PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanford Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zad Maldan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Nelson
vs
Maldan

172 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sanford Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Zad Maldan!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldan cracks Nelson with an open hand slap.
Nelson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nelson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Maldan connects with the punch.
Nelson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Nelson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maldan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nelson is in Maldan's guard.
Nelson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Maldan looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.

Maldan working for submissions but it's allowed Nelson to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson prevents Maldan from improving his position.

Maldan looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Nelson pushes past his half guard into mount!
Maldan tries to buck Nelson off but Nelson takes his back!
Nelson just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Nelson has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldan is trying to stand back up.
Nelson has good solid back control here.
Maldan trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
Maldan can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelson looking for the choke but no joy.
Maldan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Nelson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Maldan is trying to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson controlling the position well here. Maldan rolled but Nelson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Nelson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldan is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Maldan is trying to break free.
Maldan is still trying to improve position.
Maldan is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nelson is hanging on to Maldan's back as he tries to escape.
Maldan is trying to get back to his feet but Nelson has full control of the position and if anything, Maldan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nelson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maldan knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maldan for a finish.
Maldan is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanford Nelson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maldan misses with a straight left.
Maldan throws a series of punches but Nelson avoids them all with ease.
Nelson takes one to the side of the head.
Nelson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maldan throws a hook to the side of Nelson's head but Nelson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circle momentarily. Maldan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Nelson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maldan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nelson is stalling in the full guard.
Nelson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maldan can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We've been informed that Maldan has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Maldan throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nelson escapes and throws Maldan's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson controls the position.
Maldan is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
Maldan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Maldan is being controlled here.

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.
Maldan is looking for a sweep.

Nelson is trying to get an arm triangle but Maldan is defending well.

Nelson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maldan, who protects the arm well.
Nelson is staying tight to Maldan's torso, preventing him from escaping.
You can see the frustration on Maldan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maldan is looking to regain half guard here but Nelson keeps moving and retains side control.
Maldan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nelson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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.
Nice shot by Maldan.
Nelson dodges the punch combination from Maldan.
Nelson thinks about countering with a body kick.
Maldan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Maldan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nelson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maldan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nelson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Maldan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maldan lunges at Nelson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nelson's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldan lands the left hand.
Maldan lands with a straight right. Nelson didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldan lands a jab to the nose.
Maldan throws an off balance right hand
and Nelson counters with an inside leg kick.
Maldan throws a right hand that Nelson ducks under and follows up with a left that Nelson also avoids with ease.
Maldan connects with the punch.

Nelson darts in and clinches Maldan up against the cage.
Maldan throws a head punch that misses.
Maldan tries a body shot but Nelson blocks it.
Maldan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maldan throws a head punch that misses.
Nelson blocks a body shot from Maldan.
Stalling in the clinch from Nelson.
Maldan misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zad Maldan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Maldan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Maldan cracks Nelson with a good jab.
Maldan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Maldan lands with a nice body punch.
Nelson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maldan.
Nelson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Maldan to score with a decent uppercut.
A punch lands to the side of Nelson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice straight punches there by Maldan. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maldan.
A left lands for Maldan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Nelson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Maldan was covering up waiting for the punch and Nelson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Maldan has an active guard here but Nelson has managed to pass into half guard.

Maldan has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Nelson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Nelson!
Maldan is looking for a sweep.

Nelson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maldan to his feet.

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.
Maldan throws a shot from downtown. Nelson moves away and avoids it.
Zad Maldan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nelson back to the cage. Maldan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Maldan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nelson under the eye.
Good exchange - Maldan coming out on top.

Nelson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nelson taking a breather here.
Maldan tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldan trying to get back to his feet but Nelson is in full control for now.
Nelson has the hooks in. Maldan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Nelson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maldan has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldan is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
I really don't envy Maldan right now.
Sanford Nelson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maldan is trying to stand back up.
Maldan trying to control the position but Nelson manages to sink in the hooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zad Maldan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maldan 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zad Maldan!