PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Malyshev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richie Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Malyshev
vs
Cunningham

185 cm
24
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

199 cm
23
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksander Malyshev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richie Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malyshev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cunningham is looking for a sweep. Malyshev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cunningham really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malyshev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cunningham slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.
Malyshev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cunningham has his feet on Malyshev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cunningham fails with the takedown

and Malyshev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cunningham's guard now.
Malyshev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cunningham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malyshev is one step ahead there.
Cunningham wants to hit a switch here but Malyshev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cunningham there!

Malyshev gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Cunningham shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Malyshev counters by moving into the clinch.
Malyshev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cunningham blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malyshev is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cunningham can't fight it off and eventually Malyshev manages to take the fight to the floor. Cunningham looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Malyshev is breathing heavily.
Cunningham looking for a sweep. Not yet Cunningham, not yet.
Cunningham pulls Malyshev in close to prevent any damage.
Cunningham wants to hit a switch here but Malyshev passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cunningham there!
Cunningham tries to hold on but Malyshev postures up.
Cunningham regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham is defending against the submission attempts here by Malyshev.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cunningham works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cunningham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cunningham holds on and takes a little breather.
Malyshev stopping the sweep attempt from Cunningham.
Cunningham manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A nice elbow there by Cunningham.
Cunningham fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cunningham with the ground and pound from mount.
Cunningham is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Cunningham looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Malyshev is rocked!
Cunningham looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Malyshev covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Richie Cunningham!