PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Huricain Hearn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maldi comes to the cage accompanied by Loituma TECHNO!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maldi
vs
Hearn

170 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malvin Maldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Huricain Hearn!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hearn misses with a double jab.
Maldi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Maldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Maldi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maldi forces his way into half guard.
Hearn is trying to get back to full guard.
Hearn taking some punishment here, with Maldi in his half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Maldi in particular looking to stall.
Maldi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maldi wants to control the pace but Hearn is squirming around nicely.
Hearn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Maldi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maldi get's back to his feet.

Maldi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hearn sprawls well initially but Maldi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maldi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hearn wants to improve his position but Maldi is controlling well.
Hearn looks gassed!
Maldi lands strikes from half guard.
Maldi controlling the action here.
Maldi is tying to control. Hearn wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Maldi is looking for a kimura but Hearn is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maldi to get the leverage.
Maldi tries to pass to full mount but Hearn defends it.
Hearn pushes Maldi off looking to stand but Maldi dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hearn is looking to escape.
Maldi is controlling the pace.
Maldi stops Hearn from getting back to his feet.
Hearn is staying active underneath Maldi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Hearn.
Hearn misses with a head kick.
Hearn has his takedown stuffed
and Maldi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maldi looks to score with a jab to the body but Hearn is just out of range.
Hearn throws a right and a left that Maldi avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maldi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maldi wants to control from the top but Hearn keeps moving.
Maldi lands a couple of digs.
Maldi forces his way into half guard.
Hearn punching from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Maldi in particular looking to stall.
Maldi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Maldi stands up and beckons Hearn to join him on the feet.

Maldi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Maldi tries to move to mount but Hearn blocks the move with his legs.

Maldi decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Maldi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hearn is looking to improve his position but Maldi isn't that keen on the idea.
Hearn looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Hearn is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Maldi gets his way!
Hearn controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maldi trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maldi looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maldi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hearn takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Maldi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hearn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Hearn throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
A choreographed right hand from Hearn misses the target.
Maldi tries for a takedown but Hearn circles away easily

and Hearn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hearn.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hearn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Maldi is pulling down on Hearn's head. It's preventing any offense from Hearn, at least for the moment.

Maldi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maldi wants to sweep here but Hearn controlling him for the moment.

Maldi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hearn is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Maldi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hearn's back instead.
Hearn is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearn is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Maldi.
Hearn has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Maldi scores with punches to the body.

Hearn preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Maldi.
Maldi biding his time, controlling Hearn.

Hearn is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Hearn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hearn with a lazy takedown attempt

and Maldi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hearn wants to get back to his feet but Maldi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maldi wants to control from the top but Hearn keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maldi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hearn is keeping the position for now.

Hearn wriggles free and stands up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hearn.
Maldi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malvin Maldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hearn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maldi as he avoids it easily.
Huricain Hearn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maldi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maldi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hearn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hearn tries to escape but Maldi is in control.
Maldi trying to control the action but Hearn is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hearn is pushing Maldi's head away, looking to escape. Maldi manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maldi wants to control but Hearn is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
Maldi trying to control the action but Hearn is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maldi cracks Hearn with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maldi lands a body shot.

Maldi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Maldi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Maldi is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hearn closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hearn is thwarting Maldi's attempts to control the position.
Hearn tries to stand and escape but Maldi is controlling the position.
Maldi gets back to full guard.
Maldi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Maldi looking for a sweep. Not yet Maldi, not yet.
Maldi working a defensive guard here.
Maldi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maldi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hearn!
Maldi controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that second round.
That's time! Maldi'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.

Hearn misses with a takedown
and Maldi counters with a stiff right hand.
Maldi misses with a combination

and Hearn counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maldi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hearn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hearn throws and elbow that misses. Maldi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hearn's guard. Nice move by Maldi!
Hearn can't keep his opponent in guard - Maldi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Maldi wants to pass to mount but Hearn is defending the position.
Maldi not doing much here.
Maldi works his way into side control.
Maldi remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Maldi off and has taken his back!
Maldi turns into Hearn and is now in his guard.
Hearn wants to sweep but no luck.
Maldi won't allow Hearn to get back to his feet.
Maldi stands and throws Hearn's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Maldi trying to control the action but Hearn is working from the bottom.

Maldi is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Hearn looks calm but he's in trouble here. Maldi gets his head over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Hearn is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Maldi lets go of the hold and Hearn can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Malvin Maldi!