PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pops Maellard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ragnar Danneskjöld (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maellard
vs
Danneskjöld

183 cm
28
188 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

185 cm
28
200 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Irish Collar & Elbow Nutrition and Laundry

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pops Maellard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ragnar Danneskjöld!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maellard uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Danneskjöld.

Maellard closes the distance and pushes Danneskjöld back into the cage.
Maellard misses with the head strike.
Maellard can't find room to land a body shot as Danneskjöld controls the action.
Danneskjöld is looking for a takedown.
Maellard lands a nice uppercut.
Maellard misses with the head strike.
Danneskjöld prevents a body shot from Maellard.
Danneskjöld tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maellard smiles and moves away.
Danneskjöld tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maellard defends well and Danneskjöld ends up having to push Maellard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pops Maellard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ragnar Danneskjöld.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maellard.
Maellard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danneskjöld shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maellard as he avoids it easily.
Danneskjöld on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Danneskjöld looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Maellard scores with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Danneskjöld closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maellard quickly recovers to half guard.
Danneskjöld trying to mount his opponent but Maellard defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danneskjöld missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Danneskjöld thows a huge punch but Maellard dodges it nicely.
Maellard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Maellard trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Danneskjöld thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maellard has control of Danneskjöld's left arm, preventing Danneskjöld from doing any damage.
Danneskjöld is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Danneskjöld working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maellard is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Outer Heaven Dojo that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Danneskjöld chips away with some ground and pound.
Danneskjöld has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maellard seems keen to control Danneskjöld's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard looking to control.
Maellard has Danneskjöld pulled in close to control his posture.
Danneskjöld in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Maellard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Danneskjöld preventing the sweep.
Danneskjöld is looking to pass into half guard but Maellard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Maellard is in guard.

Danneskjöld looking for a guillotine here but Maellard defends easily.
Maellard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Danneskjöld looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard trying to control but Danneskjöld is working from the bottom.
Maellard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Danneskjöld is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Danneskjöld looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Danneskjöld looking for a sweep. Not yet Danneskjöld, not yet.
Danneskjöld can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maellard controls the pace.
Maellard postures up.

Danneskjöld working for a triangle but Maellard defends it easily.

Danneskjöld is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maellard defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Maellard is looking to stand up but Danneskjöld won't let him.
Maellard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Danneskjöld working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maellard.
Maellard sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Danneskjöld's guard.

Danneskjöld with the active half guard here but Maellard passes nicely into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Danneskjöld is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pops Maellard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maellard drives through and clinches with Danneskjöld against the cage.

Danneskjöld manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maellard trying to control the position from guard on top but Danneskjöld is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Danneskjöld looking for a guillotine here but Maellard defends easily.

Danneskjöld is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Maellard is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Danneskjöld is looking for a triangle but Maellard pushes his legs off easily.

Danneskjöld is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Danneskjöld throws his legs up looking for a submission but Maellard uses it to pass to side control.
Maellard is looking to take a break and control but Danneskjöld is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maellard gets to mount! Danneskjöld was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Danneskjöld sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Maellard is trying to control the action in half guard but Danneskjöld is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maellard slows the pace down in half guard.
Maellard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Danneskjöld keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Danneskjöld avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maellard.
Ragnar Danneskjöld has got the better of the ground game so far.

Danneskjöld looking for submissions off his back.
Maellard controlling the action here.
Maellard is thwarting Danneskjöld's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Danneskjöld knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Danneskjöld wants to improve his position but Maellard is controlling well.
Maellard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Danneskjöld can do to turn this around?

Danneskjöld looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maellard content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pops Maellard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four 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.
Maellard scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Danneskjöld tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maellard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Danneskjöld looking to score a takedown here. Maellard is defending well but Danneskjöld drives through and ends up in Maellard's guard.
Maellard looking for a sweep. Not yet Maellard, not yet.
Maellard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Danneskjöld throws a strike but Maellard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Danneskjöld escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maellard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Maellard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Danneskjöld is looking for a triangle but Maellard pushes his legs off easily.
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 Pops Maellard will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Danneskjöld avoids the body shot from Maellard.
And Danneskjöld tries to counter it with a takedown but Maellard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Maellard throws a head kick that misses

and Danneskjöld counters with a single leg into guard. Maellard didn't expect that.
Maellard has momentary wrist control but Danneskjöld slips an elbow through the middle.
Danneskjöld is looking to work some ground and pound but Maellard has wrist control.
Maellard looking to control.
Danneskjöld lands a couple of digs.
Maellard looking for a sweep. Not yet Maellard, not yet.
Danneskjöld working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maellard's head.
Danneskjöld postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maellard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danneskjöld keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maellard's head.
Danneskjöld cracks Maellard with a solid left hand.
Maellard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Danneskjöld lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danneskjöld is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Maellard holds on and takes a little breather.
Maellard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Danneskjöld throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maellard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Danneskjöld wants to control from the top but Maellard keeps moving.
Danneskjöld postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Danneskjöld throws a big right hand that misses.
Maellard has his hands on Danneskjöld's head, controlling the position.
Danneskjöld is pushing down on Maellard's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maellard is fighting to maintain full guard but Danneskjöld has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maellard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Danneskjöld.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danneskjöld looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Danneskjöld is thwarting Maellard's attempts to control the position.
Maellard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Maellard is defending against the submission attempts here by Danneskjöld.
Danneskjöld missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Maellard controlling the position for now.
Danneskjöld drops an elbow to the side of Maellard's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Danneskjöld lands a nice short elbow.
Danneskjöld is thwarting Maellard's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard gets back to full guard.
Maellard is pulling down on Danneskjöld's head. It's preventing any offense from Danneskjöld, at least for the moment.
Maellard looking for a sweep. Not yet Maellard, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Danneskjöld's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Danneskjöld wants to pass the guard but Maellard is keeping the position.
Danneskjöld throws a big right hand that misses.
Maellard has momentary wrist control but Danneskjöld slips an elbow through the middle.
Maellard has his hands on Danneskjöld's head, controlling the position.
Ragnar Danneskjöld has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danneskjöld is working Maellard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danneskjöld loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Danneskjöld distracts Maellard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maellard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Danneskjöld throwing strikes but missing.
Maellard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maellard working a defensive guard here.
Danneskjöld postures up in Maellard's guard and throws a big left but Maellard blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Danneskjöld makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Danneskjöld works over Maellard with some ground and pound from guard.
Pops Maellard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Danneskjöld content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ragnar Danneskjöld comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maellard 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pops Maellard!
An out of breath Pops Maellard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Ragnar Danneskjöld was interviewed post fight and said 'Who is John Galt?'.