PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Mata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mata has chosen Jimmi Hendrix - Voodoo Child as his entrance music. Demian Maia could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Juan Mata's chin.

Maia
vs
Mata

183 cm
24
186 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Mata!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mata throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mata looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Mata fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maia, pushing him back against the cage.
Mata dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Maia tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mata is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mata gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Mata jumps guard and drags Maia to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Maia wants to control from the top but Mata keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mata keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Demian Maia just wasn't active enough.
Mata tries to clinch there but Maia circles away.
Maia throws a nice looking combination but Mata bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mata slaps away a takedown attempt from Maia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maia throws the kick towards the body but Mata avoids it.

Maia moves into the clinch.
Mata has Maia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Mata manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Maia trying to control but Mata is working from the bottom.
Maia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Mata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Demian Maia has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Maia connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mata momentarily.
Mata throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maia's waist but Maia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mata off to one side.

Maia clinches.
Maia working hard to break the clinch.
Maia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mata smiles and moves away.

Maia clinches.

Mata decides to pull guard.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mata tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mata looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mata keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.
Maia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Demian Maia wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Maia throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Maia wants to control from the top but Mata keeps moving.
Maia stopping the sweep attempt from Mata.
Mata has a closed guard, preventing Maia from standing up.
Maia landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Maia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maia pushes down on Mata's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Mata is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Maia is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maia throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Maia punishing his opponent with strikes.
Mata is breathing heavily.
Mata is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maia landing strikes from the mount and Mata is in trouble!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mata gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia thows a huge punch but Mata dodges it nicely.
Maia winds up and cracks Mata with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maia is trying to control. Mata wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Maia moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Mata.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working to tighten is grip on Mata's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Mata has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Maia is really squeezing tight and eventually Mata passes out! Maia breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Demian Maia!
Demian Maia retains his middleweight title!