PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dominickoy Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Reeves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maia's entrance music is techno viking. A fine choice. Norman Reeves 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!

Maia
vs
Reeves

183 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dominickoy Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Norman Reeves!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reeves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maia counters with a straight right hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Reeves.
Maia is looking for a sweep.
Maia is working hard here to advance position.
Maia is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Reeves is working for a submission of some sort.
Maia tries to roll over but Reeves keeps him under control.

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

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reeves pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is trying to stand back up but Reeves is controlling him
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Reeves is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maia doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Reeves.
Reeves is trying to control. Maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Reeves has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Reeves looking for a guillotine from mount but Maia is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Reeves.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Reeves is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Maia can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Maia wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Reeves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia prevents Reeves from taking his back.

Reeves is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Maia has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Maia!

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Reeves's guard.
Maia wants to free his trapped foot but Reeves is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Reeves has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maia throwing shots but Reeves is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reeves is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Maia is working for an americana but Reeves has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Maia was thinking about the submission.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Reeves dives on top into guard.

Maia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Reeves passes into side control.
Maia is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reeves thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Maia is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Reeves's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Maia won't allow Reeves to pass to mount.
Reeves has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Reeves landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Reeves sits in half guard.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norman Reeves dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maia shoots in and gets a takedown into Reeves's guard.
Maia wanted to stand there but Reeves had control of the position.
Maia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Reeves manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Reeves throws a big right hand that misses.

Reeves thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Reeves won't allow Maia to sweep him here.
Maia wants to stand but Reeves is controlling the position.
Reeves stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

Reeves got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reeves has managed to get both his arms back between Maia's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reeves wants to pass the guard but Maia is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maia is on top in guard.

Reeves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Reeves looking for a sweep. Not yet Reeves, not yet.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Reeves dives on top into guard.

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reeves is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia keeping full guard, as Reeves tries to pass.

Maia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Reeves defends well.

Reeves 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.

Maia has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Reeves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Maia is looking for a triangle here but Reeves uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Reeves working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to reverse the position.
Maia prevents Reeves from moving into mount.
Maia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Reeves passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maia!
Maia is looking to get to half guard.
Reeves pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Reeves lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maia sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Reeves is working for a submission of some sort.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Reeves is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maia is trying to get back to full guard.
Norman Reeves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reeves moves nicely into side control.
Maia is looking to regain half guard here but Reeves keeps moving and retains side control.
Maia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maia is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dominickoy Maia will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Reeves throws a head kick but Maia moves out of range.

Maia shoots in and bounces Reeves off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Maia drops back, looking for a kneebar! Reeves looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Reeves looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Reeves!
Reeves trying to control the position but Maia is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Reeves working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Reeves is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Reeves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Reeves working away.
Reeves looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Maia is avoiding damage well.
Maia struggling a bit here.
Reeves is looking to take a break and control but Maia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maia tries to bench press Reeves off him but Reeves keeps the position.
Maia is trying to control Reeves's posture but Reeves avoids it.

Reeves tries for a kimura but Maia is defending well.

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.

Reeves is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Reeves tries to move into full mount but can't pass Maia's legs.
Reeves gets to mount! Maia was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Maia sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Maia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reeves thows a huge punch but Maia dodges it nicely.

Maia actively working from the bottom here.

Maia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Reeves wants to pass to mount but Maia is defending the position.
Maia is trying to stand.

Maia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reeves pulls his head out easily.
Maia is not content to let Reeves control the position.

Reeves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maia defends it 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.
Reeves is thwarting Maia's attempts to control the position.
Maia flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Reeves is trying to control. Maia wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Reeves advances position into side control!
Maia is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Reeves off and has taken his back!

Maia is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Reeves is defending well though. Maia let's go of the attempt for now.
Reeves manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maia's guard. Nice work there by Reeves.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Norman Reeves.
I think Reeves has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norman Reeves!