PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neal Monnelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Mallon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monnelli comes to the cage accompanied by Legenda - Where the Devils Dance. Mallon comes into a darkened arena with his song building. im not afraid kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Monnelli
vs
Mallon

225 cm
25
312 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

200 cm
25
300 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Neal Monnelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Mallon!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Monnelli or perhaps it was just good defense by Mallon which made him look bad.
Mallon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Monnelli counters with a two punch combo.
Mallon throws a body punch but Monnelli moves out of range.
Mallon stuffs the takedown.
Monnelli fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A big left from Monnelli misses.
Mallon misses with a right hand
and Monnelli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like John Mallon has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Monnelli shoots in and bounces Mallon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Monnelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Mallon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mallon is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monnelli tries to free his leg and advance position but Mallon is retaining full guard.
Monnelli passes Mallon's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Monnelli working over Mallon with some ground and pound. Mallon looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Monnelli tries to pass to full mount but Mallon defends it.
Monnelli trying to control from half guard but Mallon is working away.

Monnelli is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monnelli moves into full mount! Mallon won't be happy about that!
Monnelli will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Monnelli is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Mallon has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Mallon!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mallon stopping the sweep attempt from Monnelli.
Mallon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mallon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mallon throwing strikes but missing.
Monnelli controls Mallon momentarily but Mallon frees himself.
Mallon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mallon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Mallon was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Monnelli misses with an uppercut
and Mallon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Monnelli doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Monnelli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Monnelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mallon slips a jab and a cross from Monnelli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monnelli throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mallon counters with a big uppercut that knocks Monnelli off his feet! Mallon dives into side control looking to finish!

Monnelli is rocked!

It looks like Neal Monnelli has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mallon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Monnelli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Monnelli is looking to regain half guard here but Mallon keeps moving and retains side control.
Mallon cracks Monnelli with a big elbow.
Monnelli sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Mallon is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Monnelli sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monnelli wants to control but Mallon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mallon wants to pass the guard but Monnelli is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Mallon will probably get the nod.
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.

Monnelli tries for a takedown but Mallon circles away easily
and Mallon counters with a stiff right hand.
Mallon takes a swing at Monnelli's ribcage but misses.
Mallon throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Monnelli counters by clinching up.

Mallon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Monnelli uses from the top position.
Mallon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Monnelli looking to sit in guard and control but Mallon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Monnelli wants to sweep here but Mallon controlling him for the moment.

Monnelli working for a triangle but Mallon defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monnelli is pulling down on Mallon's head to control his posture.

Monnelli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mallon sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Monnelli's guard.
Monnelli gets full guard.
Monnelli is trying to keep Mallon in close.
Mallon slips nicely into half guard.
Mallon works his way into full mount!
The referee warns Monnelli that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallon with a couple of short strikes.
Mallon working Monnelli over with strikes here.
John Mallon has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monnelli is desperately trying to improve his position but Mallon has a good base and remains in mount.
Mallon postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Monnelli looks a forlorn figure.
Mallon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oh Monnelli is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice elbow there by Mallon.

Mallon working for a submission but Monnelli is keeping him at bay.
Monnelli seems to have got his legs back now.
Mallon prevents Monnelli from getting the reversal.

Mallon working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monnelli is trying to escape the mount.
Mallon is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Monnelli can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
BOOM! Mallon connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Monnelli tries to lock up and control but Mallon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mallon is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Monnelli wants to control but Mallon is having none of it.
Monnelli really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mallon tries to control but Monnelli wriggling away.
Mallon working Monnelli over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mallon wants to control the pace but Monnelli is squirming around nicely.
Mallon cracks Monnelli with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monnelli tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mallon tries to control but Monnelli wriggling away.

Mallon is working for a guillotine from mount but Monnelli frees his head quite easily.
Monnelli really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Monnelli tries to lock up and control but Mallon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mallon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Mallon 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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Mallon misses.
Mallon throws a combination that misses
and Monnelli counters with a nice body shot.
Monnelli fails with the takedown.
Monnelli shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Monnelli swings for the body but Mallon moves out of range.
Monnelli lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mallon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monnelli fails to land with a series of punches.
Mallon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Monnelli shoots in and gets a takedown into Mallon's guard.
Monnelli passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mallon managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Monnelli.

Monnelli tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Monnelli in side control, throwing shots but Mallon defends.
Neal Monnelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monnelli is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mallon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Monnelli swings around for an armbar but Mallon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Monnelli's guard.
Monnelli wants to sweep here but Mallon controlling him for the moment.
Monnelli keeping moving, preventing Mallon from controlling successfully.

Monnelli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mallon tries to free his leg and advance position but Monnelli is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monnelli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mallon wants to control from the top but Monnelli keeps moving.
Monnelli looking for a sweep. Not yet Monnelli, not yet.

Mallon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Monnelli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mallon has managed to get both his arms back between Monnelli's legs - danger averted.

Mallon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mallon postures up.

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

Monnelli goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mallon rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Monnelli's guard! Nice work there by Mallon!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monnelli wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mallon, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mallon parries the strikes from Monnelli easily there. Monnelli is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mallon to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neal Monnelli showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mallon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Mallon!