PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tom Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Craddock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malone
vs
Craddock

185 cm
22
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Craddock!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Malone fails with a takedown attempt.
Malone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Craddock gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Malone counters with a single leg into guard. Craddock didn't expect that.
Craddock keeping full guard, as Malone tries to pass.
Craddock is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Malone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craddock is keeping the position for now.
Craddock throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Craddock wants to get back to his feet but Malone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malone is looking to work some ground and pound but Craddock has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craddock bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malone's guard.
Craddock would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Craddock lands a couple of digs.

Malone working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craddock doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craddock manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malone is breathing heavily.

Malone looking for a guillotine here but Craddock defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone controls Craddock momentarily but Craddock frees himself.
Craddock tries to stand but Malone is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Craddock postures up in Malone's guard and throws a big left but Malone blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craddock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Craddock postures up.

Craddock decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Malone, up you get!
Craddock misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Craddock misses the jab.
Malone lands the left hand.
Malone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craddock pinned against the cage. Craddock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Malone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malone cracks the inside of Craddock's front leg.
Malone lands a really nice looking cross but Craddock seems unphased.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Craddock as he avoids it easily.

Malone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Malone advances position into side control!
Malone wants to control but Craddock is keeping him busy.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Malone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Malone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Craddock is pushing Malone's head away, looking to escape. Malone manages to hold on to the position though.
Craddock manages to work his way to half guard, despite Malone's best efforts.
Malone wants to pass the guard but Craddock is defending well.
Craddock tries to kick Malone off but Malone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Craddock manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Craddock throws an off balance right hand
and Malone counters with a big head kick but Craddock shrugs it off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Craddock. That's going to slow Malone down.
Craddock misses the jab.
Craddock throws a big shot that misses.

Malone looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Malone thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone trying to control but Craddock is working from the bottom.
Malone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craddock is keeping the position for now.
Malone throwing strikes but missing.
Malone trying to control but Craddock is working from the bottom.

Malone decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Craddock, up you get!
Craddock lands a head kick. Malone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Malone misses with a combination
and Craddock counters with a nice uppercut.

Malone drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Craddock avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Malone decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Craddock, up you get!
Malone takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Craddock 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Craddock manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone passes into half guard.

Malone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Malone prevents Craddock from improving his position.
Craddock is trying to stand.

Craddock kicks Malone off and gets back to his feet.
Malone tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Malone tries for a takedown but Craddock sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Craddock feints and as Malone raises his hands in defense, Craddock changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Craddock works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Malone actively working from the bottom here.
Craddock not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Malone trying to control from the bottom.

Malone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tom Malone will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Malone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Craddock but Craddock pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Craddock throws a poor cross that misses

and Malone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Malone working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Malone has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Malone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craddock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Craddock is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Malone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Malone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Craddock does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Malone prevents Craddock from standing back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Malone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Craddock's guard.
Craddock throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Malone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Malone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Malone won't allow Craddock to get back to his feet.
Craddock working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malone.
Malone distracts Craddock with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Craddock wants to stand and escape but Malone is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Craddock. No joy for Malone on that attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Craddock throws a front kick aimed at Malone's knee but Malone avoids it well.

Malone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Craddock looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Craddock is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Malone is controlling him well.
Craddock is looking for a sweep.
Craddock wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Craddock taking a bit of punishment here - Malone scoring with strikes.
Malone working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Malone throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Craddock works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Craddock tries to kick Malone off but Malone keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Malone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Malone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Craddock is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Malone is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craddock looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Malone wants to control from the top but Craddock keeps moving.
Craddock wants to get back to his feet but Malone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Malone is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Malone shoots in for a takedown but Craddock shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Malone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craddock connects with a good right hand that stumbles Malone. Malone circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tom Malone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malone misses with a takedown

and Craddock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Malone has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Craddock is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Malone keeps control of Craddock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Malone keeps control of Craddock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Malone fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone keeps control of Craddock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Craddock has had enough of the clinch but Malone keeps him there for the moment.
Malone tries for a takedown but Craddock manages to get underhooks.
Craddock wants to break free but Malone has control.
Craddock can't break the clinch.
Craddock wants to get back to striking at distance but Malone won't allow it.
Malone has Craddock pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Craddock manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Craddock wants the takedown. Malone is fighting it off but Craddock persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Malone's guard against the cage.
Craddock stopping the sweep attempt from Malone.
Craddock postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Craddock stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Craddock misses with a few strikes there.
Craddock looks to land a combination but Malone avoids it well.
Craddock avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malone shoots in for a double leg but Craddock sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Malone misses with a takedown attempt - Craddock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Craddock thows a leg kick but Malone checks it

so Malone counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but Craddock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craddock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Malone throws a strike but Craddock rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malone working a defensive guard here.
Craddock is looking to stand up but Malone won't let him.
Craddock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Malone looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craddock preventing the sweep.

Malone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Craddock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malone wants to sweep here but Craddock controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malone working a defensive guard but Craddock manages to pass into side control anyway.
Malone manages to work his way to half guard, despite Craddock's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Malone dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Malone throws a head kick but Craddock moves out of range.
Malone throws a sloppy head kick and Craddock moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Malone or perhaps it was just good defense by Craddock which made him look bad.
Craddock takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Craddock takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Craddock dips to his left and cracks Malone with an uppercut!
Craddock fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Craddock throws an off balance right hand
and Malone counters with a body kick that stops Craddock in his tracks momentarily.

Malone shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Craddock tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Craddock avoids a series of strikes thrown by Malone.
Malone throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Craddock because Malone loaded up on that one.
Malone trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Craddock can't escape the position.

Malone looking to secure an arm triangle but Craddock defends it well.
Craddock is trying to escape the mount.
Craddock is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malone looking for a guillotine from mount but Craddock is having none of it.
Malone working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Malone throws some wild stikes that Craddock manages to avoid easily.
Craddock working to try and regain half guard.
Craddock manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Malone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Malone looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Craddock taking some punishment here, with Malone in his half guard.

Craddock is rocked!

Malone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Craddock is still in real trouble! Can Malone finish him?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Malone lands a nice short elbow.

Malone is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Craddock doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Malone.
Craddock seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craddock looks like he's trying to stand up.
Malone passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Craddock!
Craddock slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tom Malone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craddock manages to get to full guard.
Craddock wants to stand but Malone is controlling the position.
Malone passes into half guard.

Malone is working for a submission of some sort.
Craddock is looking for a sweep. Malone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone trying to mount his opponent but Craddock defends it.

Craddock is defending against the submission attempts here by Malone.
Frank Craddock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Craddock looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Malone passes to side control.
Check out the look on Malone's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Malone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Craddock is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Craddock is looking for a sweep.
Malone scoring with punches and elbows.

Malone thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone tries to move to full mount but Craddock actually manages to regain half guard.
Malone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Craddock does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Malone passes to side control.
Malone works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Malone landing a few strikes.
Craddock is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Malone is controlling him well.
Malone is looking to take a break and control but Craddock is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Malone is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Craddock is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Malone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Craddock tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Malone showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Malone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Malone!