PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xtian Forward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maynard
vs
Forward

172 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gray Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xtian Forward!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Maynard looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Forward tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maynard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Forward's guard now.
Forward looking for a sweep. Not yet Forward, not yet.
Forward is trying to control the position but Maynard postures up.
Forward 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.
Forward working a defensive guard here.
Maynard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Xtian Forward wasn't active enough on the ground.
Forward moves to clinch but Maynard breaks away

and Maynard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forward wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Maynard manages to pass to side control.
Forward tries to roll over but Maynard keeps him under control.
Maynard controlling the action here.
Maynard is trying to control. Forward wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Forward is trying to maintain the position but Maynard is very close to passing his half guard.
Forward flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Forward wants to improve his position but Maynard is controlling well.
Forward trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Forward throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maynard was covering up waiting for the punch and Forward finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Forward in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forward scoring with punches to the head and body.
Forward looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Forward wanted to stand there but Maynard had control of the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Forward stands and throws Maynard's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Forward decides to take the fight back to the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maynard tries for a takedown but Forward manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Forward shoots in for a takedown but Maynard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Forward doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maynard counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Forward!
Forward really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maynard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Forward bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forward wants to pass the guard but Maynard is keeping the position.
Maynard keeping moving, preventing Forward from controlling successfully.
Forward 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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maynard keeping moving, preventing Forward from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maynard is on top in guard.
Forward not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Forward tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forward is controlling Maynard's posture.
Forward trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xtian Forward was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Forward tries a head kick but it misses.
Forward shoots and misses

and Maynard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Forward won't be happy with that.
Gray Maynard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xtian Forward.
Maynard trying to control the position but Forward is working away.
Maynard happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maynard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Forward rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maynard's guard! Nice work there by Forward!
Forward works over Maynard with some ground and pound from guard.
Maynard keeping full guard, as Forward tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Forward tries to clinch but Maynard moves away

and Maynard counters with a shoot takedown. Forward fights it but they end up in guard.
Gray Maynard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Forward keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.

Forward has his feet on Maynard's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
No joy there for Maynard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Forward pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Forward tries to clinch but Maynard moves out of range.
Forward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Maynard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Forward was covering up waiting for the punch and Maynard finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maynard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Forward is trying to keep Maynard in close.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Forward wants to get back to his feet but Maynard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Forward trying to keep a closed guard but Maynard is proving a slippery customer.
Forward tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maynard controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Xtian Forward wasn't active enough on the ground.

Maynard looking to score a takedown here. Forward is defending well but Maynard drives through and ends up in Forward's guard.
Forward 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.
Maynard is stalling in the full guard.
Forward lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Maynard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forward unloading with bombs!
Forward wants to control but Maynard has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Maynard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Forward on the ground.
Maynard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gray Maynard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maynard, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Maynard!