PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yancy Malaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dai Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malaki
vs
Evans

182 cm
42
150 lbs
29 - 18 - 3

181 cm
29
158 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Russian Bears Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yancy Malaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dai Evans!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Evans.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Evans.

Evans rushes Malaki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Evans throws a punch but it's blocked by Malaki.
Malaki 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.

Evans has hold of one of Malaki's legs. Malaki is fighting the takedown attempt but Evans gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Malaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Evans.
Evans won't allow Malaki to get back to his feet.
Evans postures up in Malaki's guard and throws a big left but Malaki blocks it.
Evans throwing strikes from guard but Malaki blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Malaki wants to sweep but no luck.
Evans is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Evans throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans stands up and waves to Malaki to follow him.

Malaki gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Evans makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Malaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Evans loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Evans sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans with a flurry of punches that miss.
Evans trying to control but Malaki is working from the bottom.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evans missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Evans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Malaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Evans missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Evans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Evans is looking to clinch but Malaki is avoiding it.

Evans gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Evans gets through Malaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Evans tries for a takedown but Malaki manages to get underhooks.
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dai Evans.
Evans wants to take the fight to the mat but Malaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Evans tries a body shot but Malaki blocks it.
Evans scores with a shot to the side of Malaki's head.
Evans goes for a takedown attempt but Malaki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Evans misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Evans has closed the distance and engaged Malaki in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Evans fails to land.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malaki misses with a hook.
Evans tries to clinch up.
Malaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malaki leaves Evans with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evans shoots for a takedown but Malaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Evans closes the distance and clinches up with Malaki, looking for a takedown. Evans pushes Malaki against the cage but Malaki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Malaki as Evans shoots in.
Evans looks winded!
No luck for Evans with that takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Malaki misses the target.
Evans shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Evans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Malaki works the jab nicely.
A big right from Malaki misses.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch up but Malaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Evans closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Malaki.
Evans tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Evans drops his hands momentarily and Malaki takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Evans shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malaki as he avoids it easily.
Evans has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Evans tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Malaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Evans keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dai Evans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Malaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Evans closes the distance and clinches.
Malaki wants to break the clinch but can't.

Evans has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Malaki clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Malaki avoids the strikes from Evans.

Evans is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Malaki knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Malaki for a finish.

Malaki is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dai Evans will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Evans tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Evans moves into the clinch successfully.
Malaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Evans wants a takedown but no success here.
Malaki swings wildly with an uppercut but Evans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malaki has Evans pressed against the cage.
Malaki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Evans is leaning against Malaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Malaki breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Evans has taken the fight to the clinch.

Malaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Evans decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Evans there.
Malaki is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaki taking some punishment here, with Evans in his half guard.
Evans throwing shots but Malaki is blocking nicely.
Evans working the head and body with strikes.
Evans thows a huge punch but Malaki dodges it nicely.
Evans working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Evans missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Evans thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malaki's head.
Malaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Evans decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Yancy Malaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Malaki misses with a wild body shot.

Evans fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Malaki, pushing him back against the cage.
A short left from Malaki.
Malaki prevents the takedown attempt.
Malaki wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Evans gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Evans fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Malaki breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Evans stalling.
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Evans won't allow it.
Evans lands a body punch in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Malaki wants to break free but Evans has control.
Evans keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malaki's efforts to push away.
Dai Evans seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Evans fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A left hand lands to the body for Evans.
Evans cracks Malaki with a nice body shot.
Malaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Evans won't allow it.
Evans drops down looking for an ankle pick but Malaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dai Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Malaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malaki scores with a shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice uppercut lands for Malaki. That snapped Evans's head back.
Malaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Evans tries to clinch but Malaki moves out of range.
Evans tries to clinch up.
Evans wants to clinch.
Evans fails to land the takedown.
Decent striking displayed by Malaki there.

Malaki gets tackled into the cage by Evans. Evans maintains the clinch.
Malaki tries to break free but Evans pushes him back against the cage.
Malaki has a couple of punches blocked by Evans.

Evans lands a takedown into guard.
Evans throws an elbow that misses. Malaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Evans's guard. Nice move by Malaki!

Malaki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malaki stops Evans from standing up.
Malaki wants to get up but he can't break Evans's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Evans is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dai Evans will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Evans takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A solid leg kick lands there for Malaki.

Evans has closed the distance and engaged Malaki in a clinch.
Evans looking for a takedown.
Evans is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Malaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A left hand lands to the body for Evans.
Malaki wants to break free but Evans has control.
Malaki is trying to break the clinch but Evans has him pressed against the cage.

Malaki manages to break the clinch.
Malaki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Evans.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malaki tries a head kick but it misses.

Evans pushes Malaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Evans throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Evans misses with a hook from the clinch.
Evans slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Evans is looking for a takedown.
Yancy Malaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dai Evans.
Evans tries to score a body lock takedown but Malaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Evans has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Malaki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Evans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malaki stops a takedown attempt from Evans.

Malaki manages to break the clinch.
Malaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Evans clinches up against the cage.
Evans avoiding damage.
Malaki misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Malaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Evans.
Evans cracks Malaki with a nice body shot.
Evans prevents Malaki from breaking the clinch.
Malaki has had enough of the clinch but Evans keeps him there for the moment.
Malaki stops a takedown attempt from Evans.
Evans lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Evans.
Malaki blocks a body shot from Evans.
Malaki wants to stall.
Evans drops down looking for an ankle pick but Malaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Evans uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malaki.
A nice combination there by Malaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malaki scores with a hook.
Malaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Evans, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Evans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Evans shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Evans has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Malaki finds it's way round the side to connect with Evans's head.
Malaki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Evans is rocked!
Malaki darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Evans's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Malaki before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Yancy Malaki!
Yancy Malaki seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.