Tonight’s UFC 118 live blog is brought to you by Fighters Guard MMA Agents and Intimidation MMA Apparel.
1st round – The referee for this lightweight bout will be Mario Yamasaki. Not much through the first minute of action, both fighters are trying to feel out their opponent. Florian connects with a nice head kick, Maynard shakes it off and moves forward. Maynard fakes a shoot and stands his ground. Florian continues to fake one direction and move a different direction. Florian has his next kick blocked by Maynard. Maynard comes in and gets hit with a nice left uppercut. Maynard answers Florian with a jab to the face of Florian. Both fighters come together and Maynard is trying to take it to the ground, he pushes Florian to the fence. Maynard picks Florian up and slams him to the mat. Florian lands in full guard and Maynard goes to work on one of Florian’s arms. Maynard is trying to force his position and reigns down a couple of strikes from the top. The bell ends the first round. (Maynard 10-9)
2nd round – Not much action in the 1st, so both fighters look fresh. Maynard fakes a shoot but decides to punch instead, he misses with his first attempt. He hits Florian partially with a solid right hand. Florian has his head kick attempt blocked. Florian gets some of his next body kick through and it looks like it bothered Maynard. Maynard hits with a short left hand to Florian’s face. Maynard shoots in and goes for the takedown, but struggles to get it. He finally gets Florian on his back and quickly moves into side control. Florian is now bleeding from the side of his head as Maynard continues to work in side control. Maynard begins to hammer down with some punches from the top. Florian is trying to use the fence to get back to his feet. Maynard is now trying to push through the guard of Florian, but chooses to jump back in it and work his ground and pound. He finishes on top as the 2nd round bell sounds. (Maynard 10-9)
3rd round – Florian has his cut patched up between rounds and looks to be fresh. Maynard looks to be in good condition as well. The 3rd round action begins and Maynard misses with a hard right hook. Florian is trying to work the body of Maynard but Maynard avoids it. Maynard comes in and misses with a body shot, but hits with his next jab. Florian mixes in a kick to the body of Maynard, but Maynard shoots in and converts on a takedown. Maynard is on top and working his ground and pound. Florian is forced to defend against Maynard’s strikes and cant get up to his feet. Maynard stays in tight on Florian and then pops him with several strikes. Florian is trying to get to his feet, but Maynard wont allow it. Florian finally escapes and gets up, however only for a moment as Maynard drags him back down. Florian catches Maynard temporarily in a omaplata, but Maynard get out. Seconds later, Maynard is caught in the same submission. He escapes and both fighters get to their feet. Neither fighter lands a punch with 30 seconds remaining. (Maynard 10-9)
Official Decision – Maynard over Florian via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Great to see the undefeated Maynard get a shot at the belt. That guy works hard and gets better every fight.