PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maldi comes into the arena with Loituma TECHNO! blaring out of the sound system. Herzog is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Robert Tepper - No Easy Way Out. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maldi
vs
Herzog

170 cm
30
161 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

175 cm
32
168 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malvin Maldi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Herzog on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maldi has a takedown stuffed.
A slapping leg kick lands for Maldi.
Maldi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Maldi moves into range and clinches up with Herzog.
Maldi tries to work over Herzog's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Herzog is trying to break the clinch but Maldi has him pressed against the cage.
Maldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.

Maldi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malvin Maldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herzog avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maldi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Maldi throws an off balance right hand
and Herzog counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Maldi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice defenses there by Herzog.
Nice straight punches there by Maldi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maldi.
Herzog ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.
Herzog scores with a hook to the body. Maldi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Herzog chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maldi can pounce on him.
Herzog slips a straight right by Maldi.
Maldi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Herzog under the eye.
Herzog misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maldi looks for the body kick but Herzog saw that one coming.
Maldi throws a big shot that misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maldi.
Herzog with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maldi scores with a hook to the body. Herzog takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maldi scores with a jab.
Maldi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Herzog looks to throw the jab but Maldi is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maldi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maldi lands the left hand.
Maldi throws a shot from downtown. Herzog moves away and avoids it.
Herzog swings for the body but Maldi moves out of range.
Maldi throws out a powerful jab.
Maldi checks a leg kick nicely.
Maldi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Herzog on the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Maldi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maldi ducks under a wild hook from Herzog.
Herzog misses with a low kick.
Herzog scores with a jab to the body.
Maldi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Maldi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi misses with an uppercut. Herzog saw that one coming.
Herzog throws a hook to the side of Maldi's head but Maldi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldi lands a jab to the nose.
A head kick misses from Maldi.
Herzog misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldi. Herzog does a little dance to reset his feet.
Herzog checks a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maldi. That's going to slow Herzog down.
Herzog lands with a kick to the ribs.
Maldi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Herzog.
Herzog blocks a low kick nicely.
Maldi throws a sloppy head kick and Herzog moves out of range easily.
Maldi scores with a hook.
Herzog looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Herzog lands.
Maldi throws a front kick that sends Herzog stumbling back into the cage.
A punch combination from Maldi misses.
Maldi throws a sloppy head kick and Herzog moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Herzog throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maldi's head.

It looks like Malvin Maldi has been cut.
A slow jab from Maldi misses its intended target.
Maldi connects with the punch.
Herzog throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maldi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Herzog lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good work by Herzog as he checks the leg kick.
Herzog swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Herzog tries a low kick but Maldi avoids it.
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 Malvin Maldi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malvin Maldi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maldi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Herzog was well out of range. Poor timing from Maldi.
Maldi dips to his left and cracks Herzog with an uppercut!
Herzog tries a head kick but it misses.
Maldi throws a poor cross that misses
and Herzog counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Herzog moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maldi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Herzog on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Maldi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Herzog lands a lovely overhand right.
Maldi tries to land a front kick but Herzog steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Herzog throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Herzog avoids the body shot from Maldi.
Herzog looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maldi throws the kick towards the body but Herzog avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Herzog avoids the head kick by Maldi.
Herzog misses with the combination.
Herzog dips to his left and cracks Maldi with an uppercut!
Herzog lands with a straight right. Maldi didn't see that one coming.

Maldi is rocked!
Herzog misses the jab.
Herzog tries a head kick but it misses.
Herzog blocks the body kick.
Maldi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oh Maldi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Herzog connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maldi. Maldi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Herzog fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maldi is out of range.
Herzog keeps the fight on the outside.
Maldi throws the left hand but Herzog avoids the punch easily.
Maldi looks to land a combination but Herzog avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Herzog attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herzog throws a hook but Maldi blocks it.
Herzog keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maldi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Herzog circles away quickly and effectively.
Herzog just misses with a punch to the body.
Maldi seems to have got his legs back now.
A low kick from Herzog is predictable there
and Maldi counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab from Maldi misses.
The crowd cheers as Maldi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Herzog doesn't seem phased though.
Maldi throws the left hand but Herzog avoids the punch easily.
Herzog misses with a low kick as Maldi jumps back.
Herzog throws out a loose jab but Maldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herzog pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maldi cracks Herzog with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Herzog lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi tests Herzog's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Herzog lands with a cross.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maldi.
Chris Herzog is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good leg kick by Herzog there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maldi connects with a high kick.
Maldi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maldi shoots in for a takedown but Herzog shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malvin Maldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herzog displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maldi throws out the jab.
Maldi avoids the head kick by Herzog.
Herzog takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Maldi clobbers Herzog with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Herzog moves out of range of the body kick.
Maldi throws a nice head kick!
Chris Herzog seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi throws a chopping leg kick but Herzog manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maldi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herzog missing with a left hand there. Maldi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maldi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Herzog is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Herzog is pulling down on Maldi's head. It's preventing any offense from Maldi, at least for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maldi is looking to work some ground and pound but Herzog has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maldi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maldi trying to control but Herzog is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Herzog will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Malvin Maldi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maldi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Herzog finds it's way round the side to connect with Maldi's head.
Herzog finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Herzog pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Herzog misses with a series of wild punches.
A lazy left from Maldi finds it's target.
Maldi throws a hook to the side of Herzog's head but Herzog sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldi misses with an uppercut

and Herzog counters with a crisp one two that drops Maldi! Herzog thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Maldi to his feet! Maldi is in big trouble!
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!
Maldi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Maldi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Herzog momentarily.
Maldi looks to land a body kick but Herzog moved away.
Herzog looks to throw the jab but Maldi is out of range.
Maldi lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi misses with a series of wild punches.
Maldi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Herzog cracks Maldi with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Herzog has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Maldi to stand back up!
Maldi misses with a straight right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herzog thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldi looks to land a combination but Herzog avoids it well.
Herzog swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Herzog throws a shot to the body.
Maldi throws a jab when Herzog was well out of range.
Maldi throws a hook but Herzog blocks it.
Herzog uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maldi.
Maldi misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog misses with a body shot.
Herzog misses with a leg kick.
Herzog throws a sloppy head kick and Maldi moves out of range easily.
Maldi throws a jab but it's blocked by Herzog.
Maldi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maldi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maldi moves out of range of the strikes.
Maldi throws a hook but Herzog blocks it.
Herzog defending well as Maldi loads up on a big left hand.
Maldi ducks under a wild hook from Herzog.
Maldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crunch! Herzog slams his shin into Maldi's torso.
Maldi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi looks to throw the jab but Herzog is out of range.
Maldi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Herzog.
Good shot there by Herzog.

Maldi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maldi showed some decent athleticism there.

Maldi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herzog is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maldi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maldi's back!

Herzog has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Maldi wants to control his opponent's hands but Herzog gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi wants to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herzog tries to keep control of the position but Maldi is staying busy.
Maldi trying to control the position but Herzog manages to sink in the hooks.

Herzog working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maldi staying busy and making it hard for Herzog to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You can see the frustration on Maldi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Maldi trying to control the hands but Herzog won't let him.
Maldi turns into Herzog and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Herzog really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Malvin Maldi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maldi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maldi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Herzog. Herzog obviously looking to wear him down.
Maldi lands a body shot.
Herzog bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herzog checks a leg kick nicely.
Maldi throws the kick towards the body but Herzog avoids it.
Maldi dodges the punch combination from Herzog.
Herzog checks a leg kick.
Maldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Herzog moves away.
Maldi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Herzog defends it nicely.
Herzog keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi misses with a hook
and Herzog counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Herzog misses the target.
Herzog throws a low kick but Maldi avoids it.
Herzog throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Maldi tries to land a front kick but Herzog steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Herzog cracks Maldi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maldi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Herzog looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Maldi cracks the inside of Herzog's front leg.
Maldi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Decent striking displayed by Maldi there.
Herzog's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Maldi scores with a jab to the head.
Herzog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Maldi blocks the low kick.
A combination from Maldi does no damage.
Herzog swings for the body but Maldi moves out of range.
Herzog works Maldi's body with a nice hook.

Maldi darts in and clinches Herzog up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Herzog looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Herzog manages to break the clinch.
Maldi shoots in looking for a takedown but Herzog manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maldi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maldi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Maldi shoots in looking for a takedown but Herzog manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maldi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malvin Maldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herzog ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maldi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldi misses with a looping right.
Maldi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Herzog just misses with a punch to the body.
Maldi throws a jab but it's blocked by Herzog.
Herzog on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maldi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maldi moves out of range of the strikes.
Herzog throws an overhand right that lands on Maldi's shoulder, as Maldi tries to avoid the shot.
A head kick misses from Herzog.
Maldi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maldi scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Maldi blocks the leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Maldi. That snapped Herzog's head back.
Maldi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maldi fails to land with a series of punches.
Maldi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Herzog will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A swing and a miss from Maldi.
Maldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maldi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maldi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Herzog swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Malvin Maldi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Malvin Maldi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maldi slips a straight right by Herzog.
Maldi moves out of range as Herzog strikes.
Herzog on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Herzog defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maldi.
Maldi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Herzog.
Herzog has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Maldi scores with a nice head shot.
Maldi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Herzog moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maldi looks to land a right hand but Herzog moved out of range.
Herzog moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Maldi misses with a head kick.
Maldi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maldi scores with a nice strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog misses with a wild body shot.
Maldi misses with a few strikes there.
Maldi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maldi shoots for a takedown but Herzog saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maldi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Maldi misses with a hook.
Maldi thows a body shot but no joy.
Maldi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malvin Maldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herzog keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldi.
Herzog throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice sprawl there from Herzog as Maldi shoots in.
Herzog uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Herzog can pounce on him.
Herzog throws a low kick but Maldi moves out of range easily.
Maldi cracks Herzog with a good jab.
Maldi throws a hook to the side of Herzog's head but Herzog sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Herzog blocks a head kick by Maldi.
Maldi misses with an uppercut.
Maldi misses the jab.
Herzog thows a body shot but no joy.
Maldi throws a leg kick but Herzog moved away.
Maldi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Herzog back to the cage. Maldi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Maldi looks to land a combination but Herzog avoids it well.
Herzog misses with an uppercut. Maldi saw that one coming.
Herzog throws a low kick but Maldi moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Herzog throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Herzog misses.
Maldi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Herzog keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maldi throws a lazy right hand but Herzog sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maldi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maldi tries to land a front kick but Herzog steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Maldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maldi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Herzog moves away.
Maldi tries to bum rush Herzog with a series of wild strikes but Herzog uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Herzog avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi fails with a takedown attempt.
Maldi misses with a few strikes there.
Maldi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Herzog throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maldi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Herzog looks to land a combination but Maldi avoids it well.
Herzog looks to land a right hand but Maldi moved out of range.
Maldi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Maldi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Herzog.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from Herzog misses its intended target.
Maldi lands a jab-cross combination.
Maldi misses with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malvin Maldi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maldi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 48:47
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malvin Maldi!
Malvin Maldi retains his lightweight title!
A relieved looking Malvin Maldi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.