PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raje Malapitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Ness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ness has chosen 2Pac - Untouchable/Paper Airplanes Remix as his entrance music. Raje Malapitan has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Malapitan
vs
Ness

168 cm
24
130 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

169 cm
26
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raje Malapitan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Larry Ness!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ness gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Malapitan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Malapitan wants to stand but Ness has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Malapitan trying to control but Ness is working from the bottom.
Ness is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Malapitan wants to control from the top but Ness keeps moving.
Ness is trying to keep Malapitan in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ness gets caught napping as Malapitan dives in and scores a takedown. Ness manages to retain guard.
Malapitan is fighting to break Ness's control of his arms but Ness is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ness keeping full guard, as Malapitan tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malapitan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ness keeping moving, preventing Malapitan from controlling successfully.
Malapitan being controlled here momentarily.
Ness is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Malapitan forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malapitan seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malapitan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ness controlling the position well.

Ness looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malapitan in particular looking to stall.
Malapitan trying to pass the guard but Ness defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness wants to control but Malapitan is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Malapitan seems to be working for a kimura but Ness defends the submission attempt.
Ness is looking to control Malapitan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ness avoid being mounted?
Ness is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Malapitan is staying active.

Malapitan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Malapitan seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ness slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Malapitan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ness is keeping the position for now.
Malapitan is looking to advance position but Ness has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ness controlling from the full mount.
Malapitan working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ness avoids the attempt from Malapitan to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raje Malapitan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ness changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Malapitan tries to avoid it but Ness manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Malapitan to the ground. Malapitan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Malapitan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ness is looking to improve his position.
Ness avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malapitan.
Malapitan trying to mount his opponent but Ness defends it.

Malapitan is working for a submission of some sort.
Ness trying to hold on to Malapitan's head to control him but Malapitan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malapitan trying to mount his opponent but Ness defends it.
Ness preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ness pushes Malapitan off looking to stand but Malapitan dives back in and keeps control.
Malapitan blocks the strikes from Ness.

Malapitan is trying to work for a kimura but Ness is defending well.
Ness has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Malapitan is working away from the top position though.
Ness is staying active underneath Malapitan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malapitan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ness sees it coming and defends easily.
Ness is pressing down on Malapitan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Malapitan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ness is keeping the position for now.
Ness keeping moving, preventing Malapitan from controlling successfully.
Malapitan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Malapitan postures up in Ness's guard and throws a big left but Ness blocks it.
Malapitan looking to pass the guard.

Malapitan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ness is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Malapitan, into his guard.
Ness trying to control but Malapitan is working from the bottom.
Raje Malapitan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness postures up.
Ness in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Malapitan keeping moving, preventing Ness from controlling successfully.
Ness looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Larry Ness wasn't active enough on the ground.
Malapitan dodges the punch combination from Ness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ness.
Ness is trying hard to land a takedown here. Malapitan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Raje Malapitan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Larry Ness.

Malapitan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ness quickly recovers to half guard.
Ness is refusing to be controlled, as Malapitan sits in half guard.
Ness is looking to improve his position.
Malapitan passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Malapitan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raje Malapitan dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Malapitan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Malapitan dodges the punch combination from Ness.
Ness swinging wildly here.

Ness closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ness lands in his opponent's guard.
Ness would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ness postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Malapitan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ness postures up and lands a big shot to Malapitan's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malapitan being controlled here, momentarily.
Ness must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Malapitan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Malapitan has his foot on Ness's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ness works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ness stopping the sweep attempt from Malapitan.
Ness throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ness throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malapitan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ness won't allow Malapitan to sweep him here.
Ness wants to control from the top but Malapitan keeps moving.
Ness working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ness works over Malapitan with some ground and pound from guard.
Ness stands up over Malapitan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ness throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ness's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ness lands a couple of digs.
Ness is looking to work some ground and pound but Malapitan has wrist control.
Larry Ness has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ness trying to control but Malapitan is working from the bottom.
Ness content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ness throws a strike but Malapitan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Malapitan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Malapitan trying to control the position from guard on top but Ness is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ness throws a couple of heel strikes.
Ness keeping moving, preventing Malapitan from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malapitan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ness looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ness looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ness!
Ness works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ness cracks Malapitan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ness connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Malapitan some visible discomfort.
Malapitan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ness is putting a hurting on Malapitan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Raje Malapitan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Malapitan is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ness scores with punches from side control.
Oh Malapitan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ness working the body and head with strikes.
Ness lands a strong strike to the head of Malapitan. That's dazed him! Ness looking to finish here. Malapitan is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Ness lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Larry Ness!