PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marko Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benji Maddux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Khan
vs
Maddux

185 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marko Khan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Benji Maddux!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khan drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Khan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maddux is on top in guard.
Khan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maddux on the ground.
Maddux postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maddux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maddux wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.

Khan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Maddux has passed into half guard!

Khan makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Maddux gets tackled into the cage by Khan. Khan maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maddux tries to land a knee to the head but Khan blocks with his arms.
Khan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maddux avoids it.
Khan tries to pull guard but Maddux holds him up against the cage and eventually Khan drops back down to his feet.
Maddux wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Khan has him pressed against the cage.

Khan is trying to trip Maddux. He has hold of a leg but Maddux is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Khan persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Maddux is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khan defends well.
Maddux controls Khan momentarily but Khan frees himself.
Khan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maddux looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Khan passes into half guard.
Khan wants to pass the guard but Maddux is defending well.
Maddux is looking to improve his position.
Maddux keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maddux wants to improve his position but Khan is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maddux misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Maddux is looking to control Khan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maddux avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up. Benji Maddux was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Maddux fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maddux.
Maddux swats away the attempt to clinch by Khan.
Khan looks to land a combination but Maddux avoids it well.
Khan is looking to land body kicks.
Maddux tries a head kick but it misses.
Maddux slaps away a takedown attempt from Khan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Khan breaks the clinch.

Maddux gets caught flat footed, as Khan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khan won't allow Maddux to sweep him here.
Maddux throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Khan trying to control but Maddux is working from the bottom.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Khan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A lazy left from Khan finds it's target.
Khan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Khan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maddux avoids it really well and circles away.

Khan tries to keep at a distance but Maddux has taken the fight into the clinch.
Khan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Maddux is defending well.
Khan keeps control of Maddux as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Khan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Khan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Khan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Maddux regains guard.
Marko Khan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maddux not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Maddux manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Khan manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maddux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Khan is working an open guard so Maddux takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Maddux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Khan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maddux sprawls well. Maddux wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Khan gets slowly back to his feet.
Khan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maddux swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maddux throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maddux is defended easily by Khan.
Maddux fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Maddux. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maddux fails to land with a series of punches.

Maddux moves into range and clinches up with Khan.
Maddux is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khan to keep the fight standing.

Khan wants the takedown. Maddux is fighting it off but Khan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Maddux's guard against the cage.
Maddux keeping moving, preventing Khan from controlling successfully.
Khan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maddux trying to strike off his back.
Khan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Khan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan stops Maddux from standing up.

Maddux working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Khan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Khan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Khan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maddux swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Khan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Maddux looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maddux's guard.
Maddux is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maddux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khan is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Khan tries for a takedown but Maddux sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khan tries to clinch but Maddux moves out of range.
Marko Khan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Khan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Maddux is trying to defend but Khan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Maddux is not content to let Khan control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marko Khan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Maddux. Khan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maddux has his takedown stuffed

and Khan moves into the clinch.

Khan breaks the clinch.
Khan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maddux throws a wild body kick that Khan sees coming a mile off.
Khan misses with the combination.
Maddux blocks a head kick by Khan.
Maddux shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Khan defends it nicely.
Maddux shoots in and drives through. Khan sprawls well.
Marko Khan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benji Maddux.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maddux gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maddux is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Khan to keep the fight standing.
Khan tries to score a body lock takedown but Maddux shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Khan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maddux fails to pull guard.

Khan jumps into guard, dragging Maddux to the mat.
Maddux content to stall in guard here.
Khan pulls Maddux in close to his closed guard and prevents Maddux from doing any damage or advancing position.
Maddux trying to control but Khan is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Khan working for submissions but it's allowed Maddux to get to half guard.
Khan trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Maddux manages to pass to mount!
Maddux prevents Khan from getting the reversal.
Khan wants to control but Maddux is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maddux tries to control but Khan wriggling away.
Khan is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Maddux throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Maddux throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Khan because Maddux loaded up on that one.
Maddux tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maddux looking to control but Khan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Maddux misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan tries to reverse the position but Maddux maintains control.

Maddux goes for an armbar but Khan turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Khan.
Maddux wants to sweep here but Khan controlling him for the moment.
Maddux not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Khan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maddux looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maddux looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maddux!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maddux wants to lay and pray for a moment but Khan keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji Maddux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Khan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marko Khan!
During a confident post fight interview, Marko Khan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.