PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Maritato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard Jones acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Maritato
vs
Jones

191 cm
26
245 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

187 cm
26
250 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Maritato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Howard Jones!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones lands a nice shot to the body.
Maritato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jones sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jones misses with the combination.
Jones needs to keep his hands up - Maritato had a free shot at his head there.
Maritato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Maritato misses with a hook.
Jones slips under a jab from Maritato.
Maritato checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jones walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.
Maritato thuds a left hand into Jones's body.
Jones works Maritato's body with a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maritato misses with a straight right.
Jones connects with a body shot that sends Maritato's belly button to the back.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jones.
Jones dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jones walks into a jab.
Maritato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jones throws a body punch but Maritato moves out of range.
Jones swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones scores with a jab. Maritato acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jones throws a body punch but Maritato moves out of range.
Jones slips under a jab from Maritato.
Maritato swings for the body but Jones moves out of range.
Maritato ducks under a wild hook from Jones.
Steven Maritato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maritato throws a good cross that connects.
Maritato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Jones misses.
Jones misses with a hook.
Maritato paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maritato avoids the body shot from Jones.
Jones is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Maritato rather than just go for the knockout.
Jones misses with a hook.
Jones throws a jab when Maritato was well out of range.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maritato takes a swing at Jones's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Maritato catches Jones right on the button with a cross.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maritato was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Maritato loads up on a big right hand but Jones slips the punch.
Maritato misses with a hook.
A big left from Maritato misses.
Maritato misses with a jab to the body
and Jones counters with a left and a right that stings Maritato.
Jones throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maritato stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Maritato is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jones.
Jones misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maritato.
Maritato looks to score with a jab to the body but Jones is just out of range.
Jones sizes up Maritato with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Maritato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maritato looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.
Jones misses with the combination.
Maritato works Jones's body with a nice hook.
Jones lands a glancing blow to the side of Maritato's head.

Maritato gets caught flat footed, as Jones shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to control from the top but Maritato keeps moving.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Maritato is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jones is controlling him.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maritato is breathing heavily.
Jones is stalling in the full guard.
Maritato wants to stand but Jones is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maritato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones stands up over Maritato, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jones wants to control but Maritato is keeping him busy.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jones landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maritato is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Maritato takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jones steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maritato.
Nice takedown defense from Maritato. No joy for Jones on that attempt.
No joy there for Jones, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jones misses with a low kick.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jones moves away from the strike by Maritato.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Maritato tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maritato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maritato thows a body shot but no joy.
Howard Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maritato's corner calls for a 1-2. Maritato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maritato lands with a good body shot.
Maritato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Jones closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jones lands in his opponent's guard.

Maritato has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jones off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maritato looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.
Good exchange - Jones coming out on top.
Jones ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jones stuns Maritato with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jones uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maritato.
Jab from Maritato.
Maritato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters circling - Maritato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maritato lands a really nice looking cross but Jones seems unphased.
Jones looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones moves away from the strike by Maritato.
Jones displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maritato throws out the jab.
Jones swings for the body but Maritato moves out of range.
Maritato connects with a body shot that sends Jones's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jones scores with a jab to the jaw.
Maritato throws a hook but Jones blocks it.
Maritato scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maritato jabs Jones to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jones keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jones throws out a loose jab but Maritato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maritato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jones manages to avoid it.
Jones has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Jones there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maritato misses with a straight right.
Maritato misses with a jab to the body
and Jones counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maritato throws a big shot that misses.
Jones lands with a good body shot.
Maritato digs a good body shot into Jones's ribs.
Jones misses with an uppercut. Maritato saw that one coming.
Maritato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jones sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jones fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maritato looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Jones takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Jones does it's job there.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Maritato shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Steven Maritato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Jones.
Jones misses the jab.
Maritato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jones scores with a nice head shot.
Maritato gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jones.
Maritato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maritato lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Maritato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jones moves away.
Maritato misses with a body shot.
Jones swings for the body but Maritato moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Jones 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jones slips a jab from Maritato.
Jones moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Maritato misses the jab.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maritato was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Jones misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maritato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maritato throws a sloppy body shot
and Jones counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maritato scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones throws a hook but Maritato avoids it easily.
Jones moves out of range as Maritato strikes.
Jones throws out a loose jab but Maritato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maritato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maritato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maritato throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jones stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A jab from Maritato misses.
Maritato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jones.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones with a nice cross.
Maritato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maritato misses with a jab to the body

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Jones decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Steven Maritato will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jones feints and as Maritato raises his hands in defense, Jones changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maritato is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jones is controlling him.
Jones content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jones preventing the sweep.
Jones wants to control from the top but Maritato keeps moving.

Jones stands and steps away. Maritato gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jones fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maritato avoids it really well and circles away.
Maritato slips a jab from Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones blocks a jab.
Maritato takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Maritato which made him look bad.
Nice jab there from Maritato.
Maritato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jones walks into a jab.
Maritato loads up on a big right hand but Jones slips the punch.
Jones lunges at Maritato with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maritato's hand.
Maritato takes a swing at Jones's ribcage but misses.
A shot to the liver by Maritato. Beautiful body shot.
Jones misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Maritato misses.
Maritato throws a big shot that misses.
Maritato throws a lazy right hand but Jones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maritato throws a jab when Jones was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maritato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Maritato.
Jones swinging wildly here.
Jones has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Jones there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maritato throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maritato connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
Maritato misses with a wild body shot.
Jones shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Maritato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jones.
Jones throws a leg kick but Maritato moved away.
Jones slips under a jab from Maritato.
Maritato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maritato moves out of range of the strikes.
Maritato uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jones.
A punch combination from Jones misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maritato scores with a jab to the head.
Jones has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Maritato is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jones.
The fighters circling - Jones throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jones misses with a hook. Maritato ducked under it nicely.
Maritato throws a good cross that connects.
Maritato looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.
Maritato scores with a jab to the jaw.
Maritato throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maritato connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jones. Jones circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jones tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maritato swivels and escapes.
Steven Maritato has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Jones.
Maritato takes a swing at Jones's ribcage but misses.
Jones avoids the body shot from Maritato.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maritato throws a hook to the side of Jones's head but Jones sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maritato scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maritato throws a predictable looking body shot
and Jones counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maritato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maritato bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Maritato misses with a looping left.
Jones staying out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Maritato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jones blocks a jab.
Maritato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jones.
Maritato misses with a straight left.
Jones walks into a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maritato connects with a body shot that sends Jones's belly button to the back.
Maritato cracks Jones with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Maritato.
Maritato looks to land a right hand but Jones moved out of range.
Maritato fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jones fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Maritato showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maritato has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Maritato!