PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Heartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kru Ka Mali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mali has chosen ALL! by Descendents as his entrance music. Kru Ka Mali will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Heartman
vs
Ka Mali

178 cm
23
172 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

194 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Heartman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kru Ka Mali!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heartman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mali pinned against the cage. Mali gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mali fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mali tries to clinch up.
Heartman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Mali closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mali has a couple of punches blocked by Heartman.
Mali misses with a knee to the head.
Mali with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mali tries a knee to the head but Heartman blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mali just misses with a elbow thrown towards Heartman's brow.
Mali makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mali with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Mali breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Heartman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Heartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heartman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Heartman fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mali fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mali has closed the distance and engaged Heartman in a clinch.

Mali breaks the clinch.

Mali closes the distance and clinches.
Mali tries to land a knee to the head but Heartman blocks with his arms.
Mali misses with a knee strike.
Mali tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mali misses with a knee to the head.
Mali tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mali misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mali misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heartman.
Mali looks gassed!
Mali throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heartman blocks it with crossed arms.
Mali tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mali tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mali with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mali is pressed up against the cage. Heartman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mali down to the mat. Mali avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Heartman keeps the fight on the outside.
Mali stuffs the takedown attempt from Heartman. Heartman gets slowly back to his feet.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mali but Mali pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Heartman with that takedown attempt.
Mali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Heartman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Heartman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heartman shoots in for a double leg but Mali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mali throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mali wants to clinch up but Heartman keeps it at a distance.
Mali is looking to clinch but Heartman is avoiding it.
Heartman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mali tries to avoid it but Heartman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mali to the ground. Mali escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kru Ka Mali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heartman tries for a takedown but Mali sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mali is looking to clinch but Heartman is avoiding it.

Mali moves into range and clinches up with Heartman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mali with a knee to the head.

Heartman wants the takedown. Mali is fighting it off but Heartman persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mali's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mali keeping moving, preventing Heartman from controlling successfully.
Heartman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mali is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Heartman with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heartman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heartman stays in close to Mali's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kru Ka Mali dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Heartman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Heartman shoots for a takedown but Mali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mali stuffs the takedown attempt from Heartman. Heartman gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Heartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heartman keeps the fight on the outside.
Heartman closes the distance and clinches up with Mali, looking for a takedown. Heartman pushes Mali against the cage but Mali circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heartman shoots in looking for a takedown. Mali tries to sprawl out of it but Heartman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Heartman gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heartman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Heartman trying to control from Mali's half guard. Mali has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Heartman has gone for a leg lock! Mali slips out almost immediately though and dives into Heartman's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Heartman working for a triangle but Mali defends it easily.
Mali wants to stand and escape but instead Heartman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Heartman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mali is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mali keeping moving, preventing Heartman from controlling successfully.
Heartman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mali is keeping the position for now.
Heartman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heartman tries to free his leg and advance position but Mali is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Heartman or perhaps it was just good defense by Mali which made him look bad.

Mali gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mali with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Mali pushes Heartman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mali lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Heartman backwards.
Mali lands a right hand.
Mali lands a left hand that snaps the head of Heartman backwards.
Heartman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mali pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mali gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Heartman.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mali is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mali throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heartman blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kru Ka Mali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Mali wants to clinch up but Heartman keeps it at a distance.
Mali is looking to clinch.
Mali is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mali looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mali doesn't manage to clinch there - Heartman circles away.
Mali is looking to clinch but Heartman is avoiding it.
Heartman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heartman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mali moves into range and clinches up with Heartman.

Mali breaks the clinch.
Mali doesn't manage to clinch there - Heartman circles away.
Mali tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Heartman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kru Ka Mali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heartman swats away the attempt to clinch by Mali.
Mali wants to clinch.
Heartman keeps the fight on the outside.

Mali closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mali throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heartman blocks it with crossed arms.
Mali lands an elbow that stopped Heartman in his tracks for a moment.
Mali tries to land knees in the clinch but Heartman avoids the damage to the body.
Heartman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Heartman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mali smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Heartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mali as he jumps to the side.
Heartman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mali is looking to clinch.
Heartman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mali pinned against the cage. Mali gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Heartman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mali as he avoids it easily.
Mali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Heartman circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heartman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Heartman is tying to control. Mali wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Heartman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mali's head.

Heartman is working for an americana but Mali has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Heartman was thinking about the submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heartman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Heartman trying to control the position from guard on top but Mali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mali avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Heartman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mali manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Heartman has Mali in his guard.
Heartman wants to hit a switch here but Mali passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Heartman there!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heartman can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kru Ka Mali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mali winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kru Ka Mali!
Kru Ka Mali is the new welterweight champion!