UFC 118 Play-by-Play: Demian Maia (12-2) vs. Mario Miranda (12-1)

Tonight’s UFC 118 live blog is brought to you by Fighters Guard MMA Agents and Intimidation MMA Apparel.

1st round – This middleweight bout is refereed by Herb Dean. A touch of gloves signals the beginning of the fight. Miranda fakes a kick and misses with a second. Maia misses with a left hand and then shoots down and takes Miranda to the ground. Maia begins to hammer away with knees to the body. Miranda gets to his feet and then is drug back down and on his back. Maia begins to hammer away with punches from top position. 

Miranda sits up and turns his attention to defense as Maia gets an arm under his neck. Maia is trying to loosen Miranda up with punches to the head. Maia gets on Miranda’s back and tries to attack his arm. Miranda gets his arm back and escapes from danger. Miranda lands a couple of kicks and then catches Maia as he shoots in. Maia lands a knee up the middle of Miranda’s body. Miranda breaks free and lands a kick to the outside of Maia’s leg. Maia misses with a wild left hand and then takes a kick and a shot to the midsection.  (Maia 10-9)

2nd round – As they come out for the 2nd round, both fighters looks fresh. Miranda again attacks with leg kicks. Maia shoots in and gets the fight to the ground. He immediately goes for Miranda’s neck, but Miranda gets back up. 

Maia quickly takes the fight back to the ground and is on top of Miranda. He stays busy by landing several shots to his body, but mostly controls the positioning battle. Maia is mounting Miranda and trying to drag him away from the octagon fence. Maia is punching Miranda in the face as he lays on his back now.

Maia is turning his attention to a submission now, but quickly abandons that and continues to punch Miranda in the face. Miranda, for the most part, lays motionless on his back. Maia is trying to finish now with an armbar. Miranda defends, so Maia works punches instead. Maia goes back to the arm submission and loses it. Miranda gets out and stands up, he throws a couple of kicks and misses with a punch from the top before the bell ends the round. (Maia 10-8)

3rd round – Both fighters look to be in good condition as they come out for the last round. Miranda clinches and hits with a kick, but is taken to the ground. Maia gets on the back of Miranda and gets control of his body. Miranda cant shake him off and tries to get to his feet. Maia cant get the submission he wants and begins to punch him in the head and face instead. Miranda can't get any offense going and defends against Maia’s strikes. Miranda sneaks out and gets up on his feet. He escapes from Maia’s takedown attempt. Miranda pushes forward and lands a punch to Maia's body.

Miranda is clipped and then is taken to the floor by Maia. Maia is working in side control and then mounts Miranda. He begins to punch Miranda in the body as Miranda holds onto his body. Maia looks to move to an armbar attempt. Maia is going for the armbar, but Miranda escapes and gets back to his feet. Mirands lands a couple of punches as the fight ends. (Maia 10-9)

Official Decision – Maia over Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)