PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waleed Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ford's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, For What It's Worth. Malik is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Can't Be Touched. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Waleed Malik was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ford
vs
Malik

180 cm
33
210 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

182 cm
31
205 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waleed Malik!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Malik.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ford tries to clinch but Malik moves out of range.
Malik closes the distance but Ford moves to the side
and Ford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ford tries to clinch up but Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Malik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ford.
Malik tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Ford or perhaps it was just good defense by Malik which made him look bad.
Ford tries to clinch there but Malik circles away.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malik as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ford wants to clinch up but Malik keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik swats away the attempt to clinch by Ford.
Ford wants to clinch up but Malik keeps it at a distance.
Ford tries to clinch there but Malik circles away.
Ford tries to clinch there but Malik circles away.
Ford lands a nice hook to Malik's body. Malik takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ford doesn't manage to clinch there - Malik circles away.

Malik gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ford prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Ford tries for a takedown. No joy.
Malik dodges an elbow strike from Ford.
Malik throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ford blocks it with crossed arms.
Malik misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Malik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik keeps the fight on the outside.
Ford throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Malik looks winded!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ford tries to clinch up but Malik circles away and keeps his distance.
Ford wants to clinch.
Ford tries to close the distance and clinch but Malik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ford pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Malik is looking to clinch.

Ford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Ford jumps guard but Malik stands there with Ford around his waist. Ford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Ford.
Malik is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ford is defending well for now.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Ford getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malik takes the fight into the clinch.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ford has closed the distance and engaged Malik in a clinch.
Ford throws an elbow that misses.
Malik throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ford wants a takedown but no success here.

Ford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ford shoots in and bounces Malik off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Malik keeping moving, preventing Ford from controlling successfully.
Ford chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malik wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ford manages to pass to side control.
Malik is staying active underneath Ford, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malik avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ford.
Ford wants to free his trapped foot but Malik is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ford passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Malik!
A nice elbow there by Ford.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ford trying to control but Malik is having none of it.

Malik is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Ford locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Malik is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eric Ford!
An out of breath Eric Ford thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.