PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendal Handerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Maia
vs
Handerson

183 cm
24
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kendal Handerson!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia gets a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Handerson.
Handerson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Maia's face.
Handerson landing knees to the head.
Maia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Handerson tries a knee to the head but Maia blocks it.
Handerson looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.
Handerson looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.
Nice elbow from Handerson.
Handerson lands an elbow inside that Maia shrugs off.

Maia is rocked!
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Handerson walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Oh Maia is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Maia clinches.
Handerson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maia seems to have got his legs back now.
Handerson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Handerson misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Handerson.
Maia is trying to break free.
Handerson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Maia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Handerson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia is trying to maintain a safe position but Handerson gets an underhook and turns Maia into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia tries to break the clinch but Handerson is controlling the position.
Maia is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Handerson is keeping busy.
Handerson lands an elbow just above Maia 's eye.
Handerson looking to throw knees to the head but Maia is blocking nicely.
Handerson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Handerson with a knee to the head.
Maia tries to pull guard but Handerson won't allow it.
Handerson misses with a knee to the head.
Handerson looks gassed!
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maia has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Handerson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Handerson landing knees to the head.
Handerson dodges an elbow strike from Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handerson connects with a knee to the head.

Maia pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia looking to control.

Maia has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Handerson doesn't defend quickly enough and Maia has managed to lock this one up! Can Handerson escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Maia on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Demian Maia!