PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malakai Semerkhet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Antunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Semerkhet comes to the cage accompanied by راقصة صغيرة. Malakai Semerkhet could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joaquim Antunes's chin.

Semerkhet
vs
Antunes

170 cm
25
154 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Pearson Specter Litt
Underworld Clothing

Spartan Nutrition
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Malakai Semerkhet!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Joaquim Antunes!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semerkhet misses with a hook.
Semerkhet throws a leg kick

and Antunes counters with a takedown into side control.
Antunes working away.
Antunes landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Antunes trying to control the action but Semerkhet is working from the bottom.
Semerkhet manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Antunes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Semerkhet tries to roll over but Antunes keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antunes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Semerkhet defending well though.
Antunes trying to mount his opponent but Semerkhet defends it.
Antunes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semerkhet trying to control from the bottom.

Semerkhet is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Antunes pulls his head out easily.
Semerkhet avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Antunes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semerkhet won't allow Antunes to pass to mount.
Semerkhet has hold of Antunes's hands but Antunes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Semerkhet regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Antunes.
Antunes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Antunes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Antunes advances position into side control!
Antunes working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Semerkhet takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antunes working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Semerkhet defending against the ground and pound.
Semerkhet can't do much from the bottom here.
Antunes throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Antunes advances to full mount.
Semerkhet working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Semerkhet that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Antunes with shots to the head and body - Semerkhet looks very uncomfortable down there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Antunes raining down hammerfists from mount.
Semerkhet wants to hold on but Antunes pushes him away.
Antunes is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antunes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Semerkhet in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Antunes with good strikes from the mount here!
Semerkhet tries to hold on but Antunes postures up.
Semerkhet is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Antunes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Antunes with the ground and pound from mount.
Antunes landing strikes, looking to finish!
Antunes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Semerkhet's face.
Semerkhet is desperately trying to improve his position but Antunes has a good base and remains in mount.
Semerkhet regains half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Semerkhet won't allow Antunes to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antunes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Semerkhet wants to get back to full guard.
Antunes is nestled in close to Semerkhet, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Antunes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Semerkhet gets full guard.
Semerkhet trying to control the position.
Antunes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Semerkhet is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Antunes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Antunes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Antunes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Antunes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Antunes slips a straight right by Semerkhet.
Decent striking displayed by Semerkhet there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Semerkhet.
Semerkhet connects with a leg kick. Antunes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Semerkhet misses with a leg kick

and Antunes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Antunes postures up and lands a big shot to Semerkhet's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Antunes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Semerkhet working for a triangle but Antunes defends it easily.

Antunes throws a sloppy strike and Semerkhet has hooked up an armbar on the loose arm! He's turned and extended fully! Antunes is forced to tap! Great BJJ from Semerkhet!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Malakai Semerkhet!
Malakai Semerkhet retains his featherweight title!
Malakai Semerkhet was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.