PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arnoud Papadokalis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Papadokalis
vs
Maia

189 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Arnoud Papadokalis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damien Maia!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Papadokalis manages to avoid it.
Papadokalis wants to clinch but Maia slips to the side

and Maia moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Papadokalis.

Maia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Papadokalis tries to clinch up

and Maia counters by clinching up.
Papadokalis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maia blocks it with crossed arms.
Maia wants to break the clinch but can't.
Papadokalis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Papadokalis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maia is working for takedown but Papadokalis is calmly controlling the position for now.

Maia jumps guard and drags Papadokalis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Papadokalis postures up.
Papadokalis stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia wants to stand but Papadokalis is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Damien Maia was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but Papadokalis has taken the fight into the clinch.

Maia pulls guard successfully.
Maia is trying to keep Papadokalis in close.
Maia has a closed guard, preventing Papadokalis from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadokalis won't allow Maia to sweep him here.

Maia has his foot on Papadokalis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Papadokalis works his way back into a safe position though.
Papadokalis stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.

Papadokalis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maia has a closed guard, preventing Papadokalis from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Papadokalis stopping the sweep attempt from Maia.
Papadokalis wants to control from the top but Maia keeps moving.
Papadokalis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Maia wants to sweep here but Papadokalis controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Arnoud Papadokalis just wasn't active enough.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Arnoud Papadokalis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Papadokalis has managed to clinch.
Papadokalis landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Papadokalis is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Maia looks winded!
Maia is trying to pull guard but Papadokalis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Papadokalis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Maia wants a takedown but no success here.
Arnoud Papadokalis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Maia.
Papadokalis will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Maia up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Papadokalis crunches a lovely knee into Maia's ribcage.
A knee to the head by Papadokalis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arnoud Papadokalis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Papadokalis tries to clinch up.
Maia fails with a takedown attempt.
Papadokalis tries to clinch up.
Papadokalis closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maia wants to control from the top but Papadokalis keeps moving.

Maia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Maia looking to pass the guard.
Papadokalis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maia on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maia is breathing heavily.
Maia stops Papadokalis from standing up.
Maia passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Maia has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadokalis moves to clinch but Maia breaks away
and Maia counters with a nice body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Papadokalis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.
Papadokalis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Damien Maia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Papadokalis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Papadokalis leaves Maia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Papadokalis leaves Maia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arnoud Papadokalis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Maia.
Papadokalis wants to clinch.
Papadokalis is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but Maia is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadokalis is looking to clinch but Maia is avoiding it.
Papadokalis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Maia tries to keep at a distance but Papadokalis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Papadokalis misses with a knee strike.
Papadokalis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Papadokalis.
Papadokalis scores with a knee to the head.
Maia is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Papadokalis is defending well.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Papadokalis misses with a knee to the head.
Papadokalis landing knees to the head.
Maia is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Papadokalis is defending well for now.
Arnoud Papadokalis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Papadokalis lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Maia has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Papadokalis throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadokalis using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Papadokalis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maia is trying to pull guard but Papadokalis has him pressed against the cage.
Maia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Papadokalis walks away with a smile on his face. Maia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Papadokalis enables Maia to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Papadokalis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Papadokalis keeping moving, preventing Maia from controlling successfully.
Maia tries to free his leg and advance position but Papadokalis is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maia won't allow Papadokalis to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Damien 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! 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.

Maia swats away the attempt to clinch by Papadokalis.
Maia tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Papadokalis is able to avoid easily.
Papadokalis wants to clinch but Maia slips to the side
and Maia counters with a nice low kick that buckles Papadokalis's knee momentarily.
Papadokalis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Papadokalis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Papadokalis fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maia has closed the distance and engaged Papadokalis in a clinch.
Maia wants to break free but Papadokalis has control.
Maia fails to pull guard.

Maia drags the fight down to the ground.

Maia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Papadokalis wants to stand but Maia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maia working a defensive guard here.
Papadokalis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maia's guard.
Papadokalis trying to control but Maia is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Arnoud Papadokalis just wasn't active enough.
Papadokalis wants to clinch up but Maia keeps it at a distance.

That's two 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.
Papadokalis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Papadokalis moves in looking to clinch but Maia pushes him off.

Papadokalis rushes Maia and presses him up against the cage.
Papadokalis misses with a knee strike.
Papadokalis misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Papadokalis.

Maia pulls guard successfully.

Maia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Papadokalis is aware though and is defending well.
Papadokalis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadokalis is looking to stand up but Maia won't let him.
Maia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Papadokalis!
BOOM! Maia connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Papadokalis is wriggling around trying to escape.

Maia is working for a guillotine from mount but Papadokalis frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maia throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Papadokalis tries to hold on but Maia pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maia is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Papadokalis can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Maia jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Papadokalis manages to avoid the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Maia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Maia!
Damien Maia tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.