PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Noir (ranked 576 p4p, 477 weight class) and Ralphie Maldonado (ranked 85 p4p, 71 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Noir
vs
Maldonado

184 cm
37
173
22 - 16 - 2

179 cm
32
176
18 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Noir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ralphie Maldonado!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noir takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A lazy body kick from Maldonado
enabling Noir to counter with a crisp jab.
Noir keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldonado.
James Noir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Noir misses with a wild body shot.
Noir scores with a punch to the head.
Maldonado uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Noir.
A telegraphed right hand from Noir misses the target.
Noir throws a series of punches but Maldonado avoids them all with ease.
Maldonado keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Noir.
Noir moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A nice leg kick from Maldonado, right into the meat of the thigh.
Noir misses with a hook.
Maldonado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Noir dives in and scores a takedown into Maldonado's guard.

Maldonado pushes Noir off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Noir paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noir fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maldonado looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ralphie Maldonado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maldonado cracks Noir with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Noir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maldonado manages to avoid it.
Maldonado with a jab.
Maldonado uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Noir.
Noir blocks a head kick by Maldonado.
Noir punishes Maldonado's body with a nice straight punch.
Noir swings for the body but Maldonado moves out of range.
Maldonado tries a quick counter leg kick but Noir is wise to it.
Maldonado throws a hook to the side of Noir's head but Noir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldonado loads up on a big right hand but Noir slips the punch.
Noir throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Noir with a nice cross.
No luck for Noir with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldonado throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldonado throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Noir drops down looking for a counter takedown but Maldonado sprawls and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldonado. Noir does a little dance to reset his feet.
Noir ducks right into an uppercut from Maldonado.
Maldonado throws the kick towards the body but Noir avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Noir on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A jab from Maldonado does it's job there.
Noir stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Maldonado takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maldonado slips a jab from Noir.
Maldonado scores with a decent looking hook.
Noir misses with an uppercut. Maldonado saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado just misses with a punch to the body.
Maldonado misses with a hook.
Noir slips under a jab from Maldonado.

Oooooh!!! Noir has knocked Maldonado down with a huge combo! Noir steps away and waves a wobbly Maldonado back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Maldonado is rocked!
Noir changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maldonado is still on wobbly legs! Can Noir finish him?
Noir definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Maldonado bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Noir's head backwards.
Maldonado throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maldonado seems to have recovered his senses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Maldonado throws a jab but it's blocked by Noir.
Maldonado misses with the body kick
and Noir counters with a straight right hand.
Noir throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Noir checks a low kick from Maldonado.
Noir misses the jab.
Noir ducks under a wild hook from Maldonado.
A big left from Maldonado misses.
Noir swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado throws a body kick that misses.
Noir throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Maldonado to counter with a crisp jab.
Noir misses with a body punch
and Maldonado counters with a nice uppercut.
Maldonado missing with a left hand there. Noir was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Noir scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Noir swings for the body but Maldonado moves out of range.

Noir decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Noir seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Maldonado gets back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noir trying to control the position from guard on top but Maldonado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Noir will probably get the nod.
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.

Noir throws a body punch but Maldonado moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noir. Maldonado does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maldonado lands a nice looking body shot.
Noir throws the left hand but Maldonado avoids the punch easily.
Maldonado takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maldonado ducks under a wild hook from Noir.
Maldonado connects with a jab.
Noir comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Noir throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maldonado sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maldonado connects with a right hand. Noir shakes it off.
James Noir is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noir swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Maldonado to counter with a crisp jab.
Noir avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Noir throws out a loose jab but Maldonado uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right-left combo lands from Noir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado lets loose with a powerful body kick. Noir will feel that in the morning.
Nice shot lands for Maldonado.
A slow jab from Noir misses its intended target.
Noir drops his hands momentarily and Maldonado takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Maldonado.
Noir looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maldonado takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Noir's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maldonado connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Noir scrambles back to his feet.
Noir ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maldonado moves away.
Noir tries to bum rush Maldonado with a series of wild strikes but Maldonado uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Noir scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maldonado throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Noir rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maldonado counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir lands a glancing blow to the side of Maldonado's head.
Noir misses with a straight left.
Noir throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maldonado scores with a kick to the midsection.
Maldonado takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maldonado scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Noir lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Noir.
Noir throws a nice looking combination but Maldonado bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maldonado throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maldonado throws a good cross that connects.
Noir fails with the takedown
enabling Maldonado to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldonado goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Noir.
Maldonado throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Noir stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maldonado throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Noir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maldonado changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Noir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maldonado throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldonado throws a head kick that Noir semi-blocks.
Jab from Noir.
Maldonado throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maldonado misses with a wild body shot.
Noir is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Noir misses with a combination
and Maldonado counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A slow jab from Maldonado misses its intended target.
Noir misses with a right hand
and Maldonado counters with a right hand to the body.
Maldonado throws a shot from downtown. Noir moves away and avoids it.
Maldonado throws a leg kick which misses Noir's front leg but catches the back leg as Noir tries to avoid it.
Maldonado scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maldonado on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maldonado tries a low kick but Noir avoids it.
Noir cracks a nice hook into Maldonado's ribs.
Maldonado connects with a leg kick.
Maldonado misses the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noir throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maldonado sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Noir checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maldonado misses with a looping left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ralphie Maldonado showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Maldonado throws a push kick but Noir slaps the foot to one side.
A big left from Maldonado misses.
Maldonado misses with a right hand
letting Noir counter with a right hand.
Noir looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Jab by Maldonado.
Maldonado lands with a straight right. Noir didn't see that one coming.
Noir throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maldonado lands a leg kick that knocks Noir off balance momentarily.
Maldonado is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Noir lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Noir avoids the head kick by Maldonado.
Noir tries to counter with a takedown but Maldonado is quick to defend against it.
Noir misses with a lunging right hand
and Maldonado makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Maldonado.
Noir scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Noir tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maldonado swivels and escapes.
Noir looks to throw the jab but Maldonado is out of range.
Maldonado scores with a kick to the midsection.
Noir just misses with a punch to the body.
Noir swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Noir swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldonado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Noir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maldonado misses with a hook.
Maldonado throws a wild body kick that Noir sees coming a mile off.
Maldonado ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Noir takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Noir throws a body punch but Maldonado moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maldonado manages to avoid it.
Noir moves out of range as Maldonado strikes.
Noir throwing a counter right hand but Maldonado manages to avoid it.
Maldonado wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Noir misses with a hook
and Maldonado counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good standup being displayed there by Maldonado as he connects with a hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Noir misses with a wild body shot.

Noir throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maldonado tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Noir is in Maldonado's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Maldonado manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Maldonado breaks from the clinch.
Maldonado tries a head kick but it misses.
Maldonado lands a front kick.
Noir takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noir slips under a jab from Maldonado.
Noir misses with a hook to the body
and Maldonado cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Noir scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Noir scores with a decent looking hook.
Maldonado lands a jab to Noir's midsection.
Maldonado takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maldonado missing with a left hand there. Noir was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maldonado swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maldonado throws a hook to the side of Noir's head but Noir sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Noir fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maldonado avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noir throws the left hand but Maldonado avoids the punch easily.
Jab, jab by Noir - just one landing.
Noir with a jab.
Maldonado thows a leg kick but Noir checks it
and Noir counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldonado missing with a left hand there. Noir was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maldonado throws a jab but it's blocked by Noir.
Noir tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Noir throws an off balance right hand
and Maldonado counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Noir has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Maldonado.
Maldonado on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Noir pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maldonado is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Noir with a body shot.
Noir digs a good hook to Maldonado's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralphie Maldonado comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maldonado 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralphie Maldonado!
A less than humble Ralphie Maldonado misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.