PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blake Barnes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maia is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I Get Knocked Down. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barnes
vs
Maia

176 cm
21
143 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Blake Barnes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Maia!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maia manages to avoid it.
Barnes fails with the takedown.
Nice shot lands for Maia.
Maia scores with a body shot.
A lazy left from Maia finds it's target.

Maia feints and as Barnes raises his hands in defense, Maia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnes is retaining full guard.

Maia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Barnes dives on top into guard.
Barnes stands up over Maia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maia wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Maia has his foot on Barnes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barnes works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia keeping full guard, as Barnes tries to pass.

Maia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maia looks gassed!
Maia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barnes!
Barnes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maia scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Barnes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Maia tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maia lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Barnes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Barnes can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Barnes regains half guard.

Maia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Maia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barnes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnes is retaining full guard.
Barnes wants to sweep here but Maia controlling him for the moment.
Maia throws a strike but Barnes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Barnes is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Maia Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Barnes's back instead.

Maia is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Barnes has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Barnes rolls, trying to escape but Maia keeps control of the position.
Barnes manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maia's guard. Nice work there by Barnes.
Barnes trying to control the position from guard on top but Maia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barnes sitting in guard here, content to control.

Maia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maia, not yet.
Barnes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maia's guard.
Maia is refusing to be controlled, as Barnes sits in half guard.
Maia is looking for a sweep. Barnes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Maia looking for a kimura from the bottom but Barnes passes into side control!
Barnes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maia keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Maia dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barnes moves into range and connects with a jab.

Maia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maia takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barnes gets back to full guard.
Barnes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Maia is in all sorts of trouble here.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Maia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnes landing punches.
Maia swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Barnes manages to capitalize on a mistake by Maia to take his back!

Barnes has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Barnes working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Maia defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Barnes's arms.
Barnes doesn't have the hooks in and Maia manages to turn into his guard.
Barnes looking for a sweep. Not yet Barnes, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maia's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barnes trying to control the position here.

Barnes looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Maia has picked Barnes up and slammed him! Barnes can't keep hold of the triangle and Maia manages to pass to side control!
Maia is working Barnes over with some ground and pound from side control.

Maia thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Maia is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Barnes looks calm but he's in trouble here. Maia gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Barnes is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Maia lets go of the hold and Barnes can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Maia!