PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Byron Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Jordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malik
vs
Jordan

194 cm
19
255 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Byron Malik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Jordan!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jordan slips under a jab.

Jordan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jordan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Jordan tries to score with some ground and pound. Malik controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Malik is trying to control Jordan's posture but Jordan avoids it.
Jordan takes a little break here. Malik wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Malik defending against the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jordan misses with the ground and pound.
Malik trying to remain calm as Jordan controls from the top position.
Malik parries the strikes from Jordan easily there. Jordan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Malik to escape.
Jordan controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jordan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jordan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Jordan working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Malik being controlled for a moment.
Jordan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Malik is looking to reverse the position.
Jordan is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Malik will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Let's hope that Jordan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jordan shoots in for a takedown but Malik shows good takedown defense.
Malik has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Malik there as he acknowledges the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malik. Jordan does a little dance to reset his feet.

Jordan shoots in and bounces Malik off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Malik manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jordan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jordan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Jordan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Malik's guard.
Jordan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Malik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jordan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jordan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jordan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
It looks like Jordan might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Jordan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Malik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jordan.
Jordan misses with a wild body shot.
Malik throws the left hand but Jordan avoids the punch easily.

That's four 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.
Jordan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Malik counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Malik misses with a body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Jordan 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Jordan scores with a takedown into Malik's guard.
Jordan controlling from the top position.
Jordan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Jordan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Malik throws a shot from downtown. Jordan moves away and avoids it.
Malik defending well as Jordan loads up on a big left hand.
Jordan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Malik.
Matt Jordan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik misses the jab.
Jordan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Malik misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jordan.
A telegraphed right hand from Jordan misses the target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jordan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malik letting Jordan take a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jordan tries to work over Malik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jordan misses with some punches.
Jordan is pushing Malik up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Malik tries to score a body lock takedown but Jordan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik can't find room to land a body shot as Jordan controls the action.
Malik tries for a takedown but Jordan manages to get underhooks.
Jordan is struggling to control the position.
Jordan misses with a punch on the inside.
Jordan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Malik has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jordan after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Byron Malik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jordan lands on the inside with an uppercut.

It looks like Byron Malik has been cut.
Jordan misses with the head strike.
Jordan misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Jordan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Jordan is staying tight to Malik's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More stalling from Jordan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jordan working the ground and pound.
Jordan is putting a hurting on Malik here, landing some big shots from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Jordan is continuing to stall.
Jordan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jordan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Malik is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Jordan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jordan taking a breather here.
Malik is trying to control Jordan's posture but Jordan avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jordan grinds an elbow into Malik's temple.
Jordan working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Malik is trying to escape the position but Jordan is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The adventures of Jordan the control monster continue. Boring.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Malik throws an overhand right that lands on Jordan's shoulder, as Jordan tries to avoid the shot.
Jordan misses with a hook
and Malik counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Jordan misses.
Jordan throws a nice looking combination but Malik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Malik cracks Jordan with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Malik lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Jordan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Byron Malik's cut.
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!

Jordan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malik as he avoids it easily.
Jordan ducks under a wild hook from Malik.
Jordan misses with an uppercut
and Malik counters with a series of strikes. Jordan will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jordan clinches up with Malik and pushes him back against the cage.
Jordan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jordan struggles to land a body shot inside as Malik controls his hands.
Jordan tries a body shot but Malik blocks it.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jordan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jordan tries to throw a body punch but Malik avoids it by throwing Jordan back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jordan content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Jordan stalling.
Jordan continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Jordan just leaning against Malik, taking a breather.
Jordan misses with the head strike.

Jordan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jordan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jordan is keeping the position for now.
Malik trying to control the position from guard on top but Jordan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've been hearing that Malik has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Malik is really struggling to control Jordan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Malik won't allow Jordan to get back to his feet.
Malik sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two 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.
Jordan keeping moving, preventing Malik from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jordan can do anything to dispel that myth.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jordan darts in looking for a takedown but Malik gets double underhooks and turns Jordan into the cage.
Malik scores with a hook.

Jordan moves into range and clinches up with Malik.
Jordan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Jordan taking a breather.
Jordan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malik's elbow.
A body shot lands from Jordan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jordan lands a hook that snaps the head of Malik backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jordan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Jordan is working Malik over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jordan misses with a hook to the ribs.
Malik prevents a body shot from Jordan.
Jordan scores with a hook to the body.
Jordan is stalling here.
Jordan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malik's elbow.
Byron Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jordan.
Jordan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Matt Jordan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Jordan working aggressively here.

Jordan wants the takedown. Malik is fighting it off but Jordan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Malik's guard against the cage.
Jordan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jordan with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Jordan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jordan 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Jordan!