PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Finnigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Money 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.

Finnigan
vs
Malone

180 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Las Vegas, Ben Finnigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Money Malone!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malone has his takedown stuffed

and Finnigan counters with a single leg into guard. Malone didn't expect that.

Finnigan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Malone fails with a takedown attempt.
Malone doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Finnigan moves into the clinch.
Ben Finnigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Malone.

Finnigan tightens his grip and picks Malone up, before dumping him to the ground. Malone manages to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finnigan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Finnigan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Finnigan just wasn't active enough.

Finnigan fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Malone to the ground. Finnigan is now in Malone's guard.
Malone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Finnigan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Malone tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Finnigan gets to his feet. Malone looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Malone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malone wants to clinch up but Finnigan keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malone shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Finnigan defends it nicely.
Malone looks gassed!

Malone gets caught flat footed, as Finnigan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finnigan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Malone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Finnigan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Finnigan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Finnigan shoots in for a double leg but Malone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Malone with a poor takedown

and Finnigan counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Malone!
Finnigan prevents Malone from getting the reversal.
Finnigan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Finnigan just wasn't active enough.

Finnigan scores with a takedown into Malone's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finnigan passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Finnigan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Malone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Finnigan is fending him off so far but Malone persists. Nope, Finnigan circles away and we're back to standing.
Malone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Finnigan pinned against the cage. Finnigan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Finnigan throws a nice head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Finnigan.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Come on Finnigan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Finnigan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch but Finnigan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Finnigan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Malone's half guard.
Malone pushes Finnigan off looking to stand but Finnigan dives back in and keeps control.
Finnigan controlling the action here.
Finnigan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Malone's thigh. Malone counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan wants to pass the guard but Malone is keeping the position.
Malone being controlled here, momentarily.
Finnigan wants to pass the guard but Malone is keeping the position.
Finnigan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Finnigan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Malone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Finnigan as he avoids it easily.
Ben Finnigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Money Malone.
Malone tries to clinch but Finnigan is having none of it.

Finnigan gets the takedown into side control.
Malone taking a bit of punishment here - Finnigan scoring with strikes.
Malone is breathing heavily.
Malone tries to improve position but can't.
Finnigan passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Malone!
Malone tries to lock up and control but Finnigan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Malone is bucking up trying to escape but Finnigan cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Finnigan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Malone has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan lands a big elbow.
Finnigan with the ground and pound from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Finnigan controlling his opponent.
Malone sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Finnigan controlling the action here.

Finnigan postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Malone to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Finnigan dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Finnigan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Finnigan is working for a kimura but Malone is defending it quite comfortably.
Finnigan is thwarting Malone's attempts to control the position.
Malone is trying to control but Finnigan passes into side control!
Finnigan gets to mount! Malone was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnigan lands with some strikes.
Finnigan with the ground and pound from mount.
Finnigan working the ground and pound effectively.
Finnigan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Malone takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Finnigan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ben Finnigan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malone tries to hold on but Finnigan pushes him away.
Finnigan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Malone has given up his back here.
Malone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Malone defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Finnigan working for a choke but Malone is defending well.
Finnigan scores with punches from the back.
Finnigan is working the ground and pound. Can Malone escape?
Finnigan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malone can do to turn this around?
Finnigan controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finnigan has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Finnigan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Malone defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Malone is trying to get back to his feet but Finnigan has full control of the position and if anything, Malone has just worked his way into a worse spot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
I would not like to be Malone right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Finnigan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Finnigan 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Finnigan!