PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Trager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trager kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bang Bang. 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.

Trager
vs
Malaki

170 cm
34
155 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

182 cm
36
143 lbs
21 - 13 - 3

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Trager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yancy Malaki!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trager fails with a takedown attempt.
Trager chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Malaki can pounce on him.
Malaki throws a low kick but Trager avoids it.
Malaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Malaki stuffs the takedown attempt from Trager. Trager gets slowly back to his feet.
Malaki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Trager is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Trager shoots for a double leg takedown but Malaki sprawls well. He's pushed Trager's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Trager. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malaki misses the body punch
and Trager counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trager gets cracked there but stands up to it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Malaki enables Trager to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Malaki manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Malaki looking to control.
Trager won't allow Malaki to sweep him here.
Malaki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malaki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Trager looking for submissions off his back.
Malaki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Trager actively working from the bottom here.
Trager tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Malaki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Trager might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Trager looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Trager trying to control but Malaki postures up.
Trager is staying active underneath Malaki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Trager wants to improve his position but Malaki is controlling well.
Malaki controlling the action here.
Trager is refusing to be controlled, as Malaki sits in half guard.
Trager is looking to control Malaki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Trager avoid being mounted?
Trager tries to get to full guard but Malaki has control of the leg.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Trager looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Malaki pushes past his half guard into mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Trager is looking to escape.
Malaki controlling his opponent.
Trager can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trager is working hard here to advance position.
Trager sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Still in half guard, Malaki seems content to control.

Trager looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Trager actively working from the bottom here.
Malaki trying to control the action but Trager is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malaki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Malaki is keen to just control but Trager is a slippery customer.
Trager tries to get to full guard but Malaki has control of the leg.
Malaki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Trager looks like he's trying to stand up.
Trager is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malaki wants to take a breather but Trager is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Malaki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Trager.
Trager tries to clinch but Malaki is having none of it.
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 connects with a body shot that sends Trager's belly button to the back.
Malaki stuffs the takedown attempt from Trager. Trager gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Trager. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Trager.
Malaki is trying to control Trager's posture but Trager avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki gets back to half guard.
Trager throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trager drops an elbow to the side of Malaki's head.
Trager not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Trager thows a huge punch but Malaki dodges it nicely.
Malaki wants to get back to full guard.
Trager thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Malaki is concentrating on defense, preventing Trager from advancing position.
Alex Trager overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Trager is trying to work for a kimura but Malaki is defending well.
Malaki is trying to control but can't.
Trager thows a huge punch but Malaki dodges it nicely.
Malaki trying to hold on to Trager's head to control him but Trager postures up.
Trager not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Trager throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.
Malaki wants to control but Trager is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Malaki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Trager thows a huge punch but Malaki dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki tries to get to full guard but Trager has control of the leg.
Malaki is looking to control Trager's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Malaki avoid being mounted?
Trager thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malaki's head.
Malaki wants to improve his position but Trager is controlling well.
Malaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Malaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Malaki.
Trager working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Trager throws a big elbow that misses.
Malaki 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.
Trager postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trager is looking to work some ground and pound but Malaki has wrist control.
Malaki working a defensive guard here.
Trager in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Trager throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Malaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Trager.
Malaki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Malaki controlling the pace.
Trager is looking to control Malaki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Trager avoid being mounted?
Trager is looking for a sweep. Malaki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Malaki is trying to control. Trager wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Malaki sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malaki prevents Trager from improving his position.
Malaki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Trager works his way to full guard. Good work.
Malaki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Malaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Trager is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Malaki is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trager avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Trager dominated that second round.
That's time! Trager's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Trager looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Malaki is fending him off so far but Trager persists. Nope, Malaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Malaki scores with a shot to the body.
Malaki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Malaki misses with a hook to the body
and Trager counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Malaki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Trager stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Trager decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Trager throws a strike but Malaki avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Trager trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Trager throws a big right hand that misses.
Trager throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Malaki trying to control the position here.
Trager is looking to work some ground and pound but Malaki has wrist control.
Malaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Malaki has Trager pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trager in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Trager being controlled here momentarily.
Malaki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Trager has passed into side control.
Trager landing strikes.
Trager has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Trager throws a strike aimed at the side of Malaki's head but Malaki avoids it well.
Malaki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Malaki trying to control but Trager postures up.

Trager is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Trager is trying to work for a kimura but Malaki is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Trager is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Trager thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Malaki trying to control here.
Malaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Trager throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.
Malaki trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaki is looking to improve his position.
Malaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Malaki is defending against the submission attempts here by Trager.
Trager thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malaki's head.
Malaki trying to control but Trager postures up.
Malaki desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Trager prevents Malaki from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Malaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Malaki.
Malaki trying to control the position.
Malaki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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

Trager gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Malaki misses with a short punch on the inside.
Trager is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Malaki is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trager wants to take the fight to the mat but Malaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Trager. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Trager missing with knees to the body.

Trager breaks the clinch.
Jab from Malaki.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Trager showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Trager 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Trager!
A very excited looking Alex Trager made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.