Adrien Broner vs. Marcos Maidana: Play-by-Play & Live Updates

Undercard Bouts

Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KOs) thoroughly dominated Tomas Kovacs in their WBA light heavyweight title fight and stopped him in the third round. Shumenov took his time and countered beautifully whenever the opportunities arose, easily defending his title. Shumenov, fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Kazakhstan, floored the Slovakian with a counter left hook with a few ticks on the clock in the first, a left to the body late in the second, and a perfect straight right in the third. Referee Rafael Ramos had seen enough at the point and stopped it; the official time of the TKO coming at 2:05 of the frame. Kovacs fell to 23-1 with 14 KOs.

One of the best young boxers in the world today, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz once again was a figurative whirlwind inside the ring, this time against Puerto Rican challenger Cesar Seda. Santa Cruz wasn’t quite as voluminous with his punches he normally is, but the two combatants did combine for over 1200 punches thrown. However, the Mexico native was far busier than Seda and dominated down the stretch. Though he was officially ruled down in the fifth when he got his feet tangled after an exchange, Seda (25-1, 17 KOs) was never quite on the verge of being stopped by any means; he simply couldn’t keep up with the torrid pace of the champ. In the end, Santa Cruz won the unanimous decision via tallies of 116-111, 115-112 and 117-110 to remain unbeaten. Sherdog.com also saw it 117-110 for Santa Cruz, who improved to 26-0-1 with 15 KOs.

Clearly one of the sport’s brightest young stars, Keith “One Time” Thurman systematically broke apart grizzled veteran Jesus Soto Karass (28-9-3-1, 18 KOs) and stopped him in the ninth. Thurman was badly rocked early in the opening frame after eating a loopy right hand, but the Clearwater, Florida resident was able to clear the cobwebs and get his game back on track. Thurman returned the favor in the same round and once control of the brawl was seized, Thurman never looked back.

Soto Karass hung tough for the duration of the contest, but it seemed that no matter how many punches he landed, the always-dangerous North Hollywood fighter just couldn’t land enough power shots to keep Thurman at bay. Soto Karass slowed his pace over the rounds, but he was never really on the verge of being taken out until Thurman detonated a vicious counter left hook flush on the jaw. The punch wobbled Soto Karass badly and before referee Jon Schorle could rush in to stop it, Thurman already had landed a follow-up right hand, a left/right and then a left uppercut. The official time of the stoppage came at 2:21 of the ninth, allowing Thurman (22-0, 19 KOs) to not only remain unbeaten as a pro, but also hold onto to his interim welterweight title.

WBA Welterweight Title:
Adrien Broner vs. Marcos Maidana

Round 1

Laurence Cole is the referere for this WBA welteweright title bout. The crowd is heavily in favor of Maidana. Maidana quickly establishes the jab and then follows it up to the body. Broner is very relaxed. Maidana jumps all over Broner and catches him with an overhand right. Broner is frantically defending and looks to be in peril. He ducks and dodges and evades more punishment by escaping out the side. The crowd is rabid. Maidana is extremely aggressive and is all over Broner. The American looks relaxed and calm, but Maidana is relentless. Maidana pins Broner along the ropes and unloads with vicious hooks to the body, but most of the shots upstairs are blocked. Broner is trying to jab his way back into the fight but the round is lost. All Maidana.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Maidana

Round 2

Hard left jab by Maidana immediately into the round. Hard right hand lands on Broner. Right/left and Broner is down! He is hurt badly! Broner is on his feet and dives in to clinch. Maidana is all over him. Broner is punching back but he is extremely shaken. Another hard right hand by Maidana and Broner’s knees buckle again. Broner has never been in this much trouble ever in his career. He is on his bike, trying to clear his head. Broner lands a lead left hook. Maidana is stalking his foe and pins him along the ropes again. Hard right uppercut by Maidana. The Argentinean digs ferocious hooks to the body. Hard right cross by Maidana near the bell. Huge round for Maidana.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-8 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-8 Maidana
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-8 Maidana

Round 3

Broner’s corner is frantic between rounds. His legs still look a little shaky to start the third. Broner throws a left jab. Maidana is not all over him just yet and seems to be trying to set up an explosion. Broner is starting to open up a little bit and his legs now seem to be under him. Maidana is bouncing up and down, looking for an opening to pounce on. Nice right hand by Maidana midway through the round. They trade jabs to the head and body. Hard right hand by Broner. Maidana lands a loopy overhand right but Broner shakes it off. Maidana is not jabbing his way inside, allowing Broner to find a groove. Hard left/right by Broner at the bell. Broner is now back in the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Broner
Gary Randall scores the round 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Maidana

Round 4

Maidana starts the round by jabbing to the body. Broner is setting up the check hook, but it just misses the target. Maidana digs to the body again and then launches a nasty overhand right, but it glances off Broner’s gloves. “The Problem” is fully refreshed and in control of the action with his jab and defense. Hard left hand after a right to the body by Maidana. Maidana digs a right/left to the body and then lands a right upstairs. Broner is not throwing many punches because he’s timing the counters, but nothing clean is landing. Maidana plugs away at the body again. Nice right hand landed by Maidana, but Broner answers with a left hook. They trade left hooks near the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Maidana

Round 5

Maidana launches a huge left hook immediately into the round but it misses its mark. Maidana is all over him, but Broner clinches and thwarts the attack. Broner’s defense is on point as Maidana misses a left hook/right cross. Broner returns a left hook of his own. Broner has switched gears and is now pressing forward, forcing his foe backward. Broner is holding Maidana and talking to Laurence Cole while Maidana digs several shots to the body. They separate and Broner lands a few jabs. Great exchange in the center of the ring. Maidana goes downstairs and then upstairs, but Broner lands a perfect left/right. Maidana comes right back with a four-punch combo of his own. They go toe-to-toe briefly and then Broner clinches. Broner shoves Maidana under his chin and is promptly warned by Cole.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Broner
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Broner
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner

Round 6

They each throw furious left hooks, but each misses. Left jab followed by a double left hook by Broner, but Maidana ducks under them all. Maidana is standing still and digs to the body, but he eats a hard left hook. The punch doubles over Maidana, who then fires off three punches to the body. Broner is starting to open up his attack much more and digs three hard shots to the body. Maidana is not throwing as many punches now; he’s on his back foot. Broner jabbing his way in and has taken total control of the fight. Maidana delivers a slick right hand on the inside and then fires off a four-punch combo. Broner counters it with a sneaky right hand. Broner’s mouth is bloody late. Hard left hook upstairs by the Argentinean.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Broner
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Broner
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner

Round 7

Maidana charges at him and lands a nice right hand. Maidana goes downstairs and then fires a left hand to the face. Maidana immediately follows it up with a vicious right hand that snaps Broner’s head back. Broner answers with a right hand, but Maidana comes right back with a left and a right. Maidana is opening up much more in this round and Broner is forced to be defensive. Maidana digs three crushing hooks to the body during a clinch. Maidana is all over Broner again, but he’s not hurting Broner like he was earlier in the fight. Broner is starting to look worn out and Maidana continues to dig to the body. Nice right to the head by Maidana. Broner finally opens up and pops his foe with a counter left hook. Maidana still in Broner’s face and swamrs him. At the bell, Broner lands a solid right hand and Maidana finally is looking fatigued.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Broner
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner

Round 8

Maidana’s corner is asking him to be even busier in this round. They trade jabs to start the round. Maidana is lunging with a left and a right, but Broner cracks him with a counter left hook. Broner has gone back to forcing the issue and making Maidana back up. Maidana again digs to the body and then goes upstairs. Nice counter left hook by the Cincinnati native, but Maidana fires back. Big left hook by Maidana and Broner is down again! He’s up and hurt! Maidana rushes in but Broner clinches immediately. Maidana inexplicably slams his head into Broner’s chin, dropping the American. Broner is given time to relax and Cole takes a point from Maidana. They resume and Maidana swarms him again. Broner looks like his head is clear, but Maidana is all over him, though his assault falls short. Nice left/right by Maidana late. Broner pins Maidana along the ropes and lands several shots to the body and head.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 9-8 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 9-8 Maidana
Mike Fridley scores the round 9-8 Maidana

Round 9

Maidana storms out of his corner and swarms his foe. Broner tries to jabs his way out but Maidana isn’t having any of it. Broner is pinned along the ropes and Maidana pummels him. They separate and Maidana lands a huge left hook. Broner is hurt again! Maidana is pouring on the attrition but Broner defends well. Maidana has him pinned on the ropes again. Broner escapes and is on his bicycle. Maidana is having a hard time cutting off the ring. Broner is in total survival mode and not throwing anything. Maidana may have punched himself out. Marcos lands a hard left hook to the body. Broner answers with a hard left hook to the head. Marcos answers with a jab. Adrien throws a jab, but eats a chopping right hand. Broner escapes the round; Maidana looks exhausted.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-8 Maidana
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Maidana

Round 10

Broner looks very refreshed and relaxed to start the round. Maidana charges right at him but can’t get off any of his shots. Marcos triples up his jab. Broner in a defensive shell, not throwing many punches at all. He’s trying to set up his counters. Maidana digs to the body again, but east a left uppercut. Adrien backs Maidana up with his jab. Maidana throws a flurry, but Broner blocks it. They clinch again and Broner shoves him away with his elbow. Maidana fires a brutal right to the body and then a left upstairs. Broner answers with a left hook and a jab. Marcos is very tired but he’s throwing a lot of punches now. He digs shots to the body and head; Broner just defends without countering. Maidana lands a loopy right hand just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Maidana
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Broner
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner

Round 11

Broner’s corner is telling him that he needs a knockout to win. They are urging him to go for the KO. Maidana smothers him instantly but nothing comes of it. Nice right hand/left hook by Broner. Maidana is very aggressive again with vicious hooks to the body and then a left uppercut to the face. Broner finally is opening up his attack with a flurry to the head and body. Sharp right hand to the head by “The Problem”. Maidana has stopped his attack and is backing up. Broner is now jabbing and tossing combos at his foe. Maidana lands a big right hand. The tides have changed again. Big left hook by Maidana. Broner fires back, but eats a another massive left hook. Broner took it well and they exchange blows. Broner pops him with a right hand; Maidana returns the favor with left hand. Great action at the bell. Very, very close round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Broner
Gary Randall scores the round 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner

Round 12

By all estimations, Broner needs a knockout to stay unbeaten. Robert Garcia is yelling at Maidana that he needs to go and attack, to knock him down again. Cole forces them to touch gloves. Maidana lands a hook to the body and then one to the head. Cole stops the bout and has the loose tape on Broner’s glove. They come back and Broner fires a left jab/right cross. Maidana looks shaken a little by the shot. Broner is going for the KO, but he’s not being too reckless. Maidana misses a huge left hook . Broner lands a right, but eats a left hook in exchange. Broner fires a left hook of his own. They clinch and Broner is again warned for pushing away with his forearm. Broner is very aggressive now, making Maidana back up. Straight right by Broner. Another! Maidana is hurt but he lands a big left hook! Broner’s nees buckled but he immediately answered with another right hand. Maidana backs up. They exchanges blows in the center of the ring. Maidana digs to the body and head. Broner lands a double left hook. Maidana dishes out a right hand and a left. Broner cracks him with another sizzling right hand and then caps off the war with a left hook. What a fight!

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round 10-9 Broner (114-111 Maidana)
Gary Randall scores the round 10-9 Broner (115-111 Maidana)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Broner (113-112 Maidana)

The Official Result

Scores read: 115-110, 116-109, 117-109 all for Maidana, who takes the title with a unanimous decision.

It looks like Marcos Maidana has solved "The Problem." Broner immediately exits the ring and is being pelted by cups and other debris from the crowd.