PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thufir Hawat (ranked 2766 p4p, 2083 weight class) and Aslak Maitonaama (ranked 357 p4p, 280 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Hawat
vs
Maitonaama

185 cm
25
178
12 - 13 - 0

185 cm
26
175
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aslak Maitonaama!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maitonaama takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Maitonaama shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maitonaama showed some decent athleticism there.

Maitonaama wants to work for an arm triangle but Hawat is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Maitonaama is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hawat defends it well.
Hawat has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Maitonaama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maitonaama working Hawat over with strikes.
Maitonaama is trying to control. Hawat wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maitonaama.
Hawat keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Maitonaama is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Hawat as he works his way to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat keeping moving, preventing Maitonaama from controlling successfully.
Maitonaama might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hawat haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Maitonaama landing with the ground and pound.
Maitonaama throwing strikes from guard but Hawat blocks nicely.
Maitonaama with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maitonaama landing some decent shots from guard.
Hawat is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maitonaama looking to pass the guard.
Maitonaama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maitonaama throws a big elbow that misses.
Maitonaama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hawat looking for a sweep. Not yet Hawat, not yet.
Maitonaama passes Hawat's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Maitonaama throwing shots but Hawat is blocking nicely.
Hawat is not content to let Maitonaama control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hawat wants to control but Maitonaama is keeping busy.
Maitonaama content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Maitonaama is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hawat defends it well.
Hawat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maitonaama.

Maitonaama looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Maitonaama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hawat is just riding it out for now. Maitonaama eventually gives up the hold.

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.
Hawat is looking to control Maitonaama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hawat avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maitonaama wants to pass to mount but Hawat is defending the position.
Maitonaama trying to control the action but Hawat is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aslak Maitonaama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hawat lands a jab to the nose.
Thufir Hawat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawat pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A head kick by Hawat misses

and Maitonaama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maitonaama trying to control the position from guard on top but Hawat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hawat is pulling down on Maitonaama's head to control his posture.

Maitonaama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hawat manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maitonaama has Hawat in his guard.

Maitonaama wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maitonaama trying to control the position.

Maitonaama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hawat postures up.

Maitonaama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hawat can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hawat wants to pass the guard but Maitonaama is keeping the position.

Maitonaama working for submissions but it's allowed Hawat to get to half guard.
Maitonaama makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maitonaama.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maitonaama wants to sweep but no luck.

Maitonaama is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Hawat frees his head nicely. Oh but Maitonaama has switched to an armbar! Hawat is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Aslak Maitonaama!
Aslak Maitonaama decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.