PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Malz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brent McNeil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brent McNeil is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Malz
vs
McNeil

180 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Malz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brent McNeil!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McNeil.
Brent McNeil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Malz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McNeil's half guard.
Malz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Malz tries to pass to full mount but McNeil defends it.
McNeil wants to control but Malz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Malz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McNeil on the ground.
Malz trying to pass the guard but McNeil defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McNeil looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Malz decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from McNeil.
Malz cracks McNeil with an open hand slap.
McNeil looks to land a left hand but Malz moved out of range nicely.
Nice cross by Malz.
Malz throws a sloppy head kick and McNeil moves out of range easily.
McNeil swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Malz moves into the clinch.
Malz throws an elbow but it misses.
McNeil missing with knees to the body.
McNeil is trying to pull guard but Malz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Malz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matt Malz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brent McNeil.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malz pulls guard effortlessly.
McNeil pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malz is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McNeil trying to stand up but can't free himself from Malz's guard.
McNeil trying to control but Malz is working from the bottom.
McNeil stands and throws Malz's legs to the side, diving into side control.
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!
Malz is trying to control McNeil's posture but McNeil avoids it.
Malz is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malz wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
McNeil wants to take a breather but Malz manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for McNeil.
Malz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McNeil stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malz looking to control.
McNeil trying to control but Malz is working from the bottom.
McNeil wants to get up but he can't break Malz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Malz is pulling down on McNeil's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Malz just wasn't active enough.
Malz tries to clinch but McNeil moves out of range.
McNeil takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McNeil misses with a few strikes there.

McNeil gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Malz to score an easy takedown into full guard.

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

McNeil is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malz wants to break free but McNeil has control.
Malz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McNeil's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Malz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McNeil shoots in for a double leg but Malz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McNeil throws a left and a right that both miss
and Malz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Malz gets the takedown into side control.

Malz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Malz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McNeil on his heels. He'll look to pass McNeil's guard now, I'm sure.
Malz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McNeil is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McNeil wants to stand and escape but Malz is having none of it.
McNeil keeping full guard, as Malz tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malz drops back looking for a leg! McNeil is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McNeil manages to kick Malz off! Malz jumps back into McNeil's guard.
Malz wants to control from the top but McNeil keeps moving.
McNeil wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Malz stops McNeil from standing up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Malz instigates a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Malz as McNeil tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malz wants to break free but McNeil has control.

Malz is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. McNeil can't fight it off and eventually Malz manages to take the fight to the floor. McNeil looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McNeil working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malz.
McNeil controls Malz momentarily but Malz frees himself.

McNeil is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Malz is aware though and is defending well.
Malz looking to pass the guard.
Malz controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeil trying to keep a closed guard but Malz is proving a slippery customer.

McNeil escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Malz stands up and waves to McNeil to follow him.

McNeil gets caught flat footed, as Malz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McNeil is trying to control the position but Malz postures up.
Malz postures up in McNeil's guard and throws a big left but McNeil blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeil is striking from the bottom but Malz uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Malz wants to stand but McNeil has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

McNeil pushes Malz off and gets back to his feet.

McNeil gets the takedown into side control.
Matt Malz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malz can't do much from the bottom here.
Malz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malz performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Malz is working for a kimura but McNeil is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Malz dominated that second round.
That's time! Malz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McNeil tries for a takedown but Malz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malz is looking to clinch.
Malz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malz circles away from the clinch attempt.

Malz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McNeil wants to get back to his feet but Malz drags him back down.
Malz wants to lay and pray for a moment but McNeil keeps working.
Malz controlling from side mount.
McNeil is trying to control Malz's posture but Malz avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malz trying to control the action but McNeil is working from the bottom.
Malz fails to land a wild elbow strike.
McNeil wants to get back to his feet but Malz drags him back down.
McNeil wants to control but Malz postures up.
McNeil is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Malz is controlling him well.
McNeil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McNeil is looking to regain half guard here but Malz keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNeil is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McNeil tries to kick Malz off but Malz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Malz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Malz is figuring out what he wants to do next.
McNeil wants to get back to his feet.
Malz wants to take a breather but McNeil is having none of it.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Malz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Malz clinches.

Malz manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malz tries to clinch up but McNeil circles away and keeps his distance.
Malz motions for McNeil to come forward. Malz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McNeil enables Malz to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McNeil manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Malz trying to control the position from guard on top but McNeil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McNeil wants to stand but Malz is controlling the position.

McNeil is looking for a triangle but Malz pushes his legs off easily.

McNeil looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

McNeil is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McNeil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Malz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Malz wanted to stand there but McNeil had control of the position.
Malz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

McNeil has his feet on Malz's thighs here. He's pushed Malz off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Malz screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brent McNeil!