PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey DeMaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dr Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dr Cox will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

DeMaio
vs
Cox

172 cm
24
195 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joey DeMaio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dr Cox!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

DeMaio drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cox doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
DeMaio wants to control from the top but Cox keeps moving.

DeMaio is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cox is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cox has escaped and now he's on top!
Cox is fighting to break DeMaio's control of his arms but DeMaio is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joey DeMaio.
Cox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but DeMaio swivels and escapes.

DeMaio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
DeMaio is staying tight to Cox's torso, preventing him from escaping.

DeMaio looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

DeMaio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
DeMaio looking to control but instead Cox has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

DeMaio wants to work for an arm triangle but Cox is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeMaio is looking for a kimura but Cox is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for DeMaio to get the leverage.

DeMaio is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

DeMaio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cox is just riding it out for now. DeMaio eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cox works his way to full guard. Good work.

Cox had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. DeMaio defends it easily.

DeMaio has gone for a leg lock! Cox slips out almost immediately though and dives into DeMaio's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey DeMaio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

DeMaio shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cox is trying to defend but DeMaio finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
DeMaio trying to control from Cox's half guard. Cox has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

DeMaio is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cox is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cox has escaped and now he's on top!
DeMaio has his hands on Cox's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeMaio'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.
DeMaio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey DeMaio wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cox fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

DeMaio shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. DeMaio showed some decent athleticism there.
DeMaio wants to control but Cox is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

DeMaio is working for a kimura here but Cox manages to reverse the position and he's now in DeMaio's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeMaio looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

We're going to have a standup here because Joey DeMaio wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

DeMaio shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cox's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

DeMaio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

DeMaio postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cox is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of DeMaio, into his guard.
DeMaio trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey DeMaio dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cox looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
DeMaio lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cox!
DeMaio controlling the pace for now.

DeMaio looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox can't escape the position.
DeMaio tries to control but Cox wriggling away.
Cox is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

DeMaio goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cox is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
DeMaio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Joey DeMaio has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

DeMaio fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cox sprawls well initially but DeMaio persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeMaio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

DeMaio is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cox sees it coming and defends easily.

DeMaio is looking for a kimura but Cox is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for DeMaio to get the leverage.

DeMaio is trying to work for a kimura but Cox is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

DeMaio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cox doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time DeMaio.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey DeMaio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well DeMaio 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey DeMaio!