PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeniy Malkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Renato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malkin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Heavy - How You Like Me Now?. The crowd seem to be enjoying Renato's choice of entrance music: I Want My Tears Back. This should be fireworks!

Malkin
vs
Renato

191 cm
32
210 lbs
32 - 12 - 5

184 cm
33
205 lbs
30 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System
Conviction

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 32 - 12 - 5, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evgeniy Malkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tiago Renato!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malkin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Renato moves out of range of the leg kick from Malkin.
Malkin has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gym Beam in the buildup to the fight.
Renato doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Evgeniy Malkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malkin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Renato lands a really nice looking cross but Malkin seems unphased.
Renato throws a leg kick but Malkin checks it.
Malkin feinted with a counter takedown.
Malkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Renato was well out of range. Poor timing from Malkin.
Renato looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Malkin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Renato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Renato checks the leg kick.
Malkin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Malkin cracks Renato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Malkin throws out a loose jab but Renato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malkin misses with a lunging right hand
and Renato counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Some bone on bone action there as Renato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Malkin throws a lazy body kick
and Renato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Renato takes one to the side of the head.
Malkin ducks under a wild hook from Renato.
A thudding body kick lands there by Malkin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Renato ducks under a wild hook from Malkin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malkin. Renato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Renato lands with a cross.
Renato tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Renato lunges at Malkin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Malkin's hand.
Renato throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Renato moves out of range as Malkin throws a body kick.
Tiago Renato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Renato throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice defenses there by Renato.
A little jabbing left from Renato on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Malkin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Renato appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Renato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Malkin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Renato will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Malkin tries to counter with a takedown but Renato is quick to defend against it.
Malkin misses with a hook.
Renato scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Malkin.
Malkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Renato was well out of range. Poor timing from Malkin.
Renato was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Malkin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A swing and a miss from Malkin.
Malkin throws a body punch but Renato moves out of range.
Malkin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Renato. Renato obviously looking to wear him down.
Renato thows a leg kick but Malkin checks it

and Malkin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Malkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malkin trying to control but Renato is working from the bottom.
Malkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Renato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Malkin has gone for a leg lock! Renato slips out almost immediately though and dives into Malkin's guard.

Renato distracts Malkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato trying to control but Malkin is working from the bottom.
Renato controlling from the top position.
Renato preventing the sweep.

Malkin is looking for a triangle but Renato pushes his legs off easily.
Malkin is controlling Renato's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malkin 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.

Malkin looking for subs off his back but Renato has passed one foot through into half guard.
Renato keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Malkin is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Evgeniy Malkin will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Malkin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Malkin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Evgeniy Malkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Renato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malkin.
Malkin shoots in and drives through. Renato sprawls well.
Malkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Malkin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Malkin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malkin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Renato avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeniy Malkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malkin misses the shot to the body.
Renato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Malkin can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A good leg kick by Renato.
Renato thuds a left hand into Malkin's body.
Malkin dives in and grabs Renato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Renato pushes down on Malkin's head and hops out.
Renato throws a nice inside leg kick.
Malkin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Malkin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Renato moves away.
Renato takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Renato is looking for the big counter here.
Renato tries to land a leg kick but Malkin saw it coming and moves away.
Malkin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Malkin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Renato wants to get back to his feet but Malkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malkin wants to pass the guard but Renato is keeping the position.
Malkin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Renato is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Renato keeping moving, preventing Malkin from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Renato looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Malkin has gone for a leg lock! Renato slips out almost immediately though and dives into Malkin's guard.

Malkin working a defensive guard here.
Malkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Malkin, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malkin is trying to hold Renato in close to prevent damage but Renato has managed to pass into half guard.
Renato is looking to take a break and control but Malkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Renato is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Renato prevents Malkin from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Malkin is controlling Renato's trapped leg to prevent Renato from advancing to side control.
Renato thows a huge punch but Malkin dodges it nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Malkin throws a leg kick but Renato checks it.
Malkin lands a nice hook to Renato's body. Renato takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Malkin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malkin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A big right from Renato misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Renato takes a swing at Malkin's ribcage but misses.
Malkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Malkin attempts a counter takedown but Renato avoids it well and moves away.
Renato throws a chopping leg kick but Malkin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Renato scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Renato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A slapping body kick lands there for Renato.
Malkin checks a low kick from Renato.
Renato moves out of range of the body kick from Malkin.
Renato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Renato moves out of range of the leg kick from Malkin.
Malkin throws a big shot that misses.
Renato counters with a body kick.
Malkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Renato has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Malkin dives in and grabs Renato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Renato pushes down on Malkin's head and hops out.
Renato throws a jab but it's blocked by Malkin.
Malkin misses with a body kick.
Renato takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malkin misses the jab.
Malkin throws a push kick but Renato slaps the foot to one side.
Malkin misses with a hook to the body
and Renato counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Malkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Renato.
Malkin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Malkin ducks under a wild hook from Renato.
Renato lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Renato drives through and clinches with Malkin against the cage.

Malkin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Malkin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Renato controlling from the top position.
Renato chips away with some ground and pound.
Malkin wants to hit a switch here but Renato passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Malkin there!
Malkin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkin wants to get back to full guard but Renato has passed into side control.
Malkin tries to buck Renato off but Renato is having none of it.
Renato working away.
Malkin is trying to get back to half guard.
Malkin is trying to control Renato's posture but Renato avoids it.
Malkin looks to move to half guard but instead Renato has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Renato lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato tries to control but Malkin wriggling away.
Renato putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Malkin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Renato lands a big shot there that rocks Malkin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Renato sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tiago Renato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Malkin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkin is squirming around, avoiding Renato's attempts to control the action.
A nice elbow there by Renato.
Malkin wants to hold on but Renato pushes him away.
Malkin regains half guard.
Malkin gets back to full guard.
Renato is stalling in the full guard.
Renato tries to free his leg and advance position but Malkin is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Renato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Renato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

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