PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waleed Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichiro Kosugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Malik might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Can't Be Touched. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Malik
vs
Kosugi

182 cm
30
205 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

188 cm
23
210 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waleed Malik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ichiro Kosugi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Kosugi fails with the takedown.
Malik moves to clinch but Kosugi breaks away
and Kosugi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Malik gets a clinch.
Malik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Kosugi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kosugi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kosugi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Malik swivels and escapes.
Malik tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kosugi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Malik gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Malik dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kosugi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kosugi is trying to break the clinch but Malik is controlling him.
Kosugi misses with some punches.
Kosugi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Kosugi to work.
Kosugi struggles to land a body shot inside as Malik controls his hands.
Kosugi trying to stall but Malik improves his position.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malik connects with a high kick.

It looks like Ichiro Kosugi has been cut.

Malik moves into the clinch.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Kosugi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malik but Malik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Waleed Malik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichiro Kosugi.
Malik keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Malik avoids the body shot from Kosugi.

Malik has Kosugi up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Kosugi lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Kosugi on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Kosugi.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kosugi.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kosugi avoids the head kick by Malik.
Kosugi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Malik takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Malik closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kosugi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malik doesn't manage to clinch there - Kosugi circles away.
Kosugi lands with a nice body punch.
Malik walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kosugi digs a good hook to Malik's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Malik closes the distance but Kosugi moves to the side

so Kosugi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kosugi stops Malik from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kosugi pushing down on Malik's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kosugi wants to free his trapped foot but Malik is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kosugi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kosugi stops Malik from getting back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kosugi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Malik is defending against the submission attempts here by Kosugi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Malik on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Malik tries to get out of the position.
Kosugi wants to free his trapped foot but Malik is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kosugi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kosugi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichiro Kosugi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ichiro Kosugi's cut.
That's time! Malik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Malik moves in looking to clinch but Kosugi pushes him off.
Malik stuffs the takedown attempt from Kosugi. Kosugi gets slowly back to his feet.

Malik moves into the clinch.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kosugi has him pressed against the cage.
Kosugi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kosugi breaks from the clinch.
Malik moves to clinch but Kosugi breaks away

and Kosugi counters with a single leg into guard. Malik didn't expect that.
Kosugi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malik keeping moving, preventing Kosugi from controlling successfully.
Kosugi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Malik has his feet on Kosugi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kosugi.
Waleed Malik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik tries to clinch up
and Kosugi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malik throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kosugi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malik moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Kosugi instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Malik's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kosugi fails to land.
Kosugi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Malik blocks a body shot from Kosugi.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ichiro Kosugi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kosugi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kosugi keeps the fight on the outside.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malik, as that shot connected.
No luck for Kosugi with that takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kosugi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malik's efforts to push away.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik stuffs the takedown.
Waleed Malik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichiro Kosugi.
Kosugi slips under a jab.
Kosugi looks to land a combination but Malik avoids it well.
Malik misses with a head kick.
Kosugi fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi misses with a body shot.
Kosugi circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Kosugi to counter with a crisp jab.
Malik throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kosugi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Malik moves to clinch but Kosugi breaks away
and Kosugi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kosugi blocks a jab.
Malik lands a nice shot that snaps Kosugi's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malik throws a head kick but Kosugi moves out of range.
Malik tries to clinch but Kosugi moves away

and Kosugi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Malik's guard.
Kosugi throws an elbow that misses. Malik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kosugi's guard. Nice move by Malik!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik is looking to stand up but Kosugi won't let him.
Kosugi is trying to keep Malik in close.
Malik has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kosugi is proving hard to escape from.
Malik trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kosugi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Malik!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichiro Kosugi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ichiro Kosugi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kosugi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malik scores with a leg kick.
Waleed Malik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kosugi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Malik defends it nicely.
Nice jab there from Kosugi.
Kosugi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malik tries to clinch up
and Kosugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kosugi counters with a one-two to the body.
Malik tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kosugi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Malik tries to clinch but Kosugi moves away
and Kosugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malik closes the distance but Kosugi moves to the side
enabling Kosugi to counter with a crisp jab.
Malik closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Kosugi counter with a right hand.
Kosugi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Waleed Malik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichiro Kosugi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik wants to clinch.
Kosugi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malik wants to clinch
and Kosugi counters with a nice uppercut.

Malik connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Kosugi to the floor! Malik dives in looking for the finish!
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!
Kosugi gets back to full guard.
Malik tries to stand but Kosugi is controlling from the bottom.
Waleed Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kosugi kicks Malik off and gets to his feet.
Malik is looking to clinch.
Malik wants to clinch but Kosugi slips to the side
letting Kosugi counter with a right hand.
Malik throws a front kick that sends Kosugi stumbling back into the cage.

Malik has closed the distance and engaged Kosugi in a clinch.
Kosugi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kosugi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Malik takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Malik fails in his attempt to clinch.

Malik drives through and clinches with Kosugi against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kosugi lands a shoulder strike.
Kosugi struggles to land a body shot inside as Malik controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik keeps control of Kosugi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Malik takes a shot to the head.
Kosugi works on Malik's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kosugi lands with a short shot to the head.
Kosugi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Malik tries to clinch but Kosugi moves away
and Kosugi counters with a nice uppercut.
Malik throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kosugi is defended easily by Malik.
Kosugi jabs at Malik's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Malik wants to clinch but Kosugi slips to the side
and Kosugi counters with a straight right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kosugi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

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 Waleed Malik.
I think Kosugi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichiro Kosugi!
Ichiro Kosugi made sure to mention his sponsor, Reaper Combatwear in his post fight interview.