PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Maverick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Maverick struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anderson
vs
Maverick

173 cm
20
163 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
171 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, John Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dan Maverick!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maverick.
Maverick pivots, looking for a leg kick but Anderson is out of range and Maverick settles back down.

Maverick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Anderson sprawls well initially but Maverick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Anderson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maverick scores with a couple of nice shots.
Anderson is trying to stand up here but Maverick is controlling him well.
Anderson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Immortals Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Maverick content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson wants to get back to his feet.
Anderson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maverick.
Maverick wants to control but Anderson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anderson defending well though.
Maverick trying to pass the guard but Anderson defending well.
Maverick throwing shots but Anderson is blocking nicely.
Maverick wants to free his trapped foot but Anderson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maverick is trying to control. Anderson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maverick throwing shots but Anderson is blocking nicely.
Maverick wants to pass to mount but Anderson is defending the position.
Anderson taking some punishment here, with Maverick in his half guard.
Anderson wants to get back to his feet.
Anderson is pressing down on Maverick's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maverick prevents Anderson from getting back to his feet.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.
Maverick is looking to work some ground and pound but Anderson has wrist control.
Maverick postures up in Anderson's guard and throws a big left but Anderson blocks it.
Maverick content to stall in guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dan Maverick wasn't active enough on the ground.
Anderson tries to clinch but Maverick moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anderson closes the distance and clinches.
Anderson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Anderson has had enough of the clinch but Maverick keeps him there for the moment.
Maverick keeps control of Anderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Anderson prevents Maverick from breaking the clinch.
Maverick doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maverick working aggressively here.

Maverick turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Anderson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is looking to regain half guard here but Maverick keeps moving and retains side control.
Maverick trying to control the action but Anderson is working from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
Anderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
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.
Anderson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Anderson is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maverick dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Anderson moves into the clinch.
Anderson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Maverick working hard to break the clinch.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Maverick is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Anderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Maverick is looking to take this one to the mat.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Anderson.
Maverick prevents Anderson from breaking the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Anderson.
Anderson lands an uppercut.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Anderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Maverick.
Maverick is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Anderson is keeping busy.
Anderson keeps control of Maverick as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Anderson.
Anderson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Maverick swings wildly with an uppercut but Anderson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anderson prevents the takedown attempt.
John Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Maverick.
Maverick trying to control the position but instead, Anderson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Maverick into the cage.
Maverick tries for a takedown but Anderson manages to get underhooks.
Anderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on Anderson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson misses with a punch to the body.
Maverick goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maverick keeps control of Anderson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Anderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maverick connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Anderson wants to clinch up but Maverick keeps it at a distance.
Maverick throws a low kick, looking for Anderson's leg but Anderson calmly moves out of range.
Anderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anderson lands a nice looking body shot.
Anderson tries to clinch but Maverick moves away
and Maverick counters with a nice leg kick.
Maverick swats away the attempt to clinch by Anderson.
John Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maverick throws out a leg kick but Anderson moves out of range and Maverick only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick goes for a double leg but Anderson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Anderson continues to drive forward.
Maverick is trying to stall.
A body shot lands from Anderson.
Anderson lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Anderson fails to land.
Anderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Still in the clinch, Anderson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maverick swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Maverick struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.
Maverick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Anderson prevents the takedown attempt.
Anderson lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick prevents a takedown attempt there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Anderson wants to stall.
Anderson stalling the fight.
Anderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anderson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Anderson is leaning against Maverick and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Maverick controls his hands.
Still in the clinch, Anderson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maverick misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Anderson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maverick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maverick pushes down on Anderson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maverick throws a strike but Anderson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Anderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maverick is controlling him.
Maverick trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maverick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Maverick looking to sit in guard and control but Anderson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Anderson won't allow Maverick to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick seems keen to control Anderson's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Anderson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maverick tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Maverick.
Maverick has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Maverick lets loose with a powerful body kick. Anderson will feel that in the morning.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maverick avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anderson checks a low kick from Maverick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Anderson.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
Anderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Anderson staying out of range there.
Maverick motions for Anderson to come forward. Maverick throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to clinch up.
Good leg kick by Anderson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Anderson clinches up against the cage.
Maverick looking to slow down the pace here.
Anderson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maverick taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Anderson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Maverick trying to stall but Anderson improves his position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dan Maverick.

Anderson closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick looking for a takedown.
Anderson tries to throw a body punch but Maverick avoids it by throwing Anderson back against the cage.
Anderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Anderson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Anderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Anderson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Anderson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Anderson stalling against the cage.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Anderson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
Anderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.
John Anderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick looking to stall.
Anderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Maverick is trying to force a seperation but Anderson has the dominant position.
Anderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maverick letting Anderson take a breather here.
Anderson can't find room to land a body shot as Maverick controls the action.
Maverick wants a takedown but no success here.
John Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Maverick.
Anderson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maverick blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Anderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Anderson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Anderson!
A relieved looking John Anderson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.