PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Ritter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritter has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maia
vs
Ritter

182 cm
19
188 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

196 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blake Ritter!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia feints and as Ritter raises his hands in defense, Maia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maia passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ritter can't do much from the bottom here.
Maia controlling the position.

Maia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ritter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maia trying to control the position but Ritter is working away.
Maia has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Maia controlling from mount.
Maia trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritter tries to improve his position but instead Maia has taken his back!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Maia controlling the positon.
Ritter is really stuck here.
Maia gets his hands free as Ritter looks to control.
Ritter is trying to break free.
Ritter just trying to survive but Maia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Maia controlling well, preventing Ritter from escaping the position.
Maia controls the position.
Maia is hanging on to Ritter's back as he tries to escape.

Maia is looking for the choke from the back position but Ritter is controlling his hands well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Can Ritter hold on?! Maia is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Maia controlling well, preventing Ritter from escaping the position.

Maia is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ritter knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ritter for a finish.
You can see the frustration on Ritter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Maia is persistently looking for the submission but Ritter is defending it well.
Maia trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Maia keeps control of the position as Ritter tries to break free.
Ritter is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ritter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ritter is defending well though. Maia let's go of the attempt for now.
Maia gets his hands free as Ritter looks to control.

Maia working for a choke but Ritter is defending well.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Maia's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Ritter breaks Maia's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ritter scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ritter's guard.

Maia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maia 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.
Maia passes Ritter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ritter is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Maia pulls his head out easily.
Ritter looks gassed!
Maia trying to pass the guard but Ritter defending well.

Ritter is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Maia pulls his head out easily.
Maia uses his free foot to push down on Ritter's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ritter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Maia dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ritter takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Maia shoots in and bounces Ritter off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ritter swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ritter escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maia gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ritter being controlled here, momentarily.
Ritter keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ritter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ritter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ritter is breathing heavily.
Ritter looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Maia puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Maia passes the guard and advances to mount!
Maia trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ritter is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ritter wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Maia is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Ritter is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Daniel Maia!