PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Borba Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borba Antunes looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Antunes
vs
Maia

180 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
186 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Borba Antunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antunes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Antunes looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Antunes fails to land with a series of punches.
Antunes shoots in but no luck this time.
Maia fails to land the takedown.

Maia scores with a takedown into Antunes's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Maia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maia trying to control but Antunes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Demian Maia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Maia shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Maia tries to stand but can't do so whilst Antunes controls his leg.
Antunes trying to control from the bottom.
Maia trying to control the pace.
Antunes is refusing to be controlled, as Maia sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Demian Maia wasn't active enough on the ground.
Antunes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Borba Antunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Maia is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Antunes's half guard.

Antunes actively working from the bottom here.
Antunes is looking for a sweep. Maia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Antunes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Antunes wants to get back to full guard.
Antunes is working hard here to advance position.
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Antunes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Demian Maia was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Antunes in a clinch.
Maia is looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Antunes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Antunes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a wild combination.
Maia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Antunes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Antunes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maia.
Antunes misses with a two punch combination.
Nice sprawl there from Maia as Antunes shoots in.
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Antunes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Maia drives through and clinches with Antunes against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Antunes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maia.
Maia shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters circling a little - Maia finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Good exchange - Antunes coming out on top.
Antunes throws a series of strikes that have Maia backpedaling.
Maia tries for a takedown but Antunes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Borba Antunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Maia on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antunes.
Antunes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Borba Antunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Antunes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Maia.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Maia goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Antunes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Maia but great work by Antunes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is trying to improve his position.
Maia can't do much from the bottom here.
Maia is pushing Antunes's head away, looking to escape. Antunes manages to hold on to the position though.
Antunes working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The strikes coming from Antunes are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Antunes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia struggling a bit here.

Antunes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maia has escaped the position, nice work there.

Maia throws Antunes to one side and escapes!
Antunes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maia is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Antunes loads up on a big right hand but Maia slips the punch.

Maia bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Antunes is trying to control Maia's posture but Maia avoids it.

Maia is trying to get an arm triangle but Antunes is defending well.
Antunes is looking to reverse the position.
Antunes wants to get back to his feet.
Maia working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia working the head with strikes.
Antunes throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Maia wants to control but Antunes is keeping him busy.

Maia looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maia throwing strikes but Antunes manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maia shoots in and drives through. Antunes sprawls well.

Antunes closes the distance and clinches.
Antunes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Maia tries for a takedown but Antunes manages to get underhooks.

Antunes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Antunes wants to clinch.
Maia dodges the punch combination from Antunes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Antunes tries to clinch up but Maia circles away and keeps his distance.

Maia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Antunes is trying to defend but Maia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Antunes trying to control here.
Antunes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maia looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Antunes is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Antunes is not content to let Maia control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes is concentrating on defense, preventing Maia from advancing position.
Antunes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maia's back!
Antunes doesn't have the hooks in and Maia manages to turn into his guard.
Antunes 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.
Maia is fighting to break Antunes's control of his arms but Antunes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Antunes controls Maia momentarily but Maia frees himself.
Antunes wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Maia is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Antunes wants to stand and escape but Maia is having none of it.
Antunes trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Borba Antunes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia scoring with punches to the head and body.

Antunes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maia defends well.
Demian Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Maia manages to pass to side control.

Maia is trying for a kimura here. Antunes looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Maia wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Demian Maia!
An out of breath Demian Maia thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.