PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jai Malek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leeroy Russo (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.

Malek
vs
Russo

196 cm
33
260 lbs
32 - 15 - 0

225 cm
35
301 lbs
28 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jai Malek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leeroy Russo!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo takes a swing at Malek's ribcage but misses.
Malek on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Leeroy Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malek fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Russo tries to clinch up
and Malek makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Malek lands a head kick!
Malek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Russo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russo tries to clinch up
and Malek counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malek feints and then cracks Russo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Russo down.
Russo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've been informed that Russo has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Malek tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Russo looks to throw the jab but Malek is out of range.

Russo gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malek has a couple of punches blocked by Russo.
Russo tries to work over Malek's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malek takes an elbow to the temple.
Russo avoiding damage as Malek throws knees to the body.
Malek trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Russo.
Russo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Malek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Russo avoids it.
Malek misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Russo.
Russo lands a body shot.
Malek tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Malek pulls Russo into guard.

Russo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Russo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Malek is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Russo defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo stands and throws Malek's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malek is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Russo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Russo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Malek defends it well.
Russo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Malek moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Russo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Malek is looking for a triangle here but Russo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Russo advances to full mount.
Russo unloads with some shots from mount but Malek bucks and avoids them well.
Malek can't escape the position.
Russo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Malek is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Russo is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Malek is in real trouble.

Russo is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Malek knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Malek for a finish.
Malek tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Malek is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Russo wants to finish this one by submission but Malek is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Russo.

Russo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Malek is surviving well by controlling Russo's body position as best he can.

Russo has control of Malek's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Malek regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malek tries to reverse the position but Russo maintains control.
Malek regains half guard.
Malek might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Malek actively working from the bottom here.

Russo is looking for a kimura here.
Malek slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Russo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Malek has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Russo wants to control from the top but Malek keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leeroy Russo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Malek.
Malek looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
Russo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Russo checks a leg kick.
Malek looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
Russo lands a right hook to the body.
Russo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Russo thows a leg kick but Malek checks it

and Malek counters by clinching up.
Russo managing to block the knees to the body from Malek.
Russo misses with an elbow over the top.
Russo trying to stall but Malek improves his position.
Russo managing to block the knees to the body from Malek.
Russo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malek can't find room to land a body shot as Russo controls the action.
Russo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Russo misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo misses with a body punch.
Malek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Malek takes an elbow to the forehead.
Malek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malek blocks an elbow strike from Russo.
Russo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Russo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Malek scores a nice knee to the body.
Malek tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Malek jumps guard.
Russo wants to control from the top but Malek keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Malek working for a triangle but Russo defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Malek has his foot on Russo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russo works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo is pushing down on Malek's leg trying to pass to half guard. Malek is fighting to maintain full guard but Russo has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Malek sees it coming and defends easily.

Malek is defending against the submission attempts here by Russo.

Russo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Malek actively working from the bottom here.

Malek is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.

Malek actively working from the bottom here.

Malek is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo is looking for a kimura here.

Russo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Malek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russo trying to mount his opponent but Malek defends it.

Russo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Leeroy Russo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Malek looking for submissions off his back.

Malek looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo is looking for a kimura here.

Malek looking for submissions off his back.

Russo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Russo moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Malek.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Russo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Malek is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leeroy Russo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Russo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Russo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Malek throws a leg kick
and Russo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malek is looking to clinch but Russo is avoiding it.
Russo tries to close the distance and clinch but Malek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Russo lands a big head kick that sends Malek tumbling to the mat! Russo takes a step backwards and waves Malek back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Malek is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malek swats away the attempt to clinch by Russo.
Oh Malek is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Malek gets a clinch.
Malek seems to have got his legs back now.
Malek trying to land knees to the body.

Malek has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Russo uses from the top position.

Russo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malek is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Russo defends well.
Russo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Russo tries to free his leg and advance position but Malek is retaining full guard.

Russo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Malek working for a triangle but Russo defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Malek is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Russo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Malek knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Russo tries for a kimura but Malek is defending well.
Malek is looking to reverse the position.
Malek gets back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malek regains full guard. Nicely done.

Malek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Russo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Russo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malek has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Russo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Russo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jai Malek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Malek looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Russo advances position into side control!
Russo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Russo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Malek has escaped the position, nice work there.
Malek regains half guard.

Russo seems to be working for a kimura but Malek defends the submission attempt.
Leeroy Russo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malek punching from the bottom.

Malek looking for submissions off his back.
Malek is staying active underneath Russo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Russo trying to mount his opponent but Malek defends it.

Russo 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.

Malek actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Malek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leeroy Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leeroy Russo!
Leeroy Russo gave a mention to Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).