PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yaw Yan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: bad romance. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Maia
vs
Yan

178 cm
22
151 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

173 cm
23
156 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yaw Yan!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia avoids the body shot from Yan.
Yaw Yan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yan leaves Maia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yan misses with a jab to the body

and Maia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maia.
Maia is fighting to break Yan's control of his arms but Yan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yan is looking to stand up but Maia isn't so interested in that idea.

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 drops back looking for a leg! Yan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yan manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Yan's guard.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Yan wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Yan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Yan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Yan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Yan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yan manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Yan's guard.

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 is fighting to break Yan's control of his arms but Yan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maia trying to control but Yan is working from the bottom.
Yan pulls Maia in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Yan 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.
Maia looking to pass the guard.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Yaw Yan.
Yan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yan is looking to stand up but Maia isn't so interested in that idea.

Maia gets to his feet. Yan looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Yan lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Yan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Maia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Yan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yan looks to clinch
and Maia counters with a stiff right hand.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yan is trying to keep Maia in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Yan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yan controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yaw Yan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Maia tries for a takedown but Yan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yan misses with a hook

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Yan fights it but they end up in guard.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Yan has wrist control.

Yan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Yan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Maia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maia.

Maia 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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yan wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yan is keeping the position for now.
Yan pulls Maia in to control the position.
Maia thows a big elbow that misses.
Yan 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.

Maia 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.
Yan keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yan has a closed guard, preventing Maia from standing up.
Maia trying to control but Yan is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Maia dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yan misses with a two punch combination.
Maia takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Damian Maia has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Yan. Those never looked like landing.
Maia checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yan misses with a double jab

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Yan fights it but they end up in guard.
Yan wants to sweep but no luck.
Yan keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Yan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maia won't allow Yan to get back to his feet.

Maia 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia 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.
Yan is breathing heavily.
Yan pulls Maia in to control the position.

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 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.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yan is keeping the position for now.

Maia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yan has escaped and now he's on top!
Yan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.

Yan stands up from Maia's guard - Yan perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yan misses with a straight left.
Yan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maia counters with a series of strikes. Yan will be more careful next time no doubt.

Maia shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maia showed some decent athleticism there.
Yan is trying to get back to full guard.
Yan moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maia is one step ahead there.
Maia looking to pass the guard.

Yan has his foot on Maia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maia works his way back into a safe position though.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yan dives on top into guard.
Yan wants to stand but Maia is controlling his posture from full guard.
Maia working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Yan stands up from Maia's guard - Yan perhaps looking for a knockout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yan.
Yan throws a combination that misses

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Yan fights it but they end up in guard.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yan pulls Maia in close to prevent any damage.
Maia postures up in Yan's guard and throws a big left but Yan blocks it.
Damian Maia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Yan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yan manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Yan's guard.

Yan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Maia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Damian Maia's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yan misses with a body punch

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yan is pressing down on Maia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maia pushing down on Yan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yan is looking to improve his position.

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

Maia is working for a submission of some sort.
Maia tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Maia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yan works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yan pushes Maia off and gets back to his feet.
Yan misses with a double jab

and Maia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maia.
Yan pulls Maia in close to prevent any damage.
Yan trying to keep a closed guard but Maia is proving a slippery customer.

Maia drops back looking for a leg! Yan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yan manages to kick Maia off! Maia jumps back into Yan's guard.
Yan wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yan controlling Maia's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Yaw Yan.
Yan throws a sloppy body shot

and Maia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yan tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.

Maia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yan sees it coming and defends easily.

Maia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yan sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yan gets back to full guard.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yan is keeping the position for now.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yan holds on and takes a little breather.
Yan trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yan keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Yan has a closed guard, preventing Maia from standing up.

Yan kicks Maia off and gets to his feet.
Yaw Yan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damian Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yan misses with a jab to the body

and Maia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yan wants to break free but Maia has control.
Maia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but Yan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maia.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia prevents Yan from breaking the clinch.

Yan breaks from the clinch.
Maia fails with the takedown
and Yan counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yan scores with a shot to the body.
Yan lands the left hand.
Yan throws a predictable looking body shot

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Yan tries to circle away but Maia has him pinned against the cage.
Yan gets underhooks to prevent Maia's takedown attempt.

Yan manages to break the clinch.
Yan throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Maia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maia keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yan's head.
Damian Maia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yan keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Yan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Maia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maia, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Maia!