PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pika Paulo Malia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanishk Soni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanishk Soni acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Paulo Malia
vs
Soni

190 cm
22
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

200 cm
44
274 lbs
30 - 30 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pika Paulo Malia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 30 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tanishk Soni!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malia scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Soni doesn't seem bothered though.
Soni misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Soni moves out of range as Malia strikes.
Soni is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Malia throws an overhand right that lands on Soni's shoulder, as Soni tries to avoid the shot.
Soni is looking for the big counter here.
Malia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Malia lands a jab to Soni's midsection.
We've been told by Malia's head coaches at Fighting Fitness & Freedom that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The crowd cheers as Malia lands an impressive looking overhand right. Soni doesn't seem phased though.
Malia swings widly with a right hand
letting Soni counter with a right hand.
Malia misses with a straight right.
Soni tries to clinch but Malia is having none of it.
Malia lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A swing and a miss from Malia.
Malia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soni.
Soni fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pika Paulo Malia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soni throws the kick towards the body but Malia avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malia throws a body shot but no joy.
Malia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soni.
Malia tests Soni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Soni takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soni.
Malia connects with a body shot that sends Soni's belly button to the back.
Malia is looking to wear down Soni with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Malia throws a sloppy body shot

and Soni counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Malia wants to sweep but Soni has passed to side control!
Malia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Malia is trying to work for a sweep but Soni has mounted him!
Malia wants to hold on but Soni pushes him away.

Soni is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malia.
Malia just misses with a punch to the body.
Malia takes one to the chin there.
Soni just misses with a punch to the body.
Soni takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malia lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Malia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soni.
Malia misses with a wild body shot.
Malia takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Malia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Malia swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Soni wants to counter with a clinch but Malia pushes him away.
Malia scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Malia takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Malia looks to score with a jab to the body but Soni is just out of range.
Malia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soni manages to avoid it.
Malia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Malia displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia looks to land a right hand but Soni moved out of range.
Malia throws a body shot but no joy.
Malia works the jab nicely.
Malia throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Soni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malia misses with a body punch
and Soni counters with a three punch combo that has Malia backing up. Malia nods at Soni to acknowledge the strikes.
Soni throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Soni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malia.
Nice uppercut lands for Malia. That snapped Soni's head back.
Soni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soni gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Tanishk Soni has been cut.
Soni drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Malia is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Soni avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Malia throws a hook to the side of Soni's head but Soni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Soni lets loose with a powerful body kick. Malia will feel that in the morning.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Malia tries to sprawl but Soni drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Malia tries to roll over but Soni keeps him under control.
Malia is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Soni working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Soni is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Malia is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pika Paulo Malia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Malia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Malia waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Soni.
Soni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malia.

Soni has managed to clinch.
Soni tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soni tries a body shot but Malia blocks it.

Soni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malia throws a body punch but Soni moves out of range.
Soni takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Soni tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Malia defends well and Soni ends up having to push Malia into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Soni wants to clinch up but Malia keeps it at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Malia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Malia's calf.
Malia misses with an uppercut.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Malia here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Soni takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Soni throws a hook to the side of Malia's head but Malia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Malia misses with a straight right.
Soni is looking to clinch but Malia is avoiding it.
Malia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soni can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soni swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Soni defending well as Malia loads up on a big left hand.
Soni shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malia as he avoids it easily.
Pika Paulo Malia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanishk Soni.
Malia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Soni stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Malia jabs Soni right on the nose. Soni blinks but takes it well.
Nice sprawl there from Malia as Soni shoots in.
Malia's jab looks to have found its range, popping Soni under the eye.
Soni tries to score with a low kick but Malia moves his leg out of the way.
Malia jabs Soni to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Malia with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Soni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Malia.
Malia throws a body shot but no joy.
Malia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soni.
Malia lands a jab to Soni's midsection.
Malia jabs Soni right on the nose. Soni blinks but takes it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malia throws a body shot but no joy.
Soni wants to clinch up but Malia keeps it at a distance.
Malia ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malia bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Soni's head.
Soni moves away from the strike by Malia.
Soni looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Good leg kick by Soni there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Soni fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malia lands with a shot to the body.
Soni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Malia scores with the left hand. Soni knows he should have avoided that one.
Soni throws a right hand that Malia ducks under and follows up with a left that Malia also avoids with ease.
Malia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soni moves away.
Malia lands a jab to the nose.
Nice takedown defense from Malia. No joy for Soni on that attempt.
Malia misses with a body shot.
Soni misses with a few strikes there.
A little feinted left hand from Malia on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Malia misses the shot to the body.
Soni wants to clinch.
Malia is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia thuds his right hand into Soni's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Malia throws a body punch but Soni moves out of range.

Soni gets the takedown into side control.
Malia is trying to control Soni's posture but Soni avoids it.
Malia is looking to reverse the position.
Who's going to make the next move?

Soni is trying to get an arm triangle but Malia is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pika Paulo Malia dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tanishk Soni's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Soni closes the distance and clinches up with Malia, looking for a takedown. Soni pushes Malia against the cage but Malia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Soni misses with a body shot.
Malia leaves Soni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Malia misses the target.
Malia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Soni manages to avoid it.
Malia lands a right hook to the body.
Malia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Soni was well out of range. Poor timing from Malia.
Soni scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Soni wants to clinch.
It looked like Malia wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Malia ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni avoids the body shot from Malia.
Soni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malia looks to throw the jab but Soni is out of range.
Malia moves out of range of the body kick.
It looked like Malia was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Soni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soni tries a quick counter leg kick but Malia is wise to it.
Malia changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Soni fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Malia sprawls well initially but Soni persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Malia is looking for a sweep. Soni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Soni seems to be looking for submissions.
Malia is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Soni jumps into side control!
Tanishk Soni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malia tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Malia regains half guard.
Malia is looking to get back to full guard here but Soni has managed to pass to side control instead.
Malia is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia tries to control but Soni manages to take his back.
Malia is trying to get back to his feet but Soni has full control of the position and if anything, Malia has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Malia is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Tanishk Soni has got the better of the ground game so far.
Malia tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Malia is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soni landing strikes from the mount and Malia is in trouble!
Soni has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Malia's face.
Malia is working to get back to half 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.
Malia tries to hold on but Soni pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanishk Soni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Malia 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pika Paulo Malia!
Pika Paulo Malia bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.