PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sheldon Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cage comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny Cage Theme. Maia is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bleed It Out. Sheldon Maia has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Johnny Cage's chin.

Cage
vs
Maia

182 cm
30
200 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

185 cm
23
193 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite 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 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sheldon Maia!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy body kick from Maia
and Cage counters with a low kick, right behind Maia 's knee.
Maia throws a push kick but Cage slaps the foot to one side.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cage counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia tries for a takedown but Cage circles away easily
and Cage counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maia.
Cage is looking to slow Maia down with leg kicks.
Cage misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia misses with an uppercut
and Cage counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maia lands a nice looking body shot.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt - Cage sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sheldon Maia.
Maia jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cage counters with a nice uppercut.
Maia has his takedown stuffed
and Cage counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia misses with an uppercut
and Cage counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Maia throws a lazy uppercut
and Cage counters with a nice body shot.
Maia throws an off balance right hand
enabling Cage to counter with a crisp jab.
Maia fails with the takedown
and Cage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maia fails with the takedown
and Cage counters with a nice low kick that buckles Maia's knee momentarily.
Cage's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cage scrambles back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Cage is predictable there

and Maia decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cage's guard.
Cage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia chips away with some ground and pound.
Maia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cage has momentary wrist control but Maia slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia is looking to work some ground and pound but Cage has wrist control.
Maia advances position into side control!
Maia trying to control the position but Cage is working away.
Maia wants to control for a moment but Cage uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Maia is pressing down on Cage's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cage is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage is holding on to half guard well.
Maia scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maia wants to take a breather but Cage is having none of it.
Cage trying to control but Maia postures up.
Maia is keen to just control but Cage is a slippery customer.
Maia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is looking to improve his position.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Cage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Maia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cage defending well though.
Maia wants to free his trapped foot but Cage is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cage knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura but Cage is defending well.
Maia not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maia is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Maia trying to mount his opponent but Cage defends it.
Maia throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maia is looking to advance position but Cage won't allow it.
Maia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Cage holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maia tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Cage tries to hold on but Maia postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sheldon Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cage dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maia. That did some damage!
Maia jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia tries for a takedown but Cage circles away easily
and Cage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia moves out of range as Cage strikes.
Cage misses the jab.
Cage takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maia throws an off balance right hand
and Cage counters with a big head kick but Maia shrugs it off.

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.
Maia looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maia looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cage moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.

Maia has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage swings wildly with an uppercut but Maia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maia tries to score a body lock takedown but Cage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cage throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Cage.
Maia misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cage creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Maia wants to stall.
Maia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maia's elbow.
Maia struggles to land a body shot inside as Cage controls his hands.
Cage tries to throw a body punch but Maia avoids it by throwing Cage back against the cage.
Cage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cage struggles to land a body shot inside as Maia controls his hands.
Cage looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cage effectively controlling the action here.
Cage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maia's elbow.
Maia blocks a body shot from Cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cage is looking to control Maia's arms but Maia gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cage has his back to the cage.
Good body shot from Cage.
A short uppercut from Maia.
Cage misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maia can't find room to land a body shot as Cage controls the action.
Maia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Maia.
Maia prevents a body shot from Cage.
Maia swings wildly with an uppercut but Cage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cage's elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maia.
Maia avoiding damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cage counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cage has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Sheldon Maia!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Sheldon Maia!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight as a draw!

Sheldon Maia wins by majority decision!