PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Malenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malenko comes into the arena with Control Machete - Comprendes Mendes blaring out of the sound system. O Brien has chosen Superjoint Ritual - Dress Like a Target as his entrance music. Diego Malenko had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Malenko
vs
O Brien

188 cm
24
245 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

192 cm
25
287 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 7 - 6 - 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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex O Brien!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Daniel Cesar and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malenko looks to land a right hand but O Brien moved out of range.
O Brien lands with a shot to the body.
Malenko misses with an uppercut. O Brien saw that one coming.
O Brien misses with a few strikes there.

Malenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Malenko looking for a takedown.

Malenko has clasped his hands together around O Brien's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malenko working the head with strikes.
O Brien manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
O Brien wants to improve his position but Malenko is controlling well.
O Brien is pressing down on Malenko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
O Brien looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malenko is one step ahead there.
O Brien utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Malenko lands a couple of digs.
Malenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Malenko!

O Brien looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

O Brien goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Malenko turns into him and now he's in O Brien's guard.
O Brien wants to sweep but no luck.
Malenko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
O Brien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Malenko won't allow O Brien to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Malenko landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
O Brien manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Malenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

O Brien thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

O Brien drops back looking for a leg! Malenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Malenko manages to kick O Brien off! O Brien jumps back into Malenko's guard.
Malenko keeping full guard, as O Brien tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Malenko is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Brien working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
O Brien looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malenko is one step ahead there.
Malenko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Malenko distracts O Brien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
O Brien looking to control.
Malenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Brien works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
O Brien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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.
O Brien looks gassed!
Malenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of O Brien's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take O Brien's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko lands strikes to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Malenko. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
O Brien covering up well and avoiding damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Brien has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Malenko.
Malenko throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Malenko doesn't have the hooks in and O Brien manages to turn into his guard.
O Brien stopping the sweep attempt from Malenko.
Malenko is trying to control the position but O Brien postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

O Brien drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and O Brien jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Malenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Malenko controls O Brien momentarily but O Brien frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

O Brien lands a two punch combo.
O Brien misses with a double jab.
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.
A combination from Malenko does no damage.
Malenko scores with a jab to the head.

It looks like Alex O Brien has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
O Brien lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
O Brien ducks under a wild hook from Malenko.
Some wild striking there from Malenko.
O Brien scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Alex O Brien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Brien throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malenko.
Malenko throws a hook but O Brien blocks it.
Malenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. O Brien sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
O Brien defending well as Malenko loads up on a big left hand.
Malenko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from O Brien.
A jab from Malenko does it's job there.
Malenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Brien scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
O Brien scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Malenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Brien.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Brien leaves Malenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for O Brien. That snapped Malenko's head back.
Alex O Brien is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Malenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right-left combo lands from O Brien.
Danga de danga de dang - O Brien scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Diego Malenko has been cut.
O Brien lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Malenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
No joy there for O Brien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
O Brien works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
O Brien scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
O Brien lands with a cross.
O Brien throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Brien swinging wildly here.
O Brien is working the combinations to good effect here.
A right-left combo lands from O Brien.
Malenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malenko throws a right and a left that O Brien avoids nicely.
O Brien tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from O Brien. Those never looked like landing.
Malenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with O Brien but O Brien pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malenko throws a body punch but O Brien moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko dodges the punch combination from O Brien.
O Brien throws a nice looking combination but Malenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
O Brien lands a head shot.
Malenko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from O Brien.
Diego Malenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Brien throws out a powerful jab.
Malenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Malenko shoots in for a double leg but O Brien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
O Brien lands a jab-cross combination.
O Brien connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
O Brien lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Malenko blocks a head kick by O Brien.
Malenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and O Brien counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Brien looks to land a combination. Malenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Alex O Brien seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Brien cracks Malenko with an open hand slap.
O Brien shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
O Brien throws a one two combo.
O Brien lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
O Brien might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
O Brien throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malenko.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malenko. O Brien does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Malenko misses.
O Brien lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
O Brien displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
O Brien throws a right hand that Malenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Malenko also avoids with ease.
O Brien swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
O Brien lands a two punch combo.
Malenko misses with a straight right.
Malenko throws a jab but it's blocked by O Brien.
O Brien scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
O Brien throws a series of punches but Malenko moves out of range.
O Brien keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malenko.
Malenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Malenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but O Brien moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from O Brien. Those never looked like landing.
O Brien stalks Malenko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Malenko's face. Malenko staggers backwards, shaken.
Malenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? O Brien is fending him off so far but Malenko persists. Nope, O Brien circles away and we're back to standing.
Malenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
O Brien looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Malenko walks into a left hand.
O Brien scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko throws a predictable looking body shot
and O Brien counters with a nice uppercut.
O Brien throws a nice looking combination but Malenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Malenko missing with a left hand there. O Brien was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
O Brien scores with a three punch combo!
O Brien looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
O Brien defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Malenko.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from O Brien. Those never looked like landing.
O Brien tests Malenko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
O Brien uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
Malenko swings for the body but O Brien moves out of range.
Malenko throws the left hand but O Brien avoids the punch easily.
O Brien scores with a one two! Malenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
O Brien misses with a few strikes there.
Malenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Malenko misses with a body shot.
O Brien throws a right hand that Malenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Malenko also avoids with ease.
O Brien lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
O Brien stalks Malenko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Malenko's face. Malenko staggers backwards, shaken.
O Brien fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Malenko shoots for a takedown but O Brien saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex O Brien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by O Brien!
A big left from Malenko misses.
Malenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. O Brien manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
O Brien misses with a wild combination.
Malenko catches O Brien with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Malenko connects with a jab.
O Brien throws a nice looking combination but Malenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Malenko looks to land a right hand but O Brien moved out of range.
Malenko looks to throw the jab but O Brien is out of range.
O Brien throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Danga de danga de dang - O Brien scores with a four punch combination!
Malenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Malenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
O Brien rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Malenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
O Brien misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Brien throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Brien misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Brien blocks a jab.
Malenko throws a lazy right hand but O Brien sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Malenko swings away with a body shot that misses
and O Brien counters with a series of strikes. Malenko will be more careful next time no doubt.
O Brien on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko tries to clinch there but O Brien circles away.
Malenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by O Brien.
Malenko lands a nice shot to the body.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt - O Brien sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Some wild striking there from Malenko.
Malenko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
O Brien lands with a right hand.
Malenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Malenko takes a swing at O Brien's ribcage but misses.
O Brien swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by O Brien!
A slow jab from Malenko misses its intended target.
O Brien will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Brien wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
O Brien misses with a double jab.
Malenko throws a jab when O Brien was well out of range.
O Brien fails to land with a series of punches.
Malenko misses with an uppercut.
Malenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Brien throws a good cross that connects.
O Brien throws a right and a left that Malenko avoids nicely.
Malenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Malenko throws a shot from downtown. O Brien moves away and avoids it.
Malenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
O Brien ducks under a wild hook from Malenko.
No joy there for O Brien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Malenko dips to his left and cracks O Brien with an uppercut!
Malenko just misses with a punch to the body.
O Brien blocks a jab.
Nice shot by O Brien.
O Brien lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by O Brien.
A punch combination from O Brien misses.
O Brien uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Malenko.
O Brien looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malenko throws a jab but it's blocked by O Brien.
A shot to the body from Malenko misses
and O Brien counters with a one-two to the body.
Malenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Brien scores with a three punch combo!
O Brien throws a right hand that Malenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Malenko also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien swinging wildly here.
A head kick misses from O Brien.
Malenko fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Malenko scores with a nice right hand.
No joy there for O Brien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
O Brien moves away from the strike by Malenko.
Malenko throws a series of punches but O Brien avoids them all with ease.
O Brien displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malenko. O Brien does a little dance to reset his feet.
O Brien scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A right-left combo lands from O Brien.
O Brien tries to bum rush Malenko with a series of wild strikes but Malenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
O Brien scores with the left hand. Malenko knows he should have avoided that one.
O Brien misses with a double jab.
Malenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and O Brien counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
O Brien looks to land a combination. Malenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
O Brien lands with an overhand left.
Malenko scores with a three punch combo!
O Brien uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Malenko has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Brien lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malenko circles away quickly and effectively.
Malenko throws a hook but O Brien avoids it easily.
O Brien throws a right and a left that Malenko avoids nicely.
Malenko throws a shot from downtown. O Brien moves away and avoids it.
O Brien scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A telegraphed right hand from Malenko misses the target.
O Brien displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Malenko throws out the jab.
Malenko blocks a head kick by O Brien.
O Brien moves out of range of the strikes.
Malenko lands a nice shot to the body.
Malenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
O Brien swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Malenko shoots for a double leg takedown but O Brien sprawls well. He's pushed Malenko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
O Brien misses with a double jab.
O Brien misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Brien takes one on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Brien throws a right and a left that Malenko avoids nicely.
Malenko misses with the combination.
Malenko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
O Brien misses with a wild combination.

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 Diego Malenko.
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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

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