PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seraphim Malachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Seraphim Malachi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Malachi
vs
Todd

187 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seraphim Malachi!
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, James Todd!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Todd clinches up against the cage.

Todd successfully pulls guard.
Todd keeping full guard, as Malachi tries to pass.
Todd wants to stand up but Malachi is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Todd is on top in guard.
Todd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malachi wants to sweep here but Todd controlling him for the moment.
Todd sitting in guard here, content to control.
Malachi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Todd hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Todd throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malachi tries to clinch up.
Todd turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Todd misses with a head kick.
Todd throws a head kick but Malachi moves out of range.
Todd misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malachi shoots in but no luck this time.
Malachi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Todd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Todd looking to score a takedown here. Malachi is defending well but Todd drives through and ends up in Malachi's guard.

Malachi looking for a guillotine here but Todd defends easily.

Malachi working for a triangle but Todd defends it easily.
Malachi is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Todd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Malachi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd slips nicely into half guard.
Todd with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Malachi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Todd engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malachi wants to stand up but Todd is controlling him.
Todd postures up.
Malachi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Todd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Todd rushes Malachi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Todd dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Todd gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Todd gets underhooks to prevent Malachi's takedown attempt.

Todd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malachi has his takedown stuffed

and Todd counters by clinching up.

Todd pulls guard.
Malachi trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd striking off his back but it's not causing Malachi any problems.
Malachi passes into half guard.
Todd keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malachi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Todd is concentrating on defense, preventing Malachi from advancing position.
Todd wants to improve his position but Malachi is controlling well.
Todd keeping hold of Malachi's head, controlling as best he can.
Malachi is looking to stall here but Todd recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Todd escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malachi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James Todd has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malachi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malachi stands and throws Todd's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Malachi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malachi is really struggling to control Todd but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Todd is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Malachi off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Malachi right now.
Todd tries to keep control of the position but Malachi is staying busy.
Malachi trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malachi turns into Todd and is now in his guard.
Todd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malachi.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Malachi wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.

Todd is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malachi wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.
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 Seraphim Malachi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Malachi moves in looking to clinch but Todd pushes him off.
Malachi tries to bum rush Todd with a series of wild strikes but Todd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Todd misses the shot to the body.
Todd throws a leg kick
and Malachi counters with a nice body shot.
Todd throws the kick towards the body but Malachi avoids it.
Todd blocks the body kick.
Malachi tries to clinch up.

Todd shoots in and gets a takedown into Malachi's guard.

Malachi looking for a guillotine here but Todd defends easily.
Malachi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Todd is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Malachi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malachi is trying to control the position but Todd postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Todd decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Todd shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Malachi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Todd working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Malachi can't do much from the bottom here.

Todd wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Malachi, who protects the arm well.
Todd has knee on belly momentarily but Malachi bucks him off and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malachi trying to hold on to Todd's head to control him but Todd postures up.
Malachi manages to get to full guard.
Malachi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd is pushing down on Malachi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Malachi is fighting to maintain full guard but Todd has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd trying to mount his opponent but Malachi defends it.
Todd prevents Malachi from improving his position.
Todd trying to mount his opponent but Malachi defends it.
Todd not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Todd is stalling here. Malachi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Todd seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Malachi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Todd tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Todd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Todd has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Todd!
James Todd thanked the fans post fight for their support.