants to control but Maldonado is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maldonado with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Robinson has hold of Maldonado's hands but Maldonado slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado stands up out of the half guard.

Maldonado closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Maldonado tries to stand and escape but Robinson is controlling the position.
Maldonado content to control rather than advance.
Maldonado wants to get back to his feet.
Robinson is trying to control but can't.
Maldonado slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Robinson is looking to escape.
Iago Maldonado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Iago Maldonado.

Maldonado shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Maldonado looking to control and managing it successfully.
Robinson wants to control but Maldonado is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maldonado controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iago Maldonado dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maldonado closes the distance and clinches.
Maldonado is pressed up against the cage. Robinson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maldonado down to the mat. Maldonado avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Maldonado rushes Robinson and presses him up against the cage.
Maldonado lands a left hand.
Maldonado tries to break the clinch but Robinson is controlling the position.
Robinson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maldonado's efforts to push away.
Robinson has Maldonado pressed against the cage, preventing Maldonado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robinson tries to pull guard but Maldonado holds him up against the cage and eventually Robinson drops back down to his feet.
Robinson wants to get back to striking at distance but Maldonado won't allow it.
Robinson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maldonado has Robinson pushed against the cage.
Maldonado wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldonado has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Robinson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Maldonado has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Robinson.
Maldonado wants to control but Robinson is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on Robinson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The referee is taking a good look at Robinson as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Maldonado!
Maldonado really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Robinson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Iago Maldonado has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Maldonado takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado stalling.
Maldonado pushes Robinson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maldonado tries to break free but Robinson pushes him back against the cage.
Maldonado prevents Robinson from breaking the clinch.

Maldonado has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Robinson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Maldonado looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Can Robinson hold on?! Maldonado is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Robinson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Maldonado has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Maldonado is looking to control Robinson but Robinson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Maldonado biding his time, looking for the opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iago Maldonado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maldonado has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iago Maldonado!