PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Ernst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and San Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ernst
vs
Malone

180 cm
20
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tim Ernst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, San Malone!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malone uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ernst.
Ernst really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Malone fails with a takedown attempt.
Tim Ernst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of San Malone.

Ernst closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Malone to the mat! Malone manages to get full guard.
Ernst postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ernst looking to pass the guard.
Malone keeping moving, preventing Ernst from controlling successfully.
Ernst is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ernst trying to control but Malone is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ernst controls the pace.
Malone lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ernst!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ernst wants to hold on but Malone pushes him away.
Ernst can't escape the position.

Malone is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ernst paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ernst gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Malone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ernst walks away with a smile on his face. Malone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ernst avoids a kick to the body.
Ernst closes the distance looking to clinch

and Malone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ernst working for a triangle but Malone defends it easily.
Malone trying to control but Ernst is working from the bottom.
Ernst tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst is trying to keep Malone in close.
Malone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ernst is breathing heavily.
Malone throwing strikes from guard but Ernst blocks nicely.
Malone controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ernst holds on and takes a little breather.
Malone missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ernst looking for a sweep. Not yet Ernst, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ernst swings for the body but Malone moves out of range.
Malone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malone moves in looking to clinch but Ernst pushes him off.

Ernst closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Malone did well to prevent Ernst getting side control.
Ernst trying to pass the guard but Malone defending well.

Malone makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Malone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malone circles away from the clinch attempt

and Malone counters with a shoot takedown. Ernst fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but Ernst is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

San Malone dominated that round.
That's time! Ernst's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ernst shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Malone's guard.
Malone will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Malone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone wants to stand and escape but Ernst is having none of it.
Malone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Malone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ernst scoring with some ground and pound.
Ernst tries to free his leg and advance position but Malone is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ernst scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ernst gets the takedown into side control.
Malone struggling a bit here.

Ernst has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ernst throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Malone on the side of the head.
Malone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ernst doesn't seem bothered though.
Malone lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ernst circles away quickly and effectively.
Ernst moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Malone is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Malone just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernst fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Malone is out of range.

Ernst rushes Malone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ernst gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Malone.

Ernst is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Malone can't fight it off and eventually Ernst manages to take the fight to the floor. Malone looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Malone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ernst works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Malone!
Malone is working to get back to half guard.
Malone is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ernst lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Ernst moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Malone has worked his arm free - good work by Malone!
Ernst in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four 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.
Malone is not content to let Ernst control the position.
Malone regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ernst's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Tim Ernst overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ernst stops Malone from getting back to his feet.

Ernst is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Malone is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Ernst dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Malone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ernst as he avoids it easily.

Malone gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ernst to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Malone pulls Ernst in to control the position.
Ernst tries to free his leg and advance position but Malone is retaining full guard.
Ernst makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ernst showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ernst wants to control from the top but Malone keeps moving.
Ernst stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malone swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone keeping moving, preventing Ernst from controlling successfully.
Malone working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ernst shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Malone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Malone trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernst makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ernst.
Malone postures up and lands a big shot to Ernst's brow.
Ernst tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but Ernst is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ernst pulls Malone in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst wants to sweep here but Malone controlling him for the moment.
Ernst wants to stand up but Malone is controlling him.
Ernst trying to keep a closed guard but Malone is proving a slippery customer.
Ernst looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malone is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malone shoots for a takedown but Ernst saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone moves into full guard.
Ernst sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malone's guard.
Malone wants to get back to full guard.
Ernst thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malone's head.

Malone makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ernst keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tim Ernst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of San Malone.
Malone ducks under a wild hook from Ernst.
Ernst looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malone tries for a takedown but Ernst sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tim Ernst.
Well Ernst has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Ernst!