PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harrison Maldonado (ranked 8147 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Pranjic (ranked 7129 p4p, 0 weight class). Pranjic has chosen Plain Jane as his entrance music. Ivan Pranjic has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Harrison Maldonado's chin.

Maldonado
vs
Pranjic

204 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harrison Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Pranjic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pranjic misses with a hook. Maldonado ducked under it nicely.
Pranjic looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Maldonado throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pranjic's waist but Pranjic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maldonado off to one side.
Maldonado slips a jab and a cross from Pranjic.
Ivan Pranjic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldonado swinging wildly here.
Maldonado really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Maldonado has managed to clinch.
Maldonado tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maldonado stalling in the clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Pranjic has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A knee to the head by Maldonado.
Maldonado makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Maldonado takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pranjic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maldonado smiles and moves away.
Maldonado lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldonado moves into the clinch.
Maldonado has Pranjic pressed against the cage, preventing Pranjic from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maldonado pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pranjic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Maldonado tries a body shot but Pranjic blocks it.

Maldonado breaks the clinch.
Maldonado lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Pranjic closes the distance and clinches.
Maldonado unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Maldonado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maldonado just leaning against Pranjic, taking a breather.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Maldonado takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Maldonado for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Maldonado's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Maldonado leaning against his opponent.

Maldonado manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Danga de danga de dang - Maldonado scores with a four punch combination!
Pranjic throws an off balance right hand
and Maldonado counters with a nice uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maldonado is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pranjic tries to break the clinch but Maldonado is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pranjic takes a knee to the side of the body.
Maldonado lands a nice shot to the body.
Maldonado stalling.
Maldonado displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pranjic up against the cage.
Maldonado seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Harrison Maldonado.
Maldonado works over Pranjic's head and body with a nice combination.
Maldonado shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pranjic sprawls well. Pranjic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maldonado gets slowly back to his feet.

Maldonado clinches up with Pranjic and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado slows down the pace here.
Maldonado is stalling here.

Pranjic manages to break the clinch.

Maldonado forces Pranjic back against the cage and clinches.
Maldonado displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pranjic up against the cage.
Pranjic working Maldonado over with knees to the body.
Pranjic avoiding damage as Maldonado throws knees to the body.
Pranjic working aggressively here.

Maldonado manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Maldonado rushes Pranjic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maldonado stalling against the cage.
Harrison Maldonado has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Maldonado misses with an elbow over the top.
Maldonado is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The referee calls for Maldonado to work.
Maldonado stalling in the clinch.
Maldonado gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Maldonado lands a nice shot to the body.
Maldonado stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maldonado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pranjic is breathing heavily.
Pranjic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maldonado counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Maldonado darts in and clinches Pranjic up against the cage.
Pranjic misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldonado's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maldonado scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Harrison Maldonado is winning the standup battle so far.

Pranjic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maldonado landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Maldonado is pushing Pranjic up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Maldonado struggles to land a body shot inside as Pranjic controls his hands.
Maldonado pressing his opponent against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Maldonado.
Maldonado tries to work over Pranjic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pranjic being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Maldonado breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pranjic throws a head kick that misses
and Maldonado counters with a series of strikes. Pranjic will be more careful next time no doubt.

Maldonado closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pranjic's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pranjic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maldonado is controlling him.
Maldonado distracts Pranjic with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maldonado has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Maldonado stands up over Pranjic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maldonado is looking to work some ground and pound but Pranjic has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maldonado accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maldonado's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maldonado is working Pranjic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maldonado is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pranjic can do to turn this around?
Maldonado throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maldonado connects with a couple of short punches.
Maldonado with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maldonado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maldonado connects with a couple of short punches.
Pranjic wants to stand up but Maldonado is controlling him.
Maldonado postures up and lands a big shot to Pranjic's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado won't allow Pranjic to get back to his feet.
Maldonado postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maldonado throws a big elbow that misses.
Maldonado working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maldonado working some strikes from top position.
Pranjic wants to get back to his feet but Maldonado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maldonado tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pranjic defends well and Maldonado ends up having to push Pranjic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Maldonado fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pranjic to the ground. Maldonado is now in Pranjic's guard.
Maldonado stops Pranjic from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrison Maldonado dominated that second round.
That's time! Maldonado's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pranjic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pranjic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maldonado to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Maldonado connects with a couple of short punches.
Maldonado scoring with some ground and pound.
Maldonado cracks Pranjic with a solid left hand.
Harrison Maldonado overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maldonado lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldonado is standing up over Pranjic. Pranjic looks to escape but Maldonado dives into side control.
Pranjic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pranjic takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldonado wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pranjic, who protects the arm well.
Maldonado landing strikes.
Pranjic takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pranjic wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maldonado lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maldonado scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado scores with punches from side control.
Pranjic is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maldonado has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Maldonado cracks Pranjic with a big right hand but Pranjic just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Maldonado decides to stand up, so the ref orders Pranjic to his feet.
Maldonado pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pranjic back to the cage. Maldonado follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Maldonado dives in and scores a takedown into Pranjic's guard.
Pranjic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maldonado lands a couple of digs.
Maldonado chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pranjic is looking to stand up but Maldonado isn't so interested in that idea.
Maldonado working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pranjic's head.
Pranjic wants to stand but Maldonado is controlling the position.
Maldonado content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pranjic wants to get back to his feet but Maldonado passes into half guard.

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.
Maldonado drops an elbow to the side of Pranjic's head.
Maldonado seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Maldonado lands strikes from half guard.
Pranjic is trying to stand.
Maldonado working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maldonado lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maldonado working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ivan Pranjic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harrison Maldonado is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Maldonado postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Pranjic to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harrison Maldonado showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maldonado has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harrison Maldonado!
Ivan Pranjic spoke after the fight, saying 'I will back!'.