PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Johnson
vs
Maia

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
198 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maia pinned against the cage. Maia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Maia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Maia sneaks back into half guard.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.
Maia is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is pressing down on Johnson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Johnson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!

Maia get's back to his feet.
Maia stuffs the takedown.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Maia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maia as he jumps to the side.

Maia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee warns Johnson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Johnson looks a forlorn figure.
Maia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Johnson is bucking up trying to escape but Maia cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maia lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Johnson hang on?
BOOM! Maia connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Johnson?
Maia putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Maia working for a guillotine from mount but Johnson is in no mood to give up.
BOOM! Maia connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia cracks Johnson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Maia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Maia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maia!

Johnson working for a submission but Maia is keeping him at bay.
Maia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Maia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

Johnson has gone for a leg lock! Maia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Johnson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia passes Johnson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maia is tying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Maia is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maia to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.

Johnson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Maia not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson won't allow Maia to pass to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed

and Maia counters with a single leg into guard. Johnson didn't expect that.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Maia advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Demian Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Johnson is retaining full guard.

Maia postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Johnson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maia, into his 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 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!

Johnson shoots and misses

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia throws a big right hand that misses.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maia trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maia counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Johnson!
Johnson gets back to half guard.
Johnson won't allow Maia to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Maia is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maia tries to stand but can't do so whilst Johnson controls his leg.

Maia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Maia is working for a kimura but Johnson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is staying active underneath Maia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Maia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four 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.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Johnson keeping full guard, as Maia tries to pass.

Johnson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maia throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Maia!