PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Maia

173 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Win Nutritional - proof of quality
Win Nutritional - proof of quality

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Maia!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Max Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Maia shoots for a double leg takedown but Gracie sprawls well. He's pushed Maia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Gracie as he connects with a hook.
Maia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
Maia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maia looks for a takedown but Gracie sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
Maia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gracie circles away.
Maia looks gassed!
Gracie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gracie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maia is out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maia is defended easily by Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes Maia back into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maia gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Gracie pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is wriggling around but Maia manages to pass to half guard.
Maia controlling the action here.

Maia is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Gracie has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maia wants to free his trapped foot but Gracie is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to get back to full guard but Maia takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Maia has control of the leg.
Maia wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie trying to hold on to Maia's head to control him but Maia postures up.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Maia jumps into side control!
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Gracie wants to control but Maia postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is trying to improve his position.
Maia working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie misses with a few strikes there.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Maia on that attempt.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maia to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Maia gets to his feet - Gracie follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Max Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Maia circles away easily
and Maia finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gracie does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Maia.
Maia takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gracie lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maia backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maia checks it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maia shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Max Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Maia.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
Gracie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Maia avoids them all with ease.
Gracie throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maia avoids the body shot from Gracie.
Some wild striking there from Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maia was well out of range. Poor timing from Gracie.
Maia slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Gracie throws a combination that misses

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie wants to control but Maia passes easily into half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Maia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Maia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to control Maia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Maia has control of the leg.

Maia decides to stand up.
Maia shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Gracie throws a right hand that Maia ducks under and follows up with a left that Maia also avoids with ease.
Maia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maia counters with a takedown into side control.
Maia lands a few punches from side control.
Maia is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Maia keeps moving and retains side control.
Maia trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Maia swings around for an armbar but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maia's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Demian Maia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie tries to clinch

and Maia counters with a shoot takedown. Gracie fights it but they end up in guard.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Maia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maia works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maia wants to pass to mount but Gracie is defending the position.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Maia is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to roll over but Maia keeps him under control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gracie crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Maia - the referee stops the clock and Gracie gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Maia. Gracie manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Maia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Maia content to control rather than advance.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Maia is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maia maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Gracie could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Maia has cracked it and Gracie is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Maia!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Demian Maia!