PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Hoffman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raje Malapitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hoffman
vs
Malapitan

175 cm
26
170 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

169 cm
33
162 lbs
15 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elijah Hoffman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raje Malapitan!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Hoffman.
Malapitan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoffman throws out the jab.
Hoffman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malapitan circles away quickly and effectively.
Hoffman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hoffman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoffman misses with a straight right.
Hoffman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malapitan.
Good work by Malapitan as he checks the leg kick.
Elijah Hoffman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malapitan walks into a left hand.

It looks like Raje Malapitan has been cut.
Malapitan slips a jab and a cross from Hoffman.
Hoffman misses the shot to the body.
Hoffman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Malapitan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoffman.
A swing and a miss from Hoffman.
Malapitan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hoffman.
A shot to the body from Hoffman misses
enabling Malapitan to counter with a crisp jab.
We've been told by Hoffman's head coaches at Montreal Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Hoffman misses.
Hoffman lands with a nice combination. Malapitan backs away looking to recover.
Hoffman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Malapitan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Malapitan walks into a left hand.
Malapitan looks to land a combination but Hoffman avoids it well.
Hoffman fails with a takedown attempt.
Raje Malapitan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hoffman throws a series of punches but Malapitan avoids them all with ease.
Hoffman just misses with a punch to the body.
Hoffman throws the left hand but Malapitan avoids the punch easily.
Malapitan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hoffman looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Malapitan misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Malapitan.
Malapitan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoffman.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Malapitan misses.
Malapitan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoffman misses with a combination
and Malapitan counters with a left to the body.
Hoffman throws a shot from downtown. Malapitan moves away and avoids it.
Hoffman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hoffman scores with a shot to the body.
Malapitan avoids the body shot from Hoffman.
Hoffman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hoffman throws a hook but Malapitan avoids it easily.
Hoffman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Malapitan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman avoids the head kick by Malapitan.
Hoffman misses with a wild body shot.
Malapitan misses with a double jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hoffman darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Malapitan fails to land with a series of punches.
Hoffman throws a hook to the side of Malapitan's head but Malapitan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hoffman misses the body punch
and Malapitan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Malapitan ducks under a wild hook from Hoffman.
Hoffman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Malapitan.
Malapitan moves out of range of the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoffman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Hoffman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoffman misses with a hook. Malapitan ducked under it nicely.
Hoffman misses with a hook.
Hoffman throws a lazy uppercut
letting Malapitan counter with a right hand.
Hoffman throws a combination that misses
and Malapitan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malapitan ducks under a wild hook from Hoffman.
Nice takedown defense from Malapitan. No joy for Hoffman on that attempt.
Malapitan missing with a left hand there. Hoffman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Malapitan. Hoffman does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoffman throws an off balance right hand
and Malapitan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Hoffman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hoffman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Malapitan is avoiding damage well.
Malapitan tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Hoffman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raje Malapitan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hoffman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hoffman lands with a shot to the body.
Hoffman uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hoffman thuds his right hand into Malapitan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hoffman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Malapitan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hoffman shoots in but Malapitan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hoffman.
Malapitan blocks a jab.
Hoffman scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hoffman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malapitan.
No joy there for Hoffman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hoffman connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffman tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Malapitan lands a jab to Hoffman's midsection.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoffman.
Hoffman rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Malapitan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Malapitan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Malapitan misses with a few strikes there.
Hoffman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Malapitan doesn't seem bothered though.
Hoffman shoots in but Malapitan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Hoffman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malapitan misses with a series of wild punches.
Elijah Hoffman is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoffman throws a looping overhand right but Malapitan ducks down to avoid it.
Malapitan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hoffman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman throws a poor cross that misses
and Malapitan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hoffman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malapitan but Malapitan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hoffman throws an off balance right hand
and Malapitan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hoffman looks to land a combination but Malapitan avoids it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malapitan avoids the body shot from Hoffman.
Hoffman connects with a nice looking jab.
Hoffman throws a head kick that misses.
Hoffman takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hoffman. Malapitan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Elijah Hoffman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hoffman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malapitan was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoffman.
Malapitan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoffman.
Hoffman throws a hook but Malapitan blocks it.
Malapitan blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman looks to score with a jab to the body but Malapitan is just out of range.
Hoffman throws a series of punches but Malapitan moves out of range.
Hoffman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoffman looks to land a left hand but Malapitan moved out of range nicely.
Malapitan missing with a left hand there. Hoffman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hoffman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Malapitan swivels and escapes.
Malapitan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Malapitan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hoffman on the side of the head.
Hoffman swings for the body but Malapitan moves out of range.
Hoffman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malapitan.
Malapitan lands a slapping body shot.
Malapitan misses with a series of wild punches.
Malapitan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman misses with a double jab.
Hoffman moves out of range as Malapitan strikes.
A punch combination from Hoffman misses.
Hoffman throws a body punch but Malapitan moves out of range.
Malapitan connects with the punch.
Hoffman misses with a lunging right hand
and Malapitan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malapitan tests Hoffman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoffman throws the left hand but Malapitan avoids the punch easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malapitan throws a right hand that Hoffman ducks under and follows up with a left that Hoffman also avoids with ease.
Hoffman fails with the takedown
letting Malapitan counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Elijah Hoffman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raje Malapitan's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Malapitan throws a combination. Hoffman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hoffman lands a jab to Malapitan's midsection.
Malapitan throws a body punch but Hoffman moves out of range.
Hoffman throws a sloppy body shot
and Malapitan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hoffman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Malapitan circles away quickly and effectively.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoffman.
Malapitan throws a right and a left that Hoffman avoids nicely.
Hoffman throws a shot from downtown. Malapitan moves away and avoids it.
Malapitan defending well as Hoffman loads up on a big left hand.
Hoffman throws a body punch but Malapitan moves out of range.
Malapitan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hoffman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Malapitan thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoffman drives through with a takedown into guard.
Malapitan keeping moving, preventing Hoffman from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hoffman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malapitan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hoffman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Malapitan looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Malapitan looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Malapitan!
Malapitan working the ground and pound from side control.
Malapitan trying to control the position but Hoffman is working away.
Malapitan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Malapitan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoffman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Malapitan working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep.
Malapitan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hoffman keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Malapitan is trying to get an arm triangle but Hoffman is defending well.
Hoffman manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hoffman is staying active underneath Malapitan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hoffman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hoffman has his hands clasped together around Malapitan's back. He's all about the action.
Malapitan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hoffman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malapitan prevents Hoffman from improving his position.
Malapitan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hoffman is looking to improve his position.

Malapitan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hoffman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malapitan.
Malapitan trying to pass the guard but Hoffman defending well.

Malapitan wants to work for an arm triangle but Hoffman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Malapitan is thwarting Hoffman's attempts to control the position.

Malapitan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hoffman tries to get to full guard but Malapitan has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malapitan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Malapitan wants to take a breather but Hoffman is having none of it.
Malapitan prevents Hoffman from improving his position.
Malapitan working over Hoffman with some ground and pound. Hoffman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Malapitan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hoffman is looking for a sweep. Malapitan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hoffman is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Malapitan seems to be looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoffman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Malapitan is working away from the top position though.
Raje Malapitan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elijah Hoffman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Malapitan 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Raje Malapitan.
I think Hoffman 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Hoffman!