PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julian Falafel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stacey Malouf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stacey Malouf is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Falafel
vs
Malouf

184 cm
22
168 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
168 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Julian Falafel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stacey Malouf!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falafel avoids the head kick by Malouf.
Falafel tries for a takedown but Malouf sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malouf keeps the fight on the outside.
Malouf lands a nice looking body shot.
Malouf fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Falafel misses with a body shot.

Falafel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Malouf sprawls well initially but Falafel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Falafel trying to mount his opponent but Malouf defends it.
Malouf moves into full guard.
Malouf pulls Falafel in close to his closed guard and prevents Falafel from doing any damage or advancing position.

Malouf looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malouf working for submissions but it's allowed Falafel to get to half guard.
Malouf tries to get to full guard but Falafel has control of the leg.
Falafel is thwarting Malouf's attempts to control the position.

Malouf looking for submissions off his back.
Malouf is looking to control Falafel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malouf avoid being mounted?
Malouf makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Malouf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Falafel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Malouf keeping moving, preventing Falafel from controlling successfully.

Malouf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Falafel defends it easily.
Malouf looks gassed!
Falafel trying to control but Malouf is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Malouf avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falafel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malouf swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Falafel wants to control from the top but Malouf keeps moving.

Falafel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malouf being controlled here, momentarily.
Falafel trying to control but Malouf is working from the bottom.
Malouf has a closed guard, preventing Falafel from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Falafel slips nicely into half guard.
Malouf is refusing to be controlled, as Falafel sits in half guard.
Malouf is looking for a sweep. Falafel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Malouf wants to control but Falafel is keeping busy.
Falafel wants to free his trapped foot but Malouf is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Malouf actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stacey Malouf dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Falafel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malouf.
Malouf showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Falafel.
Malouf slaps away a takedown attempt from Falafel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Malouf scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malouf shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Falafel defends it nicely.
Falafel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malouf.
Julian Falafel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malouf closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Falafel to the mat! Falafel manages to get full guard.
Malouf trying to control but Falafel is working from the bottom.
Falafel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Falafel is trying to hold Malouf in close to prevent damage but Malouf has managed to pass into half guard.
Malouf is stalling here. Falafel is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Malouf seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Falafel has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Malouf is looking for a sweep.
Malouf is breathing heavily.
Falafel passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Malouf!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Falafel stands up from mount. Strange move.

Falafel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Malouf to the mat! Malouf manages to get full guard.
Malouf looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Malouf throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Falafel escapes and throws Malouf's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Falafel trying to control the action but Malouf is working from the bottom.
Malouf is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malouf gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Falafel wants to control the pace but Malouf is squirming around nicely.
Malouf is in all sorts of trouble here.
Falafel trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Falafel is working for a guillotine from mount but Malouf frees his head quite easily.
Malouf tries to hold on but Falafel pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Malouf swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Falafel looking to control and managing it successfully.
Malouf keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falafel blocks Malouf's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Falafel prevents Malouf from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Falafel closes the distance and pushes Malouf back into the cage.

Falafel has Malouf pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Falafel pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Malouf tumbling to the mat - Falafel dives into Malouf's guard.
Falafel looking to pass the guard.

Malouf looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Malouf keeping moving, preventing Falafel from controlling successfully.
Malouf looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falafel trying to control but Malouf is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Malouf holds on and takes a little breather.

Malouf is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Malouf has a closed guard, preventing Falafel from standing up.
Falafel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.

Falafel decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Malouf misses with a low kick.
Malouf lands a nice looking body shot.

Malouf gets the takedown into side control.
Falafel is trying to control Malouf's posture but Malouf avoids it.
Falafel is looking for a sweep.

Malouf looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Falafel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malouf on the ground.
Falafel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malouf is taking a breather. Falafel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Malouf seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Falafel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Falafel wants to get back to his feet.

Falafel is defending against the submission attempts here by Malouf.
Malouf tries to pass the half guard into mount. Falafel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Julian Falafel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Malouf wants to lay and pray for a moment but Falafel keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Malouf thows a huge punch but Falafel dodges it nicely.
Falafel is refusing to be controlled, as Malouf sits in half guard.
Malouf prevents Falafel from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Falafel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Falafel misses with an attempted mid kick.

Falafel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Julian Falafel did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malouf feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Malouf lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malouf trying to control but Falafel is working from the bottom.

Malouf drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Falafel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Malouf has Falafel in his guard.

Malouf is looking for a triangle but Falafel pushes his legs off easily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Malouf is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Falafel defends well.
Malouf keeping moving, preventing Falafel from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falafel tries to stand but Malouf is controlling from the bottom.

Malouf looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Malouf looking for a guillotine here but Falafel defends easily.
Malouf is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Falafel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Falafel tries to clinch there but Malouf circles away.
Julian Falafel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Falafel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Malouf is pulling down on Falafel's head to control his posture.
Falafel trying to control the position from guard on top but Malouf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malouf has a closed guard, preventing Falafel from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malouf striking off his back but it's not causing Falafel any problems.

Malouf looking for a guillotine here but Falafel defends easily.

Malouf looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Falafel is defending well. Malouf quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Falafel has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Malouf celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stacey Malouf!
Stacey Malouf is the new welterweight champion!