PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Country (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kronos - Bloodtower. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maria
vs
Country

193 cm
40
237 lbs
40 - 20 - 0

183 cm
26
270 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 40 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Nelson Country!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maria throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Country.

It looks like Nelson Country has been cut.
Country moves in looking to clinch but Maria pushes him off.
Maria throws a sloppy head kick and Country moves out of range easily.
Country lands with a nice body punch.
Maria avoids a punch combination nicely.
Country tries a head kick but it misses.
Country gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maria counters with a stiff right hand.
Country on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Country looks for a takedown but Maria sprawls well.
Maria explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Country tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maria sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Country somewhat.
Joaquim Maria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Country.
Country throws a series of punches but Maria avoids them all with ease.
Maria cracks Country with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Maria looks to land a body kick but Country moved away.
Maria looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Country dives in and scores a takedown into Maria's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Maria is on top in guard.

Country tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Country wants to control the position but Maria says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Maria wants to stand up but Country manages to regain full guard.
Maria sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Country looking for a sweep. Not yet Country, not yet.
Maria trying to control the position from guard on top but Country is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Country trying to keep a closed guard but Maria is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Country looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maria is one step ahead there.
Maria trying to control the position from guard on top but Country is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Country throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Country is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maria postures up.
Maria stopping the sweep attempt from Country.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Country is looking to clinch.
Country moves out of range as Maria throws a body kick.
Maria misses with a body kick.
Maria connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Country fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maria avoids it really well and circles away.

Country shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Country seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maria does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Maria dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nelson Country's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Country.
Country tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Country misses with a takedown
enabling Maria to counter with a crisp jab.

Country looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nelson Country has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maria working a defensive guard here.
Country wants to control from the top but Maria keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Country with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maria can't keep his opponent in guard - Country advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Country is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Country 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.
Country trying to control from half guard but Maria is working away.
Country looks to land a strike but Maria avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two 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.
Country throwing strikes from guard but Maria blocks nicely.
Maria controls Country momentarily but Country frees himself.
Country trying to control the position from guard on top but Maria is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Country postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maria keeping moving, preventing Country from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Country makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maria keeping full guard, as Country tries to pass.
Country throwing strikes but missing.
Country in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Country goes for a double leg but Maria avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Maria continues to drive forward.
Joaquim Maria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Country.
Country tries for a takedown but Maria sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Country will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Country shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maria defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Country moves out of range of the body kick.
Country closes the distance and clinches up with Maria, looking for a takedown. Country pushes Maria against the ropes but Maria circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Country drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Country darts in looking for a takedown but Maria gets double underhooks and turns Country into the ropes.
Maria moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Country is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maria sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Country is breathing heavily.
Country will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Country fails with the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Country closes the distance and clinches.
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 Joaquim Maria will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nelson Country's cut.
That's time! Maria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Maria throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maria misses with a kick to the body.
Country dives in and grabs Maria's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maria pushes down on Country's head and hops out.
Nelson Country is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maria looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maria dips to his left and cracks Country with an uppercut!
Nelson Country seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Maria - just one landing.
Maria scores with a push kick.
Country shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maria but Maria pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It appears Maria was looking to counter with a kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maria keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Country takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maria.
Maria lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Country shoots in for a takedown but Maria shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joaquim Maria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Country.
Country fails with a takedown attempt.
Country is looking to land body kicks.

Country is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Maria's half guard.

Country is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maria doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Country.
Country tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maria knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Maria is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Country's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Country's back!
Maria is hanging on to Country's back as he tries to escape.
Maria biding his time, looking for the opening.
Country tries to escape but Maria has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Maria biding his time, controlling Country.
Country is really stuck here.
Joaquim Maria is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Maria tries to get the hooks in deep but Country pushed the leg off.
Maria is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Country can do to turn this around?
Good control from Maria.
Maria is hanging on to Country's back as he tries to escape.
Country is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Maria here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Maria biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maria is trying to stick to Country's back but Country is turning into Maria. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Maria's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Country.
Country tries to free his leg and advance position but Maria is retaining full guard.
Country throwing strikes from guard but Maria blocks nicely.
Country wants to control from the top but Maria keeps moving.
Country looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Country wants to control from the top but Maria keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquim Maria showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maria, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaquim Maria!
Joaquim Maria decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.