PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pippo Zippo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Malkova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Zippo
vs
Malkova

185 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pippo Zippo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maxim Malkova!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zippo moves into the clinch.
Zippo lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Malkova.
Zippo lands a right hand.

It looks like Maxim Malkova has been cut.
Malkova blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zippo keeps control of Malkova as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Malkova doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Malkova is trying to break free.
Malkova lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Malkova.
Malkova misses with a punch on the inside.
Malkova misses with a punch on the inside.
Malkova blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malkova pushes Zippo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zippo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Zippo tries to throw a body punch but Malkova avoids it by throwing Zippo back against the cage.
Malkova works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Malkova lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Malkova misses with the head strike.
Malkova throws a punch but it's blocked by Zippo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malkova tries a body shot but Zippo blocks it.
Malkova has a couple of punches blocked by Zippo.
Zippo goes for a takedown attempt but Malkova pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Malkova looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Zippo scores with a jab. Malkova acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Zippo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Malkova doesn't seem phased though.
Zippo misses with a hook.
Zippo misses with a jab to the body
and Malkova counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zippo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zippo slips under a jab from Malkova.
Zippo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malkova swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Malkova looks to land a left hand but Zippo moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zippo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Malkova just misses with a punch to the body.
Zippo tries to clinch there but Malkova circles away.
Malkova now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zippo throws a jab when Malkova was well out of range.
Zippo misses with a body shot.
Malkova takes one to the side of the head.
A shot to the body from Zippo misses
and Malkova counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malkova takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Malkova closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zippo darts in trying to clinch
and Malkova counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maxim Malkova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zippo doesn't manage to clinch there - Malkova circles away.
Zippo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Malkova counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Pippo Zippo has been cut.
A low kick from Zippo misses
and Malkova counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Malkova takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Zippo throws a shot from downtown. Malkova moves away and avoids it.
Malkova lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Malkova takes a jab right on the kisser.
A punch lands to the side of Zippo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Zippo misses its intended target.
Malkova swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A clash of legs there as Malkova blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zippo scores with a hook to the body. Malkova takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Zippo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Malkova is trying to defend but Zippo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zippo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Malkova defending well though.

Zippo is working for a kimura but Malkova is defending it quite comfortably.
Zippo prevents Malkova from improving his position.
Zippo moves nicely into side control.
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 Pippo Zippo will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Malkova throws out a loose jab but Zippo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malkova stuns Zippo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malkova, as that shot connected.
Zippo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zippo with a jab.
Zippo swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Malkova to counter with a crisp jab.
Malkova rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zippo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Malkova might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zippo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Zippo has his takedown stuffed
and Malkova counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zippo tries to clinch there but Malkova circles away.
A little jabbing left from Malkova on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkova takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd cheers as Zippo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Malkova doesn't seem phased though.
Zippo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Malkova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zippo.
Malkova stuffs the takedown.
Malkova throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A shot to the liver by Malkova. Beautiful body shot.
Malkova misses with a hook
letting Zippo counter with a right hand.
Zippo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Malkova! But no joy.
Zippo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zippo defending well as Malkova loads up on a big left hand.
Zippo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zippo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Malkova.
Malkova throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zippo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Malkova on the side of the head.
Malkova on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zippo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zippo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Malkova throws a jab when Zippo was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zippo clinches with his opponent.
Zippo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zippo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zippo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Malkova throws a head punch that misses.
Zippo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zippo blocks an uppercut.
Malkova misses with a punch to the body.
Malkova fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zippo tries to throw a body punch but Malkova avoids it by throwing Zippo back against the cage.

Zippo pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zippo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Malkova escapes and throws Zippo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Zippo is trying to get back to half guard.
Zippo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zippo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malkova is staying active underneath Zippo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Zippo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zippo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Malkova can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zippo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Zippo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Malkova defends it well.
Zippo 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.

Zippo wants to work for an arm triangle but Malkova is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pippo Zippo dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Malkova misses with an uppercut
and Zippo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zippo lands a jab.
Zippo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zippo connects with a single shot there.
Zippo lands a nice hook to Malkova's body. Malkova takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Malkova thuds a left hand into Zippo's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zippo lands with a right hand.
Malkova uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zippo.
Malkova lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Zippo slips a jab from Malkova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkova throws the left hand but Zippo avoids the punch easily.
Zippo throws a lazy uppercut

and Malkova moves into the clinch.
Zippo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zippo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zippo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zippo.
Malkova is pressed up against the cage. Zippo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Malkova down to the mat. Malkova avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zippo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zippo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Malkova pinned against the cage. Malkova gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pippo Zippo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malkova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zippo lands with a nice body punch.
Maxim Malkova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkova takes a swing at Zippo's ribcage but misses.
Zippo scores with a body shot.
Zippo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malkova.
Malkova misses with a looping right.
Zippo slips under a jab from Malkova.
Zippo jabs Malkova to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zippo misses with a wild body shot.
Malkova lands a jab.
Zippo scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Zippo. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Malkova darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zippo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Malkova defends well and Zippo ends up having to push Malkova into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Malkova. No joy for Zippo on that attempt.
Malkova unleashes a big counter combination but Zippo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Zippo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malkova throws out a counter right but Zippo avoids it with no problem.
Malkova walks into a left hand.
Malkova slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkova throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zippo misses with an uppercut. Malkova saw that one coming.
Malkova throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Malkova misses.
Zippo throws out a powerful jab.
Malkova waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zippo.
Zippo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pippo Zippo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zippo scores with a shot to the body.
Pippo Zippo is winning the standup battle so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zippo cracks Malkova with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pippo Zippo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zippo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Pippo Zippo!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Pippo Zippo!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Pippo Zippo!

Pippo Zippo wins by unanimous decision!