PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henzo Markwick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Malkowsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Markwick
vs
Malkowsky

180 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
21
136 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Los Angeles, Henzo Markwick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Will Malkowsky!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malkowsky shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Markwick as he avoids it easily.
Markwick's jab looks to have found its range, popping Malkowsky under the eye.
A head kick from Markwick lands but Malkowsky takes it in his stride.
A jab from Markwick finds it's way through Malkowsky's defenses.
Markwick looks to score with a jab to the body but Malkowsky is just out of range.
Markwick scores with a push kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malkowsky fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Malkowsky swats away the attempt to clinch by Markwick.
Malkowsky tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Malkowsky is defended easily by Markwick.
Henzo Markwick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Malkowsky.

Malkowsky scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Markwick tries to get to full guard but Malkowsky has control of the leg.
Markwick gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markwick working a defensive guard here.
Malkowsky preventing the sweep.
Malkowsky trying to control but Markwick is working from the bottom.
Markwick trying to control the position.
Markwick will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Markwick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Markwick has control of Malkowsky's left arm, preventing Malkowsky from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Henzo Markwick just wasn't active enough.

Malkowsky gets a double leg takedown into Markwick's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markwick trying to keep a closed guard but Malkowsky is proving a slippery customer.
Malkowsky pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Markwick is keeping the position for now.

Markwick kicks Malkowsky off and gets to his feet.

Malkowsky throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Markwick tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Malkowsky is in Markwick's guard.
Markwick really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Malkowsky looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Markwick is trying to hold Malkowsky in close to prevent damage but Malkowsky has managed to pass into half guard.

Markwick looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malkowsky is trying to control. Markwick wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markwick wants to get back to his feet.

Malkowsky is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Markwick wants to control but Malkowsky is keeping busy.
Markwick wants to get back to full guard.
Markwick trying to control but Malkowsky postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky is looking to advance position but Markwick won't allow it.
Markwick is not content to let Malkowsky control the position.
Markwick trying to control but Malkowsky postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Henzo Markwick just wasn't active enough.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Malkowsky.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markwick throws a good cross that connects.
Markwick doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Malkowsky counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henzo Markwick will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Markwick misses with a wild body shot.
Markwick is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Markwick misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Markwick is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Malkowsky shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Markwick tries to sprawl but Malkowsky drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Markwick trying to control here.
Markwick is trying to control but Malkowsky manages to pass to mount!
Markwick wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Will Malkowsky go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markwick looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Markwick is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Markwick covers up after that shot from Malkowsky.
Markwick is really stuck here.
Malkowsky struggling to keep hold of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markwick trying to control but not successfully.
Malkowsky is trying to control but Markwick is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Malkowsky is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Markwick is in real trouble.
Malkowsky doesn't have the hooks in and Markwick manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Markwick has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Malkowsky is proving hard to escape from.
Malkowsky trying to control the position here.
Markwick preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markwick wants to stand but Malkowsky has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Will Malkowsky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Malkowsky is trying to keep Markwick in close.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Malkowsky can do anything to dispel that myth.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Markwick darts in and clinches Malkowsky up against the cage.
Markwick jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Malkowsky walks away with a smile on his face. Markwick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Markwick shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Markwick was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Markwick fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky tries to control Markwick's body but Markwick pushes him off. Malkowsky squirms to his side and now Markwick has his back!
Malkowsky turns into Markwick and is now in his guard.
Malkowsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Markwick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Markwick working for a triangle but Malkowsky defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Malkowsky drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Markwick dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Henzo Markwick will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Markwick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Malkowsky swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malkowsky tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Markwick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malkowsky tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Markwick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Markwick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malkowsky.
A head kick by Malkowsky misses

and Markwick counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Markwick lands with a punch from half guard.
Malkowsky wants to get back to his feet.
Markwick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Malkowsky does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Markwick not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Markwick trying to mount his opponent but Malkowsky defends it.
Malkowsky takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markwick throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Malkowsky holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Markwick decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Markwick shoots in for a takedown but Malkowsky shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Malkowsky shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Malkowsky prevents Markwick from improving his position.
Markwick gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Markwick tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malkowsky must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Markwick will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Markwick keeping moving, preventing Malkowsky from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Markwick controlling the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malkowsky is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Henzo Markwick just wasn't active enough.
Malkowsky defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Markwick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky throws a leg kick that misses.
Markwick connects with the punch.
Henzo Markwick is winning the standup battle so far.
Malkowsky swinging wildly here.
Markwick throws a one two combo.
Markwick misses with a combination

and Malkowsky counters by clinching up.

Malkowsky drags the fight down to the ground.
Markwick won't allow Malkowsky to sweep him here.
Malkowsky looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markwick has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Malkowsky is proving hard to escape from.
Markwick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malkowsky swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Markwick wants to control from the top but Malkowsky keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Malkowsky scores with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markwick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malkowsky as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henzo Markwick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malkowsky tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henzo Markwick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Markwick, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henzo Markwick!