PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mick Maurizio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silvano Assunicao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurizio kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is NMH2: No More Riot. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maurizio
vs
Assunicao

172 cm
27
210 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

190 cm
27
215 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mick Maurizio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Silvano Assunicao!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maurizio darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Maurizio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maurizio scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Maurizio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Assunicao trying to control here.
Maurizio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maurizio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maurizio missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maurizio throwing shots but Assunicao is blocking nicely.
Maurizio is nestled in close to Assunicao, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maurizio not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maurizio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Assunicao has hold of Maurizio's hands but Maurizio slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Maurizio there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio lands strikes from half guard.
Assunicao regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maurizio postures up in Assunicao's guard and throws a big left but Assunicao blocks it.
Maurizio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Maurizio with a nice head shot there.
Maurizio lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maurizio throws a strike but Assunicao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Assunicao keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maurizio's head.
Maurizio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Assunicao trying to control the position from guard on top but Maurizio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Assunicao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Assunicao throws a strike but Maurizio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Assunicao is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maurizio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ground and pound from Maurizio seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Assunicao's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maurizio working the ground and pound but Assunicao is defending the strikes.
Maurizio scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Assunicao to see if he's OK.
Maurizio tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Maurizio misses with the ground and pound.
Maurizio lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maurizio works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Maurizio cracks Assunicao with a big elbow.
Maurizio working the ground and pound.
Assunicao is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Maurizio are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio is working Assunicao over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Assunicao wants to get back to his feet.
Maurizio working the body and head with strikes.

Maurizio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Assunicao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maurizio cracks Assunicao with a big elbow.

Maurizio working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maurizio creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Assunicao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Assunicao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Assunicao shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Maurizio tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Maurizio misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Assunicao thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Maurizio to regain full guard.
Maurizio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Assunicao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maurizio swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maurizio wants to sweep but no luck.
Assunicao postures up and lands a big shot to Maurizio's brow.
Assunicao is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Assunicao throwing strikes but missing.
Maurizio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two 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.
Assunicao wants to improve his position but Maurizio is controlling well.
Maurizio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maurizio scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Assunicao is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Maurizio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Assunicao regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maurizio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maurizio with a flurry of punches that miss.
Assunicao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maurizio.
Maurizio throws and elbow that misses. Assunicao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maurizio's guard. Nice move by Assunicao!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assunicao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Assunicao postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maurizio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Assunicao.
Assunicao scoring with punches to the head and body.
Assunicao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Maurizio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maurizio keeping moving, preventing Assunicao from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Assunicao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Assunicao throws and elbow that misses. Maurizio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Assunicao's guard. Nice move by Maurizio!
Maurizio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maurizio with a nice head shot there.
Maurizio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Assunicao wants to sweep but no luck.
Maurizio works over Assunicao with some ground and pound from guard.
Maurizio lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Maurizio dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Maurizio moves to clinch but Assunicao breaks away

and Assunicao counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maurizio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Maurizio working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Assunicao has passed into half guard!
Maurizio regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Assunicao.
Maurizio trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Assunicao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assunicao wants to control from the top but Maurizio keeps moving.
Assunicao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maurizio is keeping the position for now.

Maurizio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maurizio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Assunicao got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maurizio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Assunicao has managed to get both his arms back between Maurizio's legs - danger averted.
Silvano Assunicao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maurizio lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Assunicao!
BOOM! Maurizio connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maurizio landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maurizio putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Maurizio prevents Assunicao from getting the reversal.
Maurizio unloading with bombs!
Maurizio landing strikes from the mount.

Maurizio goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Assunicao turns into him and now he's in Maurizio's guard.
Maurizio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Assunicao.
Maurizio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maurizio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Assunicao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maurizio keeping moving, preventing Assunicao from controlling successfully.
Assunicao throws and elbow that misses. Maurizio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Assunicao's guard. Nice move by Maurizio!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Assunicao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maurizio is one step ahead there.
Maurizio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Assunicao can do to turn this around?
Maurizio postures up in Assunicao's guard and throws a big left but Assunicao blocks it.
Maurizio is working Assunicao over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maurizio scoring with some ground and pound.
Maurizio won't allow Assunicao to sweep him here.
Mick Maurizio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maurizio trying to control the position from guard on top but Assunicao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maurizio passes into half guard.
Assunicao is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Maurizio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maurizio, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:26
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Maurizio!