PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Throy Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Maia

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
198 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Mundo Green - World Verde

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Throy Maia!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Maia lands a jab.
Smith tries to clinch up but Maia circles away and keeps his distance.

Maia takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maia smiles and moves away.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Maia counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Maia has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.

Smith is working an open guard so Maia takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith closes the distance but Maia moves to the side

and Maia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Smith's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maia slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Smith can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maia controls the pace.

Maia gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Maia cracks Smith with a right hand to the side of the head.

Smith gets caught flat footed, as Maia shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Maia wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith closes the distance but Maia moves to the side

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith tries to stall but Maia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maia avoiding damage as Smith throws knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maia throws an elbow that misses.

Maia drags the fight down to the ground.
Maia seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to stand but Maia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Maia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Maia in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Maia looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Maia blocks Smith's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maia swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smith is now in Maia's guard. A big mistake from Maia there, giving up the dominant position!
Maia wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Maia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith wanted to stand there but Maia had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maia scrambles and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Throy 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.

Smith throws a combination that misses

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Maia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Maia scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Maia postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

Maia stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith wants to clinch

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maia.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Maia works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maia.
Maia trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maia is stalling in the full guard.

Maia gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.

Maia looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Maia controlling the pace for now.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Maia goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Smith is on top in guard.

Maia throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Smith escapes and throws Maia's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Throy Maia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maia sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Maia avoid being mounted?
Smith prevents Maia from improving his position.
Smith wants to stand up but Maia is controlling the position.
Maia gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Throy Maia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Maia has double underhooks.
Maia wants to break free but Smith has control.

Maia jumps guard.
Maia throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Maia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Smith is posturing up here but Maia has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Smith tries to roll out but it's too tight and Smith has to tap! Slick submission there by Maia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Throy Maia!