PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Will Malkowsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RJ Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Malkowsky
vs
Howard

168 cm
22
136 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

203 cm
22
130 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Will Malkowsky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, RJ Howard!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malkowsky closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malkowsky lands in his opponent's guard.
Howard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Howard keeping moving, preventing Malkowsky from controlling successfully.
Howard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malkowsky.
Malkowsky might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Malkowsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Will Malkowsky has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Malkowsky takes the fight into the clinch.
Howard is trying to pull guard but Malkowsky has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malkowsky breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Howard looks for a takedown but Malkowsky sprawls well.
Malkowsky wants to clinch.

Howard tries to sprawl but Malkowsky drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Malkowsky controlling the pace.
Howard is controlling Malkowsky's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky stalling.
Howard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Malkowsky has a takedown stuffed.
Howard shoots in but Malkowsky avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Will Malkowsky has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Howard.
Malkowsky fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Howard defends it nicely.
Malkowsky shoots for a double leg takedown but Howard sprawls well. He's pushed Malkowsky's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Howard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Malkowsky postures up in Howard's guard and throws a big left but Howard blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malkowsky accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malkowsky wants to pass the guard but Howard is keeping the position.

Howard has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Malkowsky off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky misses with a takedown attempt
and Howard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malkowsky lands with a nice body kick.
Malkowsky will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Malkowsky misses with the combination.
Will Malkowsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malkowsky is breathing heavily.

Howard gets tackled into the cage by Malkowsky. Malkowsky maintains the clinch.
Howard gets underhooks to prevent Malkowsky's takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Malkowsky breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malkowsky fails with the takedown

and Howard counters with a shoot takedown. Malkowsky fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Malkowsky dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malkowsky throws a body punch but Howard moves out of range.
Will Malkowsky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Malkowsky looking to score a takedown here. Howard is defending well but Malkowsky drives through and ends up in Howard's guard.
Howard wants to get back to his feet but Malkowsky is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Howard trying to control the position.
Howard wants to stand and escape but Malkowsky is having none of it.
Malkowsky would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. RJ Howard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Howard fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Malkowsky with that takedown attempt.
Howard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Malkowsky is fending him off so far but Howard persists. Nope, Malkowsky circles away and we're back to standing.
Malkowsky is looking to clinch.
Malkowsky fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Malkowsky. No joy for Howard on that attempt.
Will Malkowsky has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of RJ Howard.
Malkowsky throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Howard's waist but Howard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malkowsky off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard shoots in looking for a takedown but Malkowsky manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Howard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Malkowsky scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Howard tries to get to full guard but Malkowsky has control of the leg.
Howard wants to control but Malkowsky is keeping busy.
Will Malkowsky overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Malkowsky decides to stand up.

Malkowsky takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malkowsky is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Malkowsky tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Howard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Malkowsky tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Howard stalling against the cage.
Malkowsky tries to score a body lock takedown but Howard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Howard is pressed up against the cage. Malkowsky has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Howard down to the mat. Howard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Howard tries to sprawl but Malkowsky drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Malkowsky trying to mount his opponent but Howard defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Howard gets full guard.
Malkowsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Howard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malkowsky stops Howard from standing up.
Malkowsky tries to stand but Howard is controlling from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Howard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Malkowsky dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Malkowsky fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Howard avoids it really well and circles away.
Howard moves in looking to clinch but Malkowsky pushes him off.

Malkowsky closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Howard quickly recovers to half guard.
Still in half guard, Malkowsky seems content to control.
Malkowsky seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Howard for as long as he can get away with.
Malkowsky lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkowsky stalling.
Malkowsky is pressing down on Howard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Howard is holding on for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Howard wants to get back to his feet.

Howard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malkowsky wants to take a breather but Howard is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Will Malkowsky wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Malkowsky misses with a body shot.
Howard stuffs the takedown attempt from Malkowsky. Malkowsky gets slowly back to his feet.

Malkowsky fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Howard to the ground. Malkowsky is now in Howard's guard.
Howard is trying to control the position but Malkowsky postures up.
Malkowsky wanted to stand there but Howard had control of the position.
Howard trying to keep a closed guard but Malkowsky is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. RJ Howard was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Malkowsky closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Howard prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Will Malkowsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Malkowsky.
Howard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Malkowsky is defending well.
Malkowsky goes for a takedown attempt but Howard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Howard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkowsky shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Howard as he avoids it easily.
Howard misses with a wild combination.
Howard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Malkowsky counters with a nice double leg into side control. Howard won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Howard is looking to get back to his feet here but Malkowsky is keeping cool and he's managed to take Howard's back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard covering up well under a series of strikes from Malkowsky.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Malkowsky showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Malkowsky 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Malkowsky!