PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalil Malla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Khalil Malla enters the cage!

Ko
vs
Malla

188 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Ko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khalil Malla!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko throws a sloppy head kick and Malla moves out of range easily.
Malla looks to land a combination but Ko avoids it well.
Malla shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ko as he avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Ko.
Ko throws a head kick that misses.
Ko throws a sloppy head kick and Malla moves out of range easily.
Ko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ko wants it to stay on the feet.
A big left from Ko misses.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Malla swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ko fails with the takedown

and Malla counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ko!
Malla controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I looks like Malla might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

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.
Ko has given up his back here. Will Malla look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Malla is hanging on to Ko's back as he tries to escape.
Ko trying to control the hands but Malla won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Ko right now.
Ko manages to reverse the position and now he's in Malla's guard. Nice work there by Ko.
Ko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Malla is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ko wants to control from the top but Malla keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malla works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ko throws a head kick but Malla moves out of range.
Ko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malla tries to close the distance and clinch but Ko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko throws a head kick but Malla moves out of range.
Ko misses with a head kick.
Ko fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalil Malla dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ko looks to land a combination but Malla avoids it well.
Ko throws a nice head kick!
Ko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malla dodges the punch combination from Ko.
Malla swats away the attempt to clinch by Ko.
Bruce Ko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Malla swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Ko does no damage.
Ko misses with a head kick.
Bruce Ko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ko lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ko connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Ko.
Malla avoids the head kick by Ko.
Malla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ko is fending him off so far but Malla persists. Nope, Ko circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malla blocks a head kick by Ko.
Ko misses with a head kick.
Ko misses with a head kick.
Ko misses with a head kick.
Ko tries to clinch up

and Malla counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Malla.
Malla stays in close to Ko's body and controls the position.
Malla preventing the sweep.
Malla passes Ko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malla keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Malla sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malla is one step ahead there.
Malla 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalil Malla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Malla.
Ko misses with a double jab.
Malla dives in and grabs Ko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ko pushes down on Malla's head and hops out.
Ko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malla avoids the head kick by Ko.
Ko throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malla counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ko trying to hold on to Malla's head to control him but Malla postures up.
Malla stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Malla not doing much here.
Ko tries to get to full guard but Malla has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malla is taking a breather. Ko 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.
Ko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malla in particular looking to stall.
Bruce Ko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Khalil Malla just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ko throws a head kick that misses.
Ko tries to work over Malla's front leg with a kick but Malla checks it.
Ko throws a head kick but Malla moves out of range.

Malla gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ko wanted to stand there but Malla had control of the position.
Khalil Malla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malla preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Khalil Malla.
I've got Malla winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalil Malla!