PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunt comes to the cage accompanied by Comfortably Numb. Maldi has chosen Loituma TECHNO! as his entrance music. Malvin Maldi has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hunt
vs
Maldi

175 cm
26
170 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

170 cm
31
161 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malvin Maldi!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maldi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Maldi checks a leg kick nicely.
Hunt does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maldi misses with a low kick as Hunt jumps back.
Hunt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maldi avoids it really well and circles away.
A jab from Maldi does it's job there.
Hunt lands with a good body shot.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Maldi ducks down to avoid it.
Hunt moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Maldi.
Maldi throws a big shot that misses.
Maldi throws a head kick that misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Hunt as he connects with a hook.
Hunt looks to land a combination but Maldi avoids it well.
Hunt tries a low kick but Maldi avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi misses with a kick to the body.
Maldi moves out of range of the body kick.
Maldi swings for the body but Hunt moves out of range.
Maldi throws a nice looking combination but Hunt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hunt checks a leg kick nicely.
Maldi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Maldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hunt tries to work over Maldi's front leg with a kick but Maldi checks it.
Maldi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hunt throws out the jab.

Hunt closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hunt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hunt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maldi defending well though.
Hunt is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hunt is thwarting Maldi's attempts to control the position.
Maldi wants to improve his position but Hunt is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maldi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt tries to free his leg and advance position but Maldi is retaining full guard.
Maldi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hunt is one step ahead there.
Maldi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maldi keeping full guard, as Hunt tries to pass.
Maldi is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Malvin Maldi hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maldi checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hunt circles away quickly and effectively.
Maldi throws a sloppy head kick and Hunt moves out of range easily.
Hunt shoots for a takedown but Maldi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hunt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maldi.
Maldi misses with a looping left.
Maldi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maldi missing with a left hand there. Hunt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hunt explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hunt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merik Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunt tries for a takedown but Maldi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maldi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hunt.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Maldi ducks down to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Hunt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Some wild striking there from Maldi.
Maldi throws a sloppy head kick and Hunt moves out of range easily.
Maldi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hunt.
Maldi tries to bum rush Hunt with a series of wild strikes but Hunt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hunt bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hunt uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maldi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maldi lands with a right hand.
Hunt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A jab from Maldi misses.
Maldi lands a jab to Hunt's midsection.
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 Merik Hunt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maldi moves out of range of the leg kick from Hunt.
Hunt misses the shot to the body.
Hunt misses with an uppercut
and Maldi counters with a straight right hand.

Maldi gets the takedown into side control.
Hunt prevents Maldi from moving into mount.

Maldi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hunt sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Maldi prevents Hunt from improving his position.
Hunt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maldi is working away from the top position though.
Hunt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hunt has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hunt is adopting a defensive guard.
Maldi looking to sit in guard and control but Hunt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi controlling the position.
Hunt postures up.
Maldi controlling the position.
Hunt is pushing down on Maldi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maldi is fighting to maintain full guard but Hunt has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maldi trying to hold on to Hunt's head to control him but Hunt postures up.
Hunt thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maldi's head.
Hunt is trying to control. Maldi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hunt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hunt landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hunt wants to take a breather but Maldi is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maldi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hunt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Maldi is trying to hold Hunt in close to prevent damage but Hunt has managed to pass into half guard.
Hunt trying to control from half guard but Maldi is working away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maldi trying to control from the bottom.
Hunt lands with a punch from half guard.
Maldi is looking for a sweep. Hunt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maldi is pressing down on Hunt's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maldi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt postures up.
Maldi keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Maldi wants to hit a switch here but Hunt passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Maldi there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi is looking to improve his position but Hunt isn't that keen on the idea.
Hunt unloading with bombs!

It looks like Malvin Maldi has been cut.
Maldi sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hunt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maldi is looking to improve his position.

Hunt seems to be working for a kimura but Maldi defends the submission attempt.
Hunt trying to control from half guard but Maldi is working away.
Maldi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Maldi trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maldi looking for a guillotine here but Hunt defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maldi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunt.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maldi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maldi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Maldi has control of Hunt's left arm, preventing Hunt from doing any damage.
Hunt scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunt stopping the sweep attempt from Maldi.
Maldi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malvin Maldi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hunt looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Maldi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hunt frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hunt looking to finish with strikes here!
A nice elbow there by Hunt.
Maldi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hunt wants to sweep but no luck.
Maldi trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.
Hunt can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maldi controls the pace.
Hunt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt trying to strike off his back.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Maldi from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hunt looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunt, not yet.
Maldi throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.
Maldi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maldi postures up in Hunt's guard and throws a big left but Hunt blocks it.
Maldi wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.
Hunt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hunt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maldi misses with a looping left.
Malvin Maldi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Maldi.
Hunt dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Malvin Maldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Merik Hunt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hunt misses with a series of wild punches.
Maldi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maldi throws a nice looking combination but Hunt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hunt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hunt ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.
Maldi just misses with a punch to the body.
Maldi misses with a head kick.
Hunt ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.
Nice takedown defense from Maldi. No joy for Hunt on that attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maldi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hunt circles away quickly and effectively.
Malvin Maldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maldi throws a looping overhand right but Hunt ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Maldi swings for the body but Hunt moves out of range.
Maldi moves forwards but Hunt connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maldi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hunt.
Maldi swinging wildly here.
Hunt clobbers Maldi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maldi throws a hook but Hunt blocks it.
Hunt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hunt looks for a takedown but Maldi sprawls well.
Hunt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hunt fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maldi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Maldi misses.
Hunt takes a swing at Maldi's ribcage but misses.
Maldi throws a lazy right hand but Hunt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hunt throws a big shot that misses.
Maldi misses with an uppercut
and Hunt counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hunt dips to his left and cracks Maldi with an uppercut!
Maldi throws a lazy right hand but Hunt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maldi avoids the body shot from Hunt.
Maldi tries to bum rush Hunt with a series of wild strikes but Hunt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hunt throws a nice looking combination but Maldi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hunt moves away from the strike by Maldi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maldi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunt. Maldi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Merik Hunt.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hunt, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merik Hunt!
Our winner, Merik Hunt, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.