PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dragos Podgaetschii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Yancy Malaki enters the cage!

Podgaetschii
vs
Malaki

225 cm
27
142 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
28
143 lbs
7 - 2 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dragos Podgaetschii!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yancy Malaki!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malaki throws a looping overhand right but Podgaetschii ducks down to avoid it.
Malaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Malaki works Podgaetschii's body with a nice hook.
No joy there for Malaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Podgaetschii has a takedown stuffed.
Podgaetschii tries to clinch but Malaki is having none of it.
Podgaetschii tries to clinch but Malaki moves away
and Malaki counters with a straight right hand.

Podgaetschii pushes Malaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Malaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Podgaetschii is keeping busy.
Podgaetschii fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Podgaetschii is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragos Podgaetschii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malaki working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Malaki fails to land.
Malaki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Malaki tries to throw a body punch but Podgaetschii avoids it by throwing Malaki back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki taking a breather.
Malaki trying to stall but Podgaetschii improves his position.
Malaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Podgaetschii blocks an uppercut.
Podgaetschii tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Malaki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Malaki tries to circle away but Podgaetschii has him pinned against the cage.
Malaki is trying to break free.
Malaki taking a breather.
Malaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Podgaetschii has him pressed against the cage.
Podgaetschii really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Podgaetschii is trying to drag Malaki to the mat but Malaki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Malaki throws a punch but it's blocked by Podgaetschii.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki trying to stall but Podgaetschii improves his position.
Malaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Podgaetschii is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Malaki is defending well.
Malaki is trying to force a seperation but Podgaetschii has the dominant position.
Podgaetschii wants to take the fight to the mat but Malaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Podgaetschii decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Malaki stands and steps away. Podgaetschii gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Podgaetschii tries to clinch but Malaki is having none of it.
Malaki lands a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Podgaetschii shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Malaki sprawls well. Malaki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Podgaetschii gets slowly back to his feet.
Podgaetschii tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Malaki counters with a left to the body.
Malaki misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaki throws a combination. Podgaetschii tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Podgaetschii is rocked!

It looks like Dragos Podgaetschii has been cut.

Podgaetschii closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Podgaetschii is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Podgaetschii won't allow it.
Podgaetschii seems to have got his legs back now.
Podgaetschii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Malaki wants to break free but Podgaetschii has control.
Malaki digs a right hand underneath Podgaetschii's ribcage. Podgaetschii let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Podgaetschii takes a shot to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Malaki.
Podgaetschii tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Malaki scores with a shoulder strike.
Malaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malaki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malaki lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malaki gets underhooks to prevent Podgaetschii's takedown attempt.
Malaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Podgaetschii lands a hook to the side of the head.
Podgaetschii wants a takedown.

Malaki breaks the clinch.
Podgaetschii takes one on the button.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Podgaetschii.
Malaki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Podgaetschii avoids the body shot from Malaki.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Podgaetschii drives through and clinches with Malaki against the cage.
Malaki goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Malaki misses with a punch to the body.
Malaki throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Malaki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dragos Podgaetschii's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malaki lands a jab to the nose.
Malaki misses with a hook.
Podgaetschii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Malaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dragos Podgaetschii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Podgaetschii is just out of range.

Podgaetschii rushes Malaki and presses him up against the cage.
Malaki gets underhooks to prevent Podgaetschii's takedown attempt.
Malaki has Podgaetschii pressed against the cage.
Malaki is trying to push Podgaetschii away but Podgaetschii has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Malaki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Podgaetschii tries to throw a body punch but Malaki avoids it by throwing Podgaetschii back against the cage.

Podgaetschii has hold of one of Malaki's legs. Malaki is fighting the takedown attempt but Podgaetschii gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Podgaetschii looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Podgaetschii slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podgaetschii trying to control the position from guard on top but Malaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malaki is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Malaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Podgaetschii. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Podgaetschii is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Dragos Podgaetschii has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Podgaetschii shoots for a double leg takedown but Malaki sprawls well. He's pushed Podgaetschii's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Podgaetschii clinches up with Malaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Podgaetschii blocking some punches.
Malaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Podgaetschii has him pressed against the cage.

Malaki breaks the clinch.
Donk. Malaki catches Podgaetschii right on the button with a cross.
Malaki misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podgaetschii takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Malaki lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Podgaetschii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Podgaetschii tries to close the distance and clinch but Malaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malaki throws out a powerful jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malaki looks to land a right hand but Podgaetschii moved out of range.
Podgaetschii tries to close the distance and clinch but Malaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malaki slips a jab and a cross from Podgaetschii.
Podgaetschii lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malaki circles away quickly and effectively.
Malaki throws a hook but Podgaetschii avoids it easily.
Malaki connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Podgaetschii momentarily.
Malaki connects with a nice looking jab.
Podgaetschii wants to clinch.
Malaki misses with a double jab.
Malaki keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Malaki does no damage.
Nice uppercut there from Malaki.
Malaki looks to throw the jab but Podgaetschii is out of range.
Malaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Malaki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Podgaetschii looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yancy Malaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Malaki throws a hook but Podgaetschii avoids it easily.
Malaki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Malaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Podgaetschii fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dragos Podgaetschii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malaki lands with a hook. Podgaetschii tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Podgaetschii is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yancy Malaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Podgaetschii wants to clinch up but Malaki keeps it at a distance.
Malaki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malaki wants it to stay on the feet.
Malaki throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Podgaetschii's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Malaki dives in looking to finish as Podgaetschii flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Malaki's strikes! Malaki is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Podgaetschii's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Podgaetschii was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yancy Malaki!
Yancy Malaki is the new featherweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Yancy Malaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.