PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Theo Maples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and jr Roy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maples
vs
Roy

168 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Theo Maples!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, jr Roy!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maples misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Roy.
Roy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maples swats away the attempt to clinch by Roy.
Roy tries a head kick but it misses.
Roy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roy takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Roy tries to move into range but Maples moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Roy walks into a jab.
Maples with a hook.
Maples rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Roy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Roy tries to close the distance and clinch but Maples swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maples stuffs the takedown.
Maples throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice shot by Maples.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples lands a nice shot that snaps Roy's head back.

Maples looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Maples is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maples tries to free his leg and advance position but Roy is retaining full guard.
Roy wants to stand and escape but Maples is having none of it.
Maples lands a couple of digs.
Maples trying to control the position from guard on top but Roy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roy is trying to control the position but Maples postures up.
Maples slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Roy missing with a left hand there. Maples was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maples stuns Roy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Roy drops his hands momentarily and Maples takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maples misses with a wild body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Maples. No joy for Roy on that attempt.
Maples tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Roy was well out of range. Poor timing from Maples.
Maples connects with a looping right hand.
Maples keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Maples counter with a right hand.
Theo Maples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jr Roy.
Nice uppercut lands for Maples. That snapped Roy's head back.

Maples looking to score a takedown here. Roy is defending well but Maples drives through and ends up in Roy's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maples accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maples with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maples stays in close to Roy's body and controls the position.
Maples might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maples postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Roy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Maples avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roy looks winded!
Maples stays in close to Roy's body and controls the position.
Roy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maples.
Maples pushing down on Roy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maples perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maples's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Maples seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Roy for as long as he can get away with.
Maples trying to pass the guard but Roy defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roy looks like he's trying to stand up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maples as he jumps to the side.
Roy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maples manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Roy tries to clinch but Maples is having none of it.
Maples keeps the fight on the outside.
Maples throws a good cross that connects.
Roy tries to clinch but Maples is having none of it.
Roy is looking to clinch.
Roy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maples sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roy somewhat.
jr Roy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maples stuns Roy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Roy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples sizes up Roy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Roy takes one to the chin there.
Maples looks to land a right hand but Roy moved out of range.
Maples swings for the body but Roy moves out of range.
Roy tries to clinch but Maples moves out of range.
Roy wants to clinch.
Roy is looking to clinch but Maples is avoiding it.
Maples fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Roy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Theo Maples seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roy avoids the body shot from Maples.
Maples looks to score with a jab to the body but Roy is just out of range.
Roy throws a leg kick but Maples sees it coming and checks it nicely.
That kick from Maples tenderised Roy's leg. Roy is trying to keep his angry face on.
Roy is trying desperately to land a takedown but Maples is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Roy.
Roy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roy tries to clinch but Maples is having none of it.
Maples throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Maples as Roy shoots in.
Theo Maples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jr Roy.
Roy is breathing heavily.
Maples connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maples.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Maples.
Maples misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Maples landing a few strikes.
Roy is trying to control Maples's posture but Maples avoids it.
Maples remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Maples wants to control but Roy is keeping him busy.
Theo Maples overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples tries to score with some ground and pound. Roy controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
An elbow from Maples crashes against the mat.
Maples happy to just control the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roy can't do much from the bottom here.
Maples wants to control but Roy is keeping him busy.
Roy is looking to regain half guard here but Maples keeps moving and retains side control.
Roy being controlled for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maples throws an elbow but Roy slips to the side and avoids it well.
Maples wants to control but Roy is keeping him busy.
Maples scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Roy to see if he's OK.
The referee asks Maples politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Maples prefers to stall for the moment though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maples trying to control the position but Roy is working away.
Maples controlling the position from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Theo Maples dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Roy shoots in for a double leg but Maples sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Roy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maples defends it nicely.
Roy fails with the takedown
and Roy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Theo Maples has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jr Roy.

Maples gets a double leg takedown into Roy's guard.
Maples engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Roy wants to improve his position but instead Maples has moved into half guard.
Maples missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Roy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maples is looking for a kimura here.
Maples is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Maples is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maples uses his free foot to push down on Roy's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roy.
Maples controlling his opponent.
Maples lands a couple of good shots and Roy has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maples controlling from the back.
Maples is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Roy up.
Roy is trapped and Maples is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maples loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Roy hold on?
Maples lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Maples looking for the choke but no joy.
Maples slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maples tightening his grip on Roy, looking for the choke.

Roy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
What can Roy do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Maples has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Roy looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Maples.
Maples is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Maples gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Maples gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Maples apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Roy takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A lazy left from Maples finds it's target.
Maples defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roy.
Theo Maples is winning the standup battle so far.
Maples lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maples lands a body shot.
Maples fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roy manages to avoid it.
Maples fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maples is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roy can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maples sizes up Roy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Roy needs to keep his hands up - Maples had a free shot at his head there.
jr Roy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maples scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theo Maples showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maples 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Theo Maples!