PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Malverde (ranked 4136 p4p, 3212 weight class) and Veljko Bakocevic (ranked 375 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malverde
vs
Bakocevic

179 cm
42
149
16 - 11 - 1

177 cm
30
154
7 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesus Malverde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Veljko Bakocevic!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malverde has closed the distance and engaged Bakocevic in a clinch.

Malverde pulls Bakocevic into guard.
Bakocevic controlling from the top position.
Bakocevic wants to control from the top but Malverde keeps moving.
Bakocevic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Malverde is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Malverde controls Bakocevic momentarily but Bakocevic frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bakocevic wants to pass the guard but Malverde is keeping the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malverde managing to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bakocevic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Malverde is fending him off so far but Bakocevic persists. Nope, Malverde circles away and we're back to standing.
Bakocevic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malverde as he avoids it easily.
Bakocevic shoots for a takedown but Malverde saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jesus Malverde has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Veljko Bakocevic.
Bakocevic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Malverde is fending him off so far but Bakocevic persists. Nope, Malverde circles away and we're back to standing.

Malverde clinches.
Malverde tries to pull guard but Bakocevic forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Malverde pulls guard.
Bakocevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Malverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malverde has his hands on Bakocevic's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic tries to free his leg and advance position but Malverde is retaining full guard.

Malverde is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bakocevic wants to pass the guard but Malverde is keeping the position.
Bakocevic throwing strikes from guard but Malverde blocks nicely.
Bakocevic trying to control but Malverde is working from the bottom.

Malverde has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bakocevic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Malverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakocevic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bakocevic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Malverde throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bakocevic uses it to pass to side control.
Malverde is trying to control Bakocevic's posture but Bakocevic avoids it.
Bakocevic wants to take a breather but Malverde manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Bakocevic.
Malverde being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malverde is pulling down on Bakocevic's head to control his posture.

Malverde is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bakocevic defends well.
Bakocevic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakocevic advances to half guard.

Malverde looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Malverde dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bakocevic doesn't manage to clinch there - Malverde circles away.
Bakocevic misses with a takedown attempt - Malverde sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Malverde pushes Bakocevic up against the cage in a clinch.

Malverde decides to pull guard.

Malverde looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malverde keeping moving, preventing Bakocevic from controlling successfully.
Bakocevic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bakocevic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Malverde has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bakocevic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jesus Malverde overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakocevic wants to control from the top but Malverde keeps moving.

Malverde is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bakocevic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malverde swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bakocevic wants to control from the top but Malverde keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Malverde looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bakocevic wants to control from the top but Malverde keeps moving.

Bakocevic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Malverde has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bakocevic has managed to get both his arms back between Malverde's legs - danger averted.

Malverde is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bakocevic is aware though and is defending well.
Bakocevic trying to control but Malverde is working from the bottom.
Malverde is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bakocevic can do to turn this around?
Malverde utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic is looking to work some ground and pound but Malverde has wrist control.

Malverde has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bakocevic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malverde wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Bakocevic drops back looking for a leg! Malverde is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Malverde manages to kick Bakocevic off! Bakocevic jumps back into Malverde's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bakocevic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bakocevic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jesus Malverde has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Veljko Bakocevic.

Malverde fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bakocevic, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malverde has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bakocevic uses from the top position.
Bakocevic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malverde swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bakocevic trying to control but Malverde is working from the bottom.

Bakocevic drops back looking for a leg! Malverde is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Malverde manages to kick Bakocevic off! Bakocevic jumps back into Malverde's guard.

Malverde looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Malverde had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bakocevic defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Malverde dominated that second round.
That's time! Malverde's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bakocevic fails with a takedown attempt.
Malverde is looking to counter the offense by Bakocevic and move into the clinch.
Malverde ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Malverde gets a clinch.
Malverde has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Bakocevic.
Malverde lands a body shot.
Malverde jumps guard but Bakocevic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Malverde lands a shoulder strike.

Malverde decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakocevic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malverde has control of Bakocevic's left arm, preventing Bakocevic from doing any damage.
Bakocevic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bakocevic content to stall in guard here.

Malverde looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bakocevic trying to control but Malverde is working from the bottom.

Malverde has his foot on Bakocevic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bakocevic works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bakocevic passes Malverde's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bakocevic is pressing down on Malverde's thigh, looking to free his foot. Malverde is holding on for now.

Malverde looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bakocevic with the ground and pound but Malverde uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Malverde working for a triangle but Bakocevic defends it easily.
Bakocevic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Malverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malverde is trying to keep Bakocevic in close.
Bakocevic stays in close to Malverde's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bakocevic has a takedown stuffed.

Malverde gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Malverde gets control of Bakocevic's arms and successfully pulls guard. Malverde will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakocevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Malverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bakocevic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bakocevic throws a big elbow that misses.
Bakocevic wants to pass the guard but Malverde is keeping the position.
Bakocevic is looking to work some ground and pound but Malverde has wrist control.
Bakocevic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bakocevic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Malverde showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Malverde 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Malverde!