PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Delmar Michael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Malmqvist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malmqvist has chosen Move Bitch - Ludacris as his entrance music. Delmar Michael has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Michael
vs
Malmqvist

208 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Delmar Michael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Malmqvist!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michael clinches up against the cage.
Michael tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Malmqvist smiles and moves away.
A jab from Malmqvist does it's job there.
Malmqvist fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Michael looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Malmqvist!

Michael tries for a kimura but Malmqvist is defending well.
Michael is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Malmqvist's shoulder. That is not cool.
Michael working the ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michael content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Michael trying to control the action but Malmqvist is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malmqvist regains half guard there - taking advantage of Michael's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Malmqvist is trying to stand back up but Michael is controlling him
Michael looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Michael is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Malmqvist has managed to free his arm - good work.
Michael working Malmqvist over with strikes.

That's two 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.
Michael perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Malmqvist is defending against the submission attempts here by Michael.
Malmqvist won't allow Michael to pass to mount.
Malmqvist wants to get back to his feet.

Michael is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Malmqvist defends it well.
Michael stops Malmqvist from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Martin Malmqvist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michael shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Malmqvist sprawls well. Malmqvist wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Michael gets slowly back to his feet.
Martin Malmqvist is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael tries for a takedown but Malmqvist circles away easily
and Malmqvist counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michael dives in and grabs Malmqvist's left leg, looking for a takedown. Malmqvist pushes down on Michael's head and hops out.
Malmqvist fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Michael on the side of the head.
We've been informed that Malmqvist has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Malmqvist swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michael counters with a three punch combo that has Malmqvist backing up. Malmqvist nods at Michael to acknowledge the strikes.
Malmqvist looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Michael was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Malmqvist.
Malmqvist looks winded!
Malmqvist connects with a body shot.
Michael really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt.
Michael blocks a jab.
Michael moves out of range of the strikes.
Malmqvist misses with a combination

and Michael holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malmqvist is trying to push Michael away but Michael has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Malmqvist is trying to force a seperation but Michael has the dominant position.
Michael fails to pull guard.
Michael is trying to pull guard but Malmqvist turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Michael jumps guard and drags Malmqvist to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michael is controlling Malmqvist's posture.
Malmqvist with a flurry of punches that miss.

Malmqvist decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malmqvist fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Michael slips a jab and a cross from Malmqvist.
Malmqvist misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Martin Malmqvist will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Malmqvist defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Michael.
Malmqvist looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
No joy there for Malmqvist, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Michael fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malmqvist scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Malmqvist misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Michael looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malmqvist misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malmqvist throws a right and a left that both miss.
Malmqvist throws a right and a left that Michael avoids nicely.
Michael slips a straight right by Malmqvist.
Malmqvist throws a series of punches but Michael moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Malmqvist defends well and Michael ends up having to push Malmqvist into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Malmqvist is breathing heavily.
Malmqvist misses with a looping left.
Michael closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malmqvist circles away.
Malmqvist throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Michael shoots in and bounces Malmqvist off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Malmqvist can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Michael controls the pace.
Michael won't allow Malmqvist to get back to his feet.
Michael controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malmqvist has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Michael's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Michael gets a double leg takedown into Malmqvist's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malmqvist wants to stand but Michael is controlling the position.
Michael content to stall in guard here.
Malmqvist is looking to stand up but Michael isn't so interested in that idea.
Michael looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michael seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Malmqvist for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Michael shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Malmqvist manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Malmqvist pushes Michael off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Malmqvist showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Malmqvist defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Michael.
Michael will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Malmqvist will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Malmqvist misses with a jab, cross combination.
Malmqvist throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like Michael wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Malmqvist gets tackled into the cage by Michael. Michael maintains the clinch.
Michael is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Malmqvist to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Delmar Michael. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Michael manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Malmqvist wants to get up but he can't break Michael's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michael manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Malmqvist manages to get himself to full guard.

Michael controls from within his opponent's guard.
Malmqvist takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michael throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael trying to control but Malmqvist is working from the bottom.
Michael stays in close to Malmqvist's body and controls the position.
Michael continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michael is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Michael showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Michael passes Malmqvist's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Michael seems to be working for a kimura but Malmqvist defends the submission attempt.
Michael trying to control the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Malmqvist misses with a two punch combination.
Michael tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Malmqvist manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Martin Malmqvist seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Malmqvist as Michael shoots in.
Michael slips a straight right by Malmqvist.
Malmqvist throws a series of punches but Michael avoids them all with ease.

Michael clinches.
Michael tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Malmqvist just stands there and leans against the cage.

Michael breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malmqvist with a nice cross.
Nice shot lands for Malmqvist.
Malmqvist stuffs the takedown.
Malmqvist throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Michael throws a big counter combination but Malmqvist scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Michael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Malmqvist defends it nicely.
Martin Malmqvist is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Malmqvist connects with the punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michael moves out of range as Malmqvist strikes.
Malmqvist ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Delmar Michael has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michael dodges the punch combination from Malmqvist.
Michael went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Malmqvist comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Malmqvist 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Malmqvist!
In his post fight interview, Martin Malmqvist started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.