PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Mallao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dj Tiongson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mallao
vs
Tiongson

185 cm
29
230 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

179 cm
29
170 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Mallao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Dj Tiongson!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiongson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mallao thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tiongson if he has to take too many more of those.
Mallao tries to clinch but Tiongson is having none of it.

Mallao bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tiongson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mallao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tiongson is being controlled here.

Mallao decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tiongson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mallao circles away.
Mallao tries to clinch up
and Tiongson counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Dave Mallao has been cut.
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!
Mallao tries to clinch up.
Tiongson with a poor takedown

and Mallao counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dave Mallao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dj Tiongson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mallao passes to full mount!
Tiongson tries to reverse the position but Mallao maintains control.
Mallao manages to capitalize on a mistake by Tiongson to take his back!

Tiongson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mallao's arms.
Tiongson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Tiongson is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallao not doing much here.
Mallao seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tiongson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Mallao is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tiongson defends it well.
Tiongson trying to control here.
Mallao tries to stand but can't do so whilst Tiongson controls his leg.
Mallao throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson is not content to let Mallao control the position.

Mallao is looking for a kimura but Tiongson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mallao to get the leverage.

Mallao is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mallao is keen to just control but Tiongson is a slippery customer.

Tiongson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mallao not doing much here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mallao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mallao stalling away here and it's allowed Tiongson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Mallao is looking to work some ground and pound but Tiongson has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mallao trying to control but Tiongson is working from the bottom.
Tiongson is trying to keep Mallao in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mallao wants to stand but Tiongson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tiongson trying to keep a closed guard but Mallao is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Mallao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Mallao's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mallao feints and as Tiongson raises his hands in defense, Mallao changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mallao trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tiongson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tiongson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tiongson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mallao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tiongson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mallao looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mallao looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mallao!
Mallao working away.
The referee asks Mallao politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mallao prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiongson is trying to control Mallao's posture but Mallao avoids it.
Mallao looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tiongson is avoiding damage well.
Tiongson parries the strikes from Mallao easily there. Mallao is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tiongson to escape.
Mallao is looking to take a break and control but Tiongson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mallao goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tiongson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mallao but great work by Tiongson.
Tiongson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mallao keeps working.
Tiongson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mallao!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mallao blocking the ground and pound.
Tiongson trying to control but Mallao is having none of it.

Tiongson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tiongson controlling the position easily from mount.
Tiongson avoids the attempt from Mallao to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mallao is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tiongson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tiongson trying to control but Mallao is having none of it.

Tiongson has hold of Mallao's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mallao manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tiongson wants to control the pace but Mallao is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mallao avoids a strike by Tiongson and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Tiongson's guard! Fantastic escape!
Tiongson is pulling down on Mallao's head. It's preventing any offense from Mallao, at least for the moment.
Mallao would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tiongson fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mallao fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tiongson wants to clinch.
Mallao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dj Tiongson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dave Mallao's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tiongson throws a head kick that misses

and Mallao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mallao.
Tiongson tries for a takedown but Mallao manages to get underhooks.
Mallao lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tiongson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mallao jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tiongson walks away with a smile on his face. Mallao gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mallao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tiongson defends it nicely.

Mallao moves into the clinch successfully.
Tiongson can't get the takedown.
Mallao is pressed up against the cage. Tiongson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mallao down to the mat. Mallao avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dave Mallao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dj Tiongson.
Tiongson fails to land the takedown.

Mallao closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiongson is refusing to be controlled, as Mallao sits in half guard.

Mallao stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tiongson to get to his feet.

Tiongson rushes Mallao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tiongson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tiongson prevents the takedown attempt.
Mallao lands a hook that snaps the head of Tiongson backwards.

Tiongson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tiongson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mallao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Mallao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mallao.
Nice sprawl there from Mallao as Tiongson shoots in.
Mallao throws a lazy head kick
and Tiongson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mallao keeps the fight on the outside.
Tiongson tries a head kick but it misses.
Tiongson tries to clinch up.
Tiongson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mallao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tiongson fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Mallao manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mallao is defended easily by Tiongson.

Tiongson clinches up with Mallao and pushes him back against the cage.
Mallao gets underhooks to prevent Tiongson's takedown attempt.
Tiongson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mallao manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mallao looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mallao keeping moving, preventing Tiongson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiongson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mallao keeping moving, preventing Tiongson from controlling successfully.
Tiongson prevents Mallao from getting back to his feet.
Tiongson is working Mallao over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tiongson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mallao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tiongson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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 Dave Mallao.
Well Mallao 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Mallao!