PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie McCaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jai Malek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCaw comes to the cage accompanied by Seeing Things. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCaw
vs
Malek

187 cm
34
268 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

196 cm
37
260 lbs
36 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richie McCaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jai Malek!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCaw misses with an uppercut. Malek saw that one coming.
McCaw looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Malek tries to close the distance and clinch but McCaw swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Malek takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Malek steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McCaw.
Malek looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

McCaw clinches up with Malek and pushes him back against the cage.
McCaw blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malek misses with a body punch.
Malek lands a left hand.
Malek scores with a shoulder strike.
Malek makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

McCaw is trying to trip Malek. He has hold of a leg but Malek is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McCaw persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Malek throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McCaw trying to control but Malek is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCaw postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCaw showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McCaw sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Malek's guard.
McCaw sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malek defending well though.
Malek avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCaw.
McCaw misses with a head shot. Malek uses the momentum to regain guard.

Malek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two 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.
McCaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCaw throws an elbow that misses. Malek uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McCaw's guard. Nice move by Malek!

McCaw looking to control.
McCaw throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Malek trying to control but McCaw is working from the bottom.

McCaw throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Malek passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCaw lands with a few short shots to the body.

Malek is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCaw sees it coming and defends easily.
McCaw is pressing down on Malek's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Malek wants to control from the top but McCaw keeps moving.
Malek forces his way into half guard.
McCaw is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Malek works his way into full mount!
McCaw is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malek is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. McCaw is in real trouble.

Malek is looking for the choke from the back position but McCaw is controlling his hands well.

Malek has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
McCaw turns into Malek and is now in his guard.
Malek wants to stand and escape but McCaw is having none of it.
Malek keeping moving, preventing McCaw from controlling successfully.
McCaw 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.
McCaw not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCaw throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jai Malek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Malek thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCaw shoots in but no luck this time.
McCaw shoots for a takedown but Malek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Malek uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCaw.
McCaw misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Malek! But no joy.
Malek keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCaw. Malek does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCaw shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Malek sprawls well. Malek wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCaw gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richie McCaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCaw tries for a takedown but Malek sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malek throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Malek throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malek lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malek throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McCaw.
McCaw misses with a leg kick.
McCaw shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malek as he jumps to the side.
McCaw dives in and grabs Malek's left leg, looking for a takedown. Malek pushes down on McCaw's head and hops out.
Nice shot by Malek.
Malek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCaw misses with a takedown
and Malek counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McCaw blocks a jab.
No luck for McCaw with that takedown attempt.
Malek steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McCaw.
McCaw fails with the takedown.
Jai Malek seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCaw looks for a takedown but Malek sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCaw fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Malek to the ground. McCaw is now in Malek's guard.
Malek is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Malek is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCaw wants to control from the top but Malek keeps moving.
McCaw won't allow Malek to get back to his feet.
McCaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Malek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCaw looking to sit in guard and control but Malek gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Malek wants to pass the guard but McCaw is keeping the position.
McCaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malek trying to control the position from guard on top but McCaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCaw tries to strike from the bottom.
Malek trying to control the position from guard on top but McCaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCaw is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
McCaw misses with a takedown attempt - Malek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McCaw misses with a takedown
and Malek counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCaw moves out of range as Malek throws a body kick.
Jai Malek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCaw throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malek's waist but Malek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCaw off to one side.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Malek! But no joy.
Richie McCaw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCaw misses with a head kick.
Malek fails to land with a series of punches.
McCaw appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Malek circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richie McCaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malek misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCaw throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malek's waist but Malek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCaw off to one side.
McCaw avoids the body shot from Malek.

McCaw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jai Malek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McCaw misses with a takedown
letting Malek counter with a right hand.
McCaw fails with a takedown attempt.
McCaw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A countering left hand to the body from Malek misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richie McCaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCaw ducks under a wild hook from Malek.
McCaw misses with a takedown attempt - Malek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Malek is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCaw throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malek cracks McCaw with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McCaw will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Malek instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malek lands a left hand.
McCaw blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McCaw drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malek scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malek with a knee to the head.

It looks like Richie McCaw has been cut.
McCaw managing to block the knees to the body from Malek.
McCaw wants a takedown but no success here.
Malek fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McCaw is trying to drag Malek to the mat but Malek just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Malek misses with a knee to the head.
McCaw is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McCaw drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malek lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malek is defending well against a takedown attempt.
McCaw goes for a takedown attempt but Malek pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Malek lands a head shot.
Malek feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McCaws jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCaw shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Malek pinned against the cage. Malek gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Malek jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McCaw takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malek fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nice body kick from Malek.
McCaw tries to clinch there but Malek circles away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Malek.
McCaw shoots in for a double leg but Malek sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Malek has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
McCaw doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Malek counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McCaw thinking.
McCaw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malek swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Malek swings for the body but McCaw moves out of range.
McCaw misses with a takedown attempt
and Malek cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malek misses with a low kick.
McCaw quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCaw tries for a takedown but Malek circles away easily

and Malek counters by moving into the clinch.
Malek using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCaw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCaw jumps guard but Malek stands there with McCaw around his waist. McCaw gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
McCaw blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malek throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCaw blocks it with crossed arms.

McCaw jumps guard.
Malek trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richie McCaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malek controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

McCaw looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malek looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jai Malek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Malek winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jai Malek!
Jai Malek bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
In defeat, Richie McCaw stepped up to the mic, saying 'I worked really hard in me training camp, This is the best shape I have ever been in. I'm still new to the 265lb division and already amongst the top, in due time I promise me fans!'.