PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Damien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirill Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maia
vs
Petrov

173 cm
26
150 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
152 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Damien Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirill Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Petrov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Petrov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Petrov.
Petrov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maia walks away with a smile on his face. Petrov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maia wants to clinch but Petrov slips to the side

and Petrov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.

Petrov is looking for a kimura here.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Petrov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Petrov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petrov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Maia kicks off Petrov and gets to his feet.

Petrov moves into range and clinches up with Maia.
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Petrov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petrov has him pressed against the cage.
Petrov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maia's efforts to push away.
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maia can't break the clinch.
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Petrov is controlling him.
Maia is trying to push Petrov away but Petrov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Petrov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Petrov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maia smiles and moves away.

Petrov has closed the distance and engaged Maia in a clinch.
Maia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maia wants to get back to striking at distance but Petrov won't allow it.

Maia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maia wants to clinch but Petrov slips to the side

and Petrov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Petrov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Maia letting Petrov take a breather here.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Maia keeps the fight on the outside.
Maia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Petrov.
Petrov closes the distance but Maia moves to the side

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Damien Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirill Petrov.
Petrov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Maia is keeping busy.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Petrov.

Petrov moves into the clinch.

Petrov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Maia can't fight it off and eventually Petrov manages to take the fight to the floor. Maia looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Maia wants to stand but Petrov is controlling the position.
Petrov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Maia wants to stand and escape but Petrov is having none of it.

Maia uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Petrov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Maia is looking to break free of the clinch but Petrov has double underhooks.
Maia blocks a body shot from Petrov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Maia is keeping busy.
Maia prevents the takedown attempt.
Petrov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Maia breaks the clinch.
Petrov shoots in looking for a takedown. Maia tries to sprawl out of it but Petrov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Maia darts in trying to clinch
and Petrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Petrov clinches with his opponent.

Maia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Petrov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Petrov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov trying to pass the guard but Maia defending well.

Petrov is looking for a kimura but Maia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Petrov to get the leverage.
Petrov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
Petrov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Maia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Maia is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Petrov is working for a submission of some sort.
Maia wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Petrov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Petrov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maia circles away.
Maia tries to clinch up

and Petrov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia is trying to break free.
Maia wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maia is trying to force a seperation but Petrov has the dominant position.

Maia manages to break the clinch.
Maia tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Petrov counters with a shoot takedown. Maia fights it but they end up in guard.
Petrov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.
Petrov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Maia has his feet on Petrov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Maia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Petrov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Petrov is controlling him.
Petrov is trying to maintain a safe position but Maia gets an underhook and turns Petrov into the cage.
Petrov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Maia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Petrov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Petrov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maia's efforts to push away.

Petrov decides to pull guard.

Petrov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Petrov's guard.
Petrov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Maia stands up from Petrov's guard - Maia perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kirill Petrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petrov throws a combination that misses

and Maia moves into the clinch.
Maia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maia can't break the clinch.
Maia wants to break free but Petrov has control.

Petrov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Maia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Maia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Petrov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Petrov won't allow Maia to get back to his feet.
Petrov postures up in Maia's guard and throws a big left but Maia blocks it.
Petrov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov throws a big right hand that misses.
Petrov trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

Maia manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Maia wants to clinch

and Petrov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Petrov.
Petrov cracks Maia with a nice body shot.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrov shoots and misses

and Maia moves into the clinch.
Damien Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirill Petrov.
Petrov tries to land knees in the clinch but Maia avoids the damage to the body.
Petrov keeps control of Maia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Petrov lands a shot to the body.
Maia is trying to force a seperation but Petrov has the dominant position.
Good body shot from Petrov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrov misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov breaks from the clinch.
Maia darts in trying to clinch

and Petrov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Maia breaks the clinch.
Maia checks a leg kick.
Petrov cracks a nice hook into Maia's ribs.
Petrov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maia tries to avoid it but Petrov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maia to the ground. Maia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maia closes the distance looking to clinch
and Petrov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Petrov loads up on a big right hand but Maia slips the punch.
Maia looks to clinch

and Petrov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maia won't be happy with that.

Maia throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Petrov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petrov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Maia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Petrov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Petrov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Maia is looking to break free of the clinch but Petrov has double underhooks.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Petrov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maia pushes Petrov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Petrov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Maia is looking to get back to his feet here but Petrov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Maia's back.
Petrov throwing damaging strikes from the back! Maia could be in trouble here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Petrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Petrov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Petrov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Petrov throws a combination that misses

and Maia counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Maia can't break the clinch.
Petrov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Petrov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Maia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Petrov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maia gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Damien Maia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirill Petrov.

Petrov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Petrov has a closed guard, preventing Maia from standing up.

Maia gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Maia looks to clinch

and Petrov counters by moving into the clinch.
Petrov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maia smiles and moves away.
Petrov shoots and misses

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Petrov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Petrov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maia's efforts to push away.
Petrov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Maia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maia is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Petrov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Petrov tries to land knees in the clinch but Maia avoids the damage to the body.
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Petrov is controlling him.
Petrov stalling in the clinch.
Petrov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Petrov manages to break the clinch.
Maia darts in trying to clinch
and Petrov counters with a left and a right that stings Maia.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Petrov to counter with a crisp jab.

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.
Petrov misses with a takedown

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maia.
Maia wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maia has had enough of the clinch but Petrov keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Petrov.
Maia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maia is trying to break free.
Maia controlling the action here for a moment.
Maia is trying to break the clinch but Petrov is controlling him.
Petrov tries to work over Maia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kirill Petrov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Maia breaks from the clinch.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maia slips a straight right by Petrov.
Damien Maia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Petrov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maia counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maia tries to clinch but Petrov moves away

and Petrov moves into the clinch.
Petrov working aggressively here.
Maia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maia wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Petrov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Maia is keeping busy.
Maia tries to circle away but Petrov has him pinned against the cage.
Petrov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia closes the distance but Petrov moves to the side

and Petrov counters by clinching up.
Maia tries to circle away but Petrov has him pinned against the cage.
Petrov holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia wants to clinch

and Petrov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Petrov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Maia breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maia tries to clinch up

and Petrov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maia's guard.
Damien Maia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maia trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maia tries to strike from the bottom.

Petrov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Petrov has managed to get both his arms back between Maia's legs - danger averted.
Petrov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Maia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Petrov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Petrov trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.
Petrov landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirill Petrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Petrov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Kirill Petrov!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Kirill Petrov!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Kirill Petrov!

Kirill Petrov wins by unanimous decision!