PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cajun Xander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Malham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malham has chosen Poets of the Fall - War as his entrance music. Cajun Xander has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Xander
vs
Malham

170 cm
29
196 lbs
25 - 7 - 1

195 cm
30
188 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brute

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Cajun Xander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Malham!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malham lands a nice looking body kick.
John Malham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malham turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Malham tried to score with a low kick but Xander checks it.
Malham misses with the combination.
Malham throws a leg kick but Xander sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A leg kick checked by Xander.
Malham throws a leg kick
and Xander counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Malham thinking.
Xander defending well as Malham loads up on a big left hand.
Xander gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Xander works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Malham checks a low kick from Xander.
Malham scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Xander attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Xander pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Malham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xander throws a sloppy head kick and Malham moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malham will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Malham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malham scores with a crisp jab that stopped Xander in his tracks.
Crunch! Malham slams his shin into Xander's torso.
Xander walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Malham swings for the body but Xander moves out of range.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A good leg kick by Malham.
Xander moves out of range of the leg kick from Malham.
Xander sizes up Malham with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A big left from Malham misses.

Xander has closed the distance and engaged Malham in a clinch.
Xander cracks Malham with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xander lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malham manages to pull guard.
Xander won't allow Malham to sweep him here.

Xander decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Xander moves in looking to clinch but Malham pushes him off.
Jab, jab by Malham - just one landing.
Good work by Malham as he checks the leg kick.
Malham on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Xander. Xander obviously looking to wear him down.
Malham pivots, looking for a leg kick but Xander is out of range and Malham settles back down.

Xander gets caught flat footed, as Malham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Malham trying to control the position from guard on top but Xander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xander is trying to control the position but Malham postures up.
Malham looking to sit in guard and control but Xander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xander trying to control the position from guard on top but Malham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malham manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Xander wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Malham looking to finish Xander with some ground and pound. This is bad for Xander!
Xander is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malham wants to control the pace but Xander is squirming around nicely.
Malham throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Malham throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Malham scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Xander?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malham tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Xander regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Malham stalling away here and it's allowed Xander to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Malham dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Malham fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
John Malham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Malham looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Xander cracks Malham with a right hand to the side of the head.
Xander moves out of range of the strikes.
Xander avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Xander displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malham.
Xander looks to throw a body kick
letting Malham counter with a right hand.
The fighters circling - Malham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Xander tries to avoid it but Malham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Xander to the ground. Xander escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Malham throws the kick towards the body but Xander avoids it.
Malham tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Malham takes a swing at Xander's ribcage but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malham looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Xander scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Xander walks forward, straight into a front kick from Malham.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Xander instigates a clinch.
Malham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malham misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Xander.
A left hand lands to the body for Xander.
Xander working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Xander misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Xander.

Malham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cajun Xander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Malham misses with a head kick.
Malham finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malham. Xander does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xander takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Malham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Malham throws a lazy head kick
and Xander counters with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xander misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xander ducks under a wild hook from Malham.

Xander has closed the distance and engaged Malham in a clinch.
Xander misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Xander.
Xander misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Xander.
Malham tries to land a knee to the head but Xander blocks with his arms.
Xander fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Xander working aggressively here.
Malham using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Xander has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Malham tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Xander just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cajun Xander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Malham.
A nice left hand lands by Malham.
Xander tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malham's elbow.
Malham is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Xander is defending well.
Malham's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Xander managing to block the knees to the body from Malham.
Malham tries to break free but Xander pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xander lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Malham working aggressively here.
Xander tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Xander as the two fighters clinch.

Malham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xander tries to clinch but Malham moves out of range.
Malham lands with a hook. Xander tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Xander moves in looking to clinch but Malham pushes him off.
Xander takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A head kick misses from Malham.
Malham throws a leg kick but Xander sees it coming and moves out of range.
Xander has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Malham finds it's way round the side to connect with Xander's head.
Malham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malham connects with a solid leg kick.
Xander scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Xander avoids the head kick by Malham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malham lands a nice shot that snaps Xander's head back.
Malham swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xander tries to clinch up.
Malham is looking to chop away at Xander's legs.
Xander tries to clinch up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malham. Xander does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malham has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Malham with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Xander throws a low kick, looking for Malham's leg but Malham calmly moves out of range.
Xander avoids the body shot from Malham.
Malham throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Xander.
Xander wants to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xander uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Malham.
Xander misses with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cajun Xander dominated that second round.
That's time! Xander's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Malham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Malham moves out of range of the leg kick from Xander.
No joy there for Malham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Xander takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Malham is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Xander swinging wildly here.
Xander lands a jab to Malham's midsection.
Xander takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Malham throws an overhand right that lands on Xander's shoulder, as Xander tries to avoid the shot.
Malham tries to work over Xander's front leg with a kick but Xander checks it.
Xander throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Malham sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malham takes a swing at Xander's ribcage but misses.
Malham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xander throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Xander misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malham is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Xander takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Malham lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Malham connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Malham tries to land a leg kick but Xander saw it coming and moves away.
Malham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malham throws a chopping leg kick but Xander manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Malham cracks Xander with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Xander tries to clinch up but Malham circles away and keeps his distance.
Xander tries to clinch but Malham is having none of it.
Malham scores with a nice right hand.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Malham checks a leg kick.
Xander takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malham thows a leg kick but Xander checks it
and Xander counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Xander blocks a head kick by Malham.
Malham throws a quick inside leg kick.
Xander scores with a spinning back kick!
Malham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malham throws a sloppy head kick and Xander moves out of range easily.
Xander is looking to clinch but Malham is avoiding it.
Malham walks forward, straight into a front kick from Xander.
Xander throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Malham thows a body shot but no joy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Xander, right into the meat.
Xander looks to land a left hand but Malham moved out of range nicely.
Xander keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malham throws a solid leg kick but Xander takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Malham.
Malham with a jab.
Malham looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xander scores with a jab to the body.
Xander tries to close the distance and clinch up but Malham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Xander throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Xander tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malham was well out of range. Poor timing from Xander.
Xander walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Malham misses with a low kick as Xander jumps back.

Xander gets a clinch.
Xander lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Malham backwards.
Xander lands a right hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Xander.
Malham prevents a body shot from Xander.
Xander misses with a punch to the body.
Cajun Xander has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Malham lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malham misses with a knee to the head.
Malham with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xander misses with a body punch.
Malham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malham tries to throw a body punch but Xander avoids it by throwing Malham back against the cage.

Malham successfully pulls guard.
Xander might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Xander looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Xander preventing the sweep.
Xander throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Malham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Malham keeping moving, preventing Xander from controlling successfully.

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 Cajun Xander.
I think Xander 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cajun Xander!