PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esko Maki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maki
vs
Malone

160 cm
24
202 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Esko Maki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Malone!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maki shoots in but Malone avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Malone moves into the clinch.
Malone drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Malone lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Maki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Malone pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Malone struggles to land a body shot inside as Maki controls his hands.
Malone is looking to take this one to the mat.
Maki fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Maki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone tries a body shot but Maki blocks it.
Maki tries to circle away but Malone has him pinned against the cage.
Malone tries for a takedown but Maki manages to get underhooks.
Malone tries to work over Maki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The referee calls for Malone to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malone lands with an overhand left.

Maki has managed to clinch.

Maki manages to break the clinch.
Malone lands a jab to the nose.
Malone fails in his attempt to clinch.

Maki clinches up against the cage.
Malone is looking to take this one to the mat.
Maki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Malone smiles and moves away.

Maki moves into the clinch.

Malone lands a takedown into guard.
Malone engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maki could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Malone wants to control from the top but Maki keeps moving.
Malone is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Maki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone drops back looking for a leg! Maki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maki manages to kick Malone off! Malone jumps back into Maki's guard.
Maki looking to control.
Malone looking to sit in guard and control but Maki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maki stands and throws Malone's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Malone can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki trying to control the position but Malone is working away.
Malone managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Maki.
Malone on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Maki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Malone down.

Maki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Malone is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Malone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maki is looking to take a break and control but Malone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Esko Maki will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Maki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Malone on his heels. He'll look to pass Malone's guard now, I'm sure.
Maki looking to sit in guard and control but Malone gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki is working hard here to advance position.
Malone looking to pass the guard.
Maki keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Maki in particular looking to stall.
Maki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maki is trying to control the action in half guard but Malone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Malone is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Maki controlling the action here.
Maki is keen to just control but Malone is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone stuffs the takedown attempt from Maki. Maki gets slowly back to his feet.
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maki is defended easily by Malone.
Malone circles away from the clinch attempt.
George Malone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malone shoots in looking for a takedown but Maki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Malone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maki fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Maki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Maki as Malone shoots in.
Malone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maki misses with a takedown attempt - Malone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malone rushes Maki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Malone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malone misses with the head strike.

Maki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Maki with that takedown attempt.
Malone wants to clinch up but Maki keeps it at a distance.

Malone darts in and clinches Maki up against the cage.
Maki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Malone is fighting off a takedown attempt but Maki is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Malone to the mat. Malone regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maki trying to control the position from guard on top but Malone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Malone has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esko Maki dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maki enables Malone to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Maki keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Maki wants to pass the guard but Malone is keeping the position.
Esko Maki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Malone throws his legs up looking for a submission but Maki uses it to pass to side control.
Maki trying to control the position but Malone is working away.

Maki is trying to get an arm triangle but Malone is defending well.
Maki is looking to take a break and control but Malone is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Malone, who protects the arm well.
Maki wants to take a breather but Malone manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Maki.
Maki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Maki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maki won't allow Malone to sweep him here.
Malone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malone's guard.
Maki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
George Malone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Maki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Malone tries to get to full guard but Maki has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esko Maki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esko Maki!