PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendrick Perkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Control Machete - Comprendes Mendes. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malenko
vs
Perkins

188 cm
22
245 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

208 cm
22
280 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Malenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kendrick Perkins!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Perkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Malenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Perkins pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Malenko goes for a takedown attempt but Perkins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Malenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Perkins did well to prevent Malenko getting side control.

Malenko seems to be looking for submissions.
Malenko throwing shots but Perkins is blocking nicely.
Malenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Perkins defending well though.
Perkins manages to get to full guard.

Malenko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Perkins dives on top into guard.
Malenko has control of Perkins's left arm, preventing Perkins from doing any damage.
Perkins with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkins wants to control from the top but Malenko keeps moving.
Malenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Malenko, not yet.
Perkins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Malenko is proving hard to escape from.
Perkins wants to control from the top but Malenko keeps moving.
Malenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Malenko, not yet.
Perkins trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Malenko manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Malenko throws a big right hand that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Malenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Malenko working over Perkins with some ground and pound. Perkins looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko throwing shots but Perkins is blocking nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Perkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malenko.

Malenko is trying to work for a kimura but Perkins is defending well.
Malenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Perkins tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Malenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Perkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Malenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Malenko is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Perkins throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malenko gets the takedown into side control.
Malenko cracks Perkins with a big right hand but Perkins just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Malenko with the ground and pound but Perkins regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Malenko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Perkins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malenko.
Malenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Perkins's head.
Malenko thows a huge punch but Perkins dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perkins looks like he's trying to stand up.
Malenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Perkins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malenko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Perkins looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Perkins looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Perkins!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Malenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Perkins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Malenko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Malenko throwing shots but Perkins is blocking nicely.

Malenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Perkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Malenko is breathing heavily.

Malenko seems to be looking for submissions.

Perkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malenko misses with a head shot. Perkins uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Malenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Perkins leaves Malenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Malenko moves into the clinch.

Perkins pulls Malenko into guard.
Perkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malenko's guard.
Perkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Malenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perkins postures up in Malenko's guard and throws a big left but Malenko blocks it.
Malenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Malenko tries to get out of the position.
Perkins wants to stand but Malenko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Perkins stopping the sweep attempt from Malenko.
Malenko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Perkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Malenko is retaining full guard.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Perkins from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Perkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Perkins darts in trying to clinch

and Malenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Malenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Malenko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Malenko misses with a head shot. Perkins uses the momentum to regain guard.
Malenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malenko stands up over Perkins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Perkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Perkins jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Malenko is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Malenko and Perkins has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Perkins is breathing heavily.
Malenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Malenko regains half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Malenko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malenko looking for submissions off his back.
Malenko is trying to control but can't.

Malenko manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Malenko gets a takedown into half guard.
Perkins is trying to stand back up but Malenko is controlling him
Malenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Malenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Perkins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Malenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkins striking from half guard on the bottom.
Malenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Malenko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Malenko working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Perkins's thigh. Perkins counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Perkins trying to keep a closed guard but Malenko is proving a slippery customer.
Malenko throwing strikes but missing.
Malenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Malenko dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Perkins closes the distance looking to clinch

and Malenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Malenko wants a takedown.
Good body shot from Perkins.
Malenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Perkins pulls his leg out and moves away.

Malenko gets a takedown into half guard.
Malenko is thwarting Perkins's attempts to control the position.
Perkins moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko tries to bench press Perkins off him but Perkins keeps the position.
Perkins grinds an elbow into Malenko's temple.
Perkins lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Malenko down.
Perkins scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Malenko to see if he's OK.
Perkins tries to score with some ground and pound. Malenko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Malenko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Perkins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Malenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Malenko struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko tries to bench press Perkins off him but Perkins keeps the position.

Perkins stands up and beckons Malenko to his feet.
Perkins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Perkins wants to clinch but Malenko slips to the side

so Malenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Malenko throws a strike but Perkins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malenko looking to control.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Perkins from controlling successfully.
Malenko is controlling Perkins's posture.
Perkins connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malenko is working hard here to advance position.
Perkins thows a big elbow that misses.

Perkins stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Malenko has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Malenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Malenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Perkins napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Malenko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Perkins is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Malenko is controlling him well.
Check out the look on Malenko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sloppy strikes there by Malenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malenko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Malenko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Malenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Perkins has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Malenko but great work by Perkins.
Malenko tries to buck Perkins off but Perkins is having none of it.
Perkins in side control lands a decent elbow.
Perkins lands a nice forearm strike.
Kendrick Perkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perkins working the ground and pound but Malenko is defending the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkins throws a strike aimed at the side of Malenko's head but Malenko avoids it well.
Malenko sneaks back into half guard.
Diego Malenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Perkins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kendrick Perkins.
I think Malenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Malenko!