PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ian Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malvin Maldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maldi's choice of entrance music: Loituma TECHNO!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Phillips
vs
Maldi

180 cm
34
156 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

170 cm
36
161 lbs
43 - 23 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER
Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ian Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 23 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Malvin Maldi!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips fails to land with a series of punches.

Phillips has closed the distance and engaged Maldi in a clinch.
Phillips tries to score a body lock takedown but Maldi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Maldi working aggressively here.
We've been hearing reports that Phillips has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Maldi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Phillips blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Maldi as the two fighters clinch.
Phillips tries for a takedown but Maldi manages to get underhooks.
A hook to the body from Phillips.
Maldi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Phillips tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Maldi gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Maldi prevents Phillips from improving his position.
Maldi moves nicely into side control.
Phillips can't do much from the bottom here.
Phillips is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldi controlling from side mount.
Phillips is trying to get back to half guard.
Phillips avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maldi.
A lull in the action here.
Phillips wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maldi throws a strike aimed at the side of Phillips's head but Phillips avoids it well.
Maldi is trying to ground and pound but Phillips uses the momentary lack of control by Maldi to regain half guard.

Maldi moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Phillips.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maldi wants to control but Phillips is keeping him busy.
Maldi throws an elbow but Phillips slips to the side and avoids it well.
Maldi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maldi scoring with punches and elbows.
Maldi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maldi is working Phillips over with some ground and pound from side control.
Maldi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Phillips is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Maldi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Phillips to see if he's OK.
Phillips takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Phillips regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Maldi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Maldi prevents Phillips from improving his position.
Phillips is working hard here to advance position.

Maldi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Phillips doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maldi.
The fighters are battling for position here. Phillips manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldi trying to control but Phillips is working from the bottom.
Phillips wants to hit a switch here but Maldi passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Phillips there!
Phillips sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Phillips trying to control here.
Maldi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Phillips does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Phillips is pressing down on Maldi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Phillips looking for a guillotine here but Maldi defends easily.
Phillips looking for a sweep. Not yet Phillips, not yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phillips manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Phillips tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maldi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Phillips somewhat.
Maldi shoots for a double leg takedown but Phillips sprawls well. He's pushed Maldi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Phillips throws a right hand that misses
letting Maldi counter with a right hand.
Phillips lands with a right hand.
Maldi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Phillips fails with the takedown.
Maldi scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries to clinch there but Maldi circles away.
Phillips connects with an inside leg kick.
Maldi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phillips.
Maldi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Phillips misses with a straight right.
Phillips misses with an uppercut. Maldi saw that one coming.
Nice defenses there by Maldi.
Ian Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maldi defends well and Phillips ends up having to push Maldi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maldi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Maldi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Phillips tries to score a body lock takedown but Maldi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Maldi lands with a right to the head.
Phillips lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maldi lands an uppercut.
Phillips wants a takedown but no success here.
Phillips tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldi lands with a light punch inside.
Phillips tries to score a body lock takedown but Maldi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Maldi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Maldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Phillips is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maldi's guard.
Phillips stopping the sweep attempt from Maldi.

Maldi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maldi managing to control the position.
Maldi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Phillips's guard.
Maldi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldi passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Maldi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Phillips sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Phillips gets back to full guard.
Maldi won't allow Phillips to sweep him here.
Phillips trying to keep a closed guard but Maldi is proving a slippery customer.
Phillips wants to sweep but no luck.
Maldi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maldi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Phillips is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maldi's head.
Maldi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Phillips.
Maldi keeping control of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maldi tries to roll over but Phillips keeps him under control.
Maldi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Phillips is working away from the top position though.
Maldi has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maldi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Maldi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Phillips!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malvin Maldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Maldi.
Horrible takedown by Phillips or perhaps it was just good defense by Maldi which made him look bad.
Maldi looks to score with a jab to the body but Phillips is just out of range.
Phillips pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maldi drops his hands momentarily and Phillips takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Phillips attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Phillips tests Maldi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Phillips tries to clinch but Maldi is having none of it.
A punch combination from Maldi misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Phillips.
Maldi avoids the body shot from Phillips.
Maldi misses with an uppercut.
Phillips walks into a straight right hand from Maldi.
Maldi throws a jab when Phillips was well out of range.
Phillips throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Maldi to counter with a crisp jab.
Jab from Maldi.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maldi but Maldi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maldi misses with a wild body shot.
Maldi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Maldi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Maldi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Phillips wants to slow Maldi down by chopping away at his legs.
Maldi avoids the body shot from Phillips.
Phillips takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Phillips shoots in looking for a takedown. Maldi tries to sprawl out of it but Phillips keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maldi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phillips gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Phillips misses with a hook.
Phillips ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maldi moves away.
Ian Phillips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips throws an overhand right that lands on Maldi's shoulder, as Maldi tries to avoid the shot.
Phillips misses with a lunging right hand
and Maldi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Phillips changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Phillips jabs Maldi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Phillips buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maldi.
Maldi slips under a jab from Phillips.
Maldi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phillips connects with a jab.
A big right from Phillips misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Phillips.
Nice defenses there by Maldi.
Phillips displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maldi throws out the jab.
Maldi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Malvin Maldi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maldi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maldi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phillips.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phillips uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maldi has time to react.
Phillips takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Phillips lands a leg kick that knocks Maldi off balance momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phillips darts in looking for a takedown but Maldi gets double underhooks and turns Phillips into the cage.
A body shot lands from Maldi.
Maldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Phillips controls his hands.

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 Ian Phillips.
I think Maldi 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malvin Maldi!
During a confident post fight interview, Malvin Maldi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.