PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Trager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Trager's choice of entrance music: Bang Bang. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malaki
vs
Trager

182 cm
36
143 lbs
21 - 12 - 3

170 cm
34
155 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 21 - 12 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yancy Malaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Trager!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trager has his takedown stuffed
and Malaki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Alex Trager seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Trager closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Malaki quickly recovers to half guard.
Malaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Trager.
Trager throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malaki tries to get to full guard but Trager has control of the leg.
Trager throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.
Malaki trying to control but Trager postures up.
Trager missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Trager.
Malaki tries to get to full guard but Trager has control of the leg.
Trager sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malaki defending well though.
Malaki wants to control but Trager is keeping busy.
Malaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Trager is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Malaki sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki tries to get to full guard but Trager has control of the leg.
Trager not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Trager missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Malaki is trying to control but can't.

Trager 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.
Malaki trying to hold on to Trager's head to control him but Trager postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Trager sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malaki defending well though.
Trager not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Trager missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Trager thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malaki's head.

Trager is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Malaki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Trager.
Malaki works his way to full guard. Good work.

Trager postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Malaki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Trager, into his guard.

Malaki works over Trager with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trager is trying to keep Malaki in close.

Trager looking for a guillotine here but Malaki defends easily.
Trager looking for a sweep. Not yet Trager, not yet.
Malaki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Trager is looking for a triangle but Malaki pushes his legs off easily.
Trager trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Malaki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Malaki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Trager is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Malaki is controlling him.
Trager keeping moving, preventing Malaki from controlling successfully.
Trager tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Trager is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Malaki defends well.

Trager has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Trager dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Trager has his takedown stuffed
and Malaki counters with a series of strikes. Trager will be more careful next time no doubt.

Trager gets a clinch.
Malaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malaki lands a right hand.
Malaki stops a takedown attempt from Trager.
Malaki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Trager breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Trager bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Malaki keeps Trager under control for a moment.
Trager looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Malaki is avoiding damage well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malaki is looking to regain half guard here but Trager keeps moving and retains side control.
Trager is putting a hurting on Malaki here, landing some big shots from side control.
Malaki tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Trager wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Trager thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki is looking to reverse the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Trager.

Trager is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Malaki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Trager has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Malaki can't do much from the bottom here.
Check out the look on Trager's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Trager looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Malaki is avoiding damage well.
Trager tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
An elbow from Trager crashes against the mat.
Malaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Trager is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malaki pulls his head out easily.
Malaki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Trager is trying to get back to full guard.
Malaki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Trager actively working from the bottom here.

Trager looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Trager regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trager had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Malaki defends it easily.
Malaki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Trager is trying to control the position but Malaki postures up.

Malaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Trager has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Malaki has managed to get both his arms back between Trager's legs - danger averted.

Trager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Trager looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malaki is one step ahead there.

Trager working for a triangle but Malaki defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Trager is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Malaki content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Trager on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Trager doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Trager shoots in but no luck this time.
Malaki was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Trager.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Trager is defended easily by Malaki.
Malaki half committed to a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Trager will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Trager closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Malaki to the mat! Malaki manages to get full guard.
Malaki working a defensive guard here.
Trager with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alex Trager has got the better of the ground game so far.
Malaki is trying to keep Trager in close.
Malaki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Malaki trying to keep a closed guard but Trager is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trager with a flurry of punches that miss.
Malaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Malaki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Trager tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki wants to control from the top but Trager keeps moving.
Malaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Trager wants to get back to his feet but Malaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Trager wants to sweep here but Malaki controlling him for the moment.

Trager working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Malaki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Malaki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Trager throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Trager is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Trager is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Malaki is aware though and is defending well.

Trager has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Trager wants to sweep here but Malaki controlling him for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trager with a lazy takedown attempt
and Malaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Trager takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Trager shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Malaki but Malaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Malaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Trager, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yancy Malaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Trager.
Trager takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Trager closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malaki circles away.
Malaki cracks Trager with a good jab.
Malaki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Trager tries for a takedown but Malaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Malaki tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Malaki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Trager scores with a takedown into Malaki's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malaki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Malaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Malaki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Trager working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malaki.
Alex Trager is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Trager had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Malaki defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Trager is on top in guard.

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 Yancy Malaki.
I think Trager 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Trager!
Alex Trager seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.