PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Weidman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fabio Maldonado's chin.

Weidman
vs
Maldonado

184 cm
27
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

190 cm
27
189 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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, Chris Weidman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Maldonado!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weidman misses with a few strikes there.
Maldonado looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Maldonado darts in trying to clinch

and Weidman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Maldonado has his foot on Weidman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Weidman works his way back into a safe position though.
Weidman landing some decent shots from guard.
Weidman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maldonado is looking to stand up but Weidman isn't so interested in that idea.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weidman is looking to stand up but Maldonado won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weidman tries to free his leg and advance position but Maldonado is retaining full guard.
Weidman content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris Weidman wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Weidman throws a right hand that misses
and Maldonado counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maldonado closes the distance but Weidman moves to the side

and Weidman moves into the clinch.
Weidman has Maldonado pressed against the cage.
Weidman prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weidman manages to pull guard.
Weidman seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Weidman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Weidman keeping moving, preventing Maldonado from controlling successfully.
Weidman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Fabio Maldonado has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Weidman looking to score a takedown here. Maldonado is defending well but Weidman drives through and ends up in Maldonado's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman trying to control the position from guard on top but Maldonado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weidman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Weidman looking to sit in guard and control but Maldonado gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maldonado trying to control but Weidman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maldonado advances position into side control!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maldonado decides to stand back up. Maldonado steps back and let's Weidman get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado with a lazy takedown attempt

and Weidman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Weidman.

Maldonado throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Weidman stops Maldonado from standing up.
Weidman looking to pass the guard.
Maldonado looking to hit a scissor sweep but Weidman is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maldonado trying to strike off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maldonado closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Maldonado 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.
Maldonado wants to control but Weidman is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maldonado sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Weidman defending well though.
Chris Weidman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maldonado wants to pass the guard but Weidman is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Maldonado won't allow Weidman to get back to his feet.
Weidman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Weidman tries to get out of the position.
Weidman wants to sweep here but Maldonado controlling him for the moment.
Maldonado scoring with punches to the head and body.
Maldonado throws a big elbow that misses.
Weidman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maldonado forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weidman tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Maldonado has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
BOOM! Maldonado connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maldonado postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Weidman looks a forlorn figure.
Weidman is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Weidman to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Weidman shrugs it off.
Maldonado trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maldonado punching from mount but Weidman doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Weidman is squirming around, avoiding Maldonado's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weidman is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Weidman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Weidman trying to control but Maldonado postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maldonado trying to control the action but Weidman is working from the bottom.
My spies in Tenacity Elite - 17 Coaches inform me that Maldonado has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Maldonado uses his free foot to push down on Weidman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Weidman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Maldonado 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!

Maldonado moves into range and clinches up with Weidman.
Maldonado is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Weidman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Weidman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maldonado shoots and misses
and Weidman counters with a one-two to the body.
Weidman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maldonado has a takedown stuffed.
Chris Weidman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabio Maldonado.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Weidman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maldonado, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman lands with a right to the head.
Maldonado has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Weidman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Weidman manages to break the clinch.
Weidman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maldonado fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maldonado shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Weidman shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Maldonado looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Weidman is fending him off so far but Maldonado persists. Nope, Weidman circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Maldonado.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado fails in his attempt to clinch.

Weidman closes the distance and clinches.

Weidman has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Maldonado clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Maldonado turns into Weidman and is now in his guard.

Weidman working for a triangle but Maldonado defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldonado trying to control the position from guard on top but Weidman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weidman is working an open guard so Maldonado takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Weidman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maldonado fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Weidman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maldonado tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Weidman defends well and Maldonado ends up having to push Weidman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Weidman works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weidman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Weidman tries to free his leg and advance position but Maldonado is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado trying to keep a closed guard but Weidman is proving a slippery customer.
Weidman tries to stand but Maldonado is controlling from the bottom.
Weidman wants to control from the top but Maldonado keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Weidman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Maldonado escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Weidman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weidman wants to control from the top but Maldonado keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chris Weidman.
I think Weidman 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Weidman!
Chris Weidman seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.