PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Hard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Maia
vs
Hard

177 cm
23
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
192 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Demian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Hard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hard cracks Maia with an open hand slap.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Hard stuffs the takedown attempt from Maia. Maia gets slowly back to his feet.
Maia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Hard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hard scores with a nice head shot.
Maia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hard's waist but Hard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maia off to one side.
Maia on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hard looks to land a combination. Maia sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Some wild striking there from Hard.
Hard connects with the punch.
Maia moves out of range of the leg kick from Hard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maia drops his hands momentarily and Hard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hard as he avoids it easily.
Hard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.
Maia shoots for a takedown but Hard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hard has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maia keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Hard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Hard dominated that round.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hard misses with a double jab.
Hard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hard thows a body shot but no joy.

Maia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maia is working for a kimura but Hard is defending it quite comfortably.

Maia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hard defends it well.

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

Maia seems to be working for a kimura but Hard defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working for a submission of some sort.

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.

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

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hard is just riding it out for now. Maia eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hard pushes Maia off looking to stand but Maia dives back in and keeps control.

Maia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maia.

Maia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Hard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maia seems to be looking for submissions.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Hard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura but Hard is defending well.

Maia is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hard still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hard has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia is not content to let Hard control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that second round.
That's time! Maia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Hard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hard throws a low kick but Maia moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hard looks to land a combination but Maia avoids it well.
Richard Hard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Maia checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hard!
Hard cracks a nice hook into Maia's ribs.
Hard tries to clinch but Maia moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Hard.
Maia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hard as Maia shoots in.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maia.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demian Maia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hard scores with the left hand. Maia knows he should have avoided that one.
Hard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Maia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hard throws a combination. Maia tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hard stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Hard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Hard!