PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Achilleo Katsidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simeon Malaya (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.

Katsidis
vs
Malaya

182 cm
31
177 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

190 cm
43
180 lbs
51 - 21 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Achilleo Katsidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 51 - 21 - 0, fighting out of London, Simeon Malaya!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malaya pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Malaya throws a right hand that misses
and Katsidis counters with a nice body kick.
Malaya throws a wild body kick that Katsidis sees coming a mile off.
Katsidis lands with an uppercut that bounces Malaya off the cage and back into range.
Malaya lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A slapping leg kick lands for Katsidis.
Malaya cracks the inside of Katsidis's front leg.
Malaya throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Katsidis blocks a low kick nicely.
Katsidis avoids the head kick by Malaya.
Katsidis throws a head kick that misses.
Malaya takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Malaya throws a shot from downtown. Katsidis moves away and avoids it.
Katsidis has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gym Amsterdam in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters circle momentarily. Malaya darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katsidis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Simeon Malaya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Katsidis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice defenses there by Malaya.
Katsidis scoring well with a low kick there.
Malaya connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaya throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Malaya scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Malaya has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Katsidis takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Katsidis ducks under a wild hook from Malaya.
Jab, jab by Katsidis - just one landing.
Malaya throws a solid leg kick but Katsidis takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Malaya.
Katsidis scores with a head kick.
A jab from Katsidis misses.
A swing and a miss from Malaya.
It looked like Katsidis wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Katsidis checks a leg kick nicely.
Malaya misses with a hook.
Malaya misses the jab.
Katsidis moves out of range as Malaya throws a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Katsidis.
Simeon Malaya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick by Malaya misses
and Katsidis counters with a stiff right hand.
Katsidis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malaya.
Katsidis fires out a quick counter leg kick but Malaya just manages to avoid it.
Katsidis throws the left hand but Malaya avoids the punch easily.
Katsidis tests Malaya's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Katsidis tried to score with a low kick but Malaya checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsidis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice uppercut lands for Katsidis. That snapped Malaya's head back.
A low kick from Malaya misses
and Katsidis makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Malaya loads up on a big right hand but Katsidis slips the punch.
Katsidis connects with a leg kick. Malaya looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Malaya avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Katsidis catches Malaya with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Katsidis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Katsidis connects with a body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Katsidis blocks the leg kick.
Katsidis avoids the head kick by Malaya.
Malaya ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Katsidis moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Katsidis, right into the meat.
Malaya lands with a nice body punch.
Malaya fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Katsidis.
Malaya pivots, looking for a leg kick but Katsidis is out of range and Malaya settles back down.
Katsidis is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Malaya.
Malaya looks to throw a body kick
and Katsidis counters with a thumping low kick.
Katsidis gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaya tries to score with a low kick but Katsidis moves his leg out of the way.
Katsidis looks to land a body kick but Malaya moved away.
Katsidis throws a front kick aimed at Malaya's knee but Malaya avoids it well.
Malaya's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Malaya tries to land a front kick but Katsidis steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Katsidis throwing a counter right hand but Malaya manages to avoid it.
Katsidis blocks a head kick by Malaya.
Good standup being displayed there by Malaya as he connects with a hook.
Malaya keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Katsidis.
Malaya misses with a straight left.
Malaya throws a hook to the side of Katsidis's head but Katsidis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Katsidis feints and then cracks Malaya's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Malaya down.
Malaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Katsidis is looking to counter the offense by Malaya and move into the clinch.
Katsidis blocks the body kick.
As Malaya tries to get set, Katsidis tries to push him back and clinch up but Malaya manages to avoid the attempt.
Katsidis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Katsidis tries to counter by clinching up but Malaya breaks away and moves out of range.
Malaya shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Malaya takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Malaya takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Malaya throws a wild body kick that Katsidis sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Katsidis misses.
Malaya only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Malaya takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Katsidis lands a nice looking kick to the body. Malaya takes a step back to recover.
Malaya lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Malaya pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Katsidis lands a nice leg kick that just misses Malaya's sensitive parts.
Katsidis staying out of range there.
Malaya misses with a leg kick.
Katsidis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Malaya has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A jab from Katsidis does it's job there.
Katsidis lands a nice shot that snaps Malaya's head back.
Jab, jab by Katsidis - just one landing.
Malaya throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Katsidis's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid body kick from Katsidis.
Malaya looks to land a right hand but Katsidis moved out of range.
Katsidis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malaya.
Katsidis misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Achilleo Katsidis dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Katsidis scoring well with a low kick there.
Malaya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Katsidis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Some wild striking there from Malaya.

Malaya gets tackled into the cage by Katsidis. Katsidis maintains the clinch.
Malaya blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Malaya breaks the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Katsidis.
Malaya lands a head kick. Katsidis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Malaya throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Katsidis counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Katsidis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malaya stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Katsidis.
Malaya misses with a low kick.
Katsidis with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Katsidis ducks under a wild hook from Malaya.
Katsidis sizes up Malaya with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Malaya takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Achilleo Katsidis is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Katsidis slams his shin into Malaya's torso.
Katsidis misses with a wild body shot.
Malaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Katsidis checks a low kick from Malaya.
Katsidis is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Malaya misses with a hook.
Katsidis scores with a decent looking hook.
Malaya slips a jab from Katsidis.
Katsidis throws a leg kick which misses Malaya's front leg but catches the back leg as Malaya tries to avoid it.
Katsidis punishes Malaya's body with a nice straight punch.
Malaya gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Malaya swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Katsidis looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Katsidis checks a leg kick.
Malaya takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katsidis checks a leg kick.
Katsidis wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Malaya looks to land a combination but Katsidis avoids it well.
Malaya throws a leg kick that is checked
and Katsidis counters with a big head kick but Malaya shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsidis digs a good hook to Malaya's body.
Malaya uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Katsidis.
Malaya ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Malaya stuffs the takedown.
Katsidis scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Malaya connects with a right hand. Katsidis shakes it off.
Malaya throws a head kick but Katsidis moves out of range.
Katsidis moves out of range of the strikes.
Katsidis swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Malaya tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice defenses there by Katsidis.
Katsidis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malaya manages to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Malaya thumps Katsidis with a low kick.
Malaya takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Malaya goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Malaya throws a head kick but Katsidis moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Malaya.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsidis throws a nice outside leg kick.
Katsidis moves out of range of the body kick.
Malaya throws a low kick but Katsidis avoids it.
Katsidis cracks Malaya with a good jab.
Malaya misses with a low kick.
Malaya throws a sloppy head kick
and Katsidis connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Katsidis drives through and clinches with Malaya against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Katsidis.
Katsidis scores with a shoulder strike.
Malaya swings wildly with an uppercut but Katsidis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katsidis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Katsidis pushes Malaya back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Katsidis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malaya can do to turn this around?
Katsidis lands with a right to the head.
Katsidis pushes Malaya back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Katsidis prevents a body shot from Malaya.
Katsidis throws a punch but it's blocked by Malaya.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Katsidis.
Malaya throws a head punch that misses.
Katsidis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Katsidis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Katsidis has a couple of punches blocked by Malaya.
Katsidis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Katsidis cracks Malaya with a nice body shot.
Malaya is breathing heavily.
Malaya's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Malaya has a couple of punches blocked by Katsidis.
Katsidis misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Katsidis lands a left hand.
Katsidis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Malaya or not.
Malaya struggles to land a body shot inside as Katsidis controls his hands.
Katsidis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Malaya or not.
Katsidis gets through Malaya's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Katsidis lands a hook that snaps the head of Malaya backwards.
Malaya has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Katsidis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Katsidis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Katsidis scores with a sloppy right hand. Malaya should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Achilleo Katsidis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Katsidis lands a jab to Malaya's midsection.
Malaya misses with a looping left.
It looked like Katsidis was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Malaya.
Malaya takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Katsidis misses with a body shot.
Malaya takes a jab right on the kisser.
Katsidis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Katsidis takes a swing at Malaya's ribcage but misses.
Malaya now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Katsidis tests Malaya's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Malaya is rocked!
Both fighters circling a little - Katsidis finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Katsidis bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Malaya's head backwards.
Katsidis connects with a leg kick. Malaya looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Katsidis connects with a right hand. Malaya shakes it off.
Malaya is still on wobbly legs! Can Katsidis finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malaya throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Katsidis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malaya seems to have recovered his senses.
Malaya missing with a left hand there. Katsidis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Katsidis throws a quick inside leg kick.
Malaya lands a leg kick that knocks Katsidis off balance momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malaya scores with a nice strike.

Katsidis drives through and clinches with Malaya against the cage.
Malaya lands a left hand that snaps the head of Katsidis backwards.
Malaya swings wildly with an uppercut but Katsidis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katsidis blocking some punches.
Katsidis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Malaya prevents a body shot from Katsidis.
Malaya is looking to break free of the clinch but Katsidis has double underhooks.
Katsidis cracks Malaya with a nice body shot.
Malaya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Malaya working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Malaya tries a body shot but Katsidis blocks it.

Malaya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Katsidis wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Katsidis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Katsidis lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malaya missing with a left hand there. Katsidis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Malaya moves out of range as Katsidis throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malaya throws a push kick but Katsidis slaps the foot to one side.
Malaya walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Malaya misses the shot to the body.
Katsidis tries to counter by clinching up but Malaya breaks away and moves out of range.
Katsidis throws a nice inside leg kick.
A combination from Malaya does no damage.
Katsidis avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Malaya lands a glancing blow to the side of Katsidis's head.
Katsidis misses with an uppercut. Malaya saw that one coming.
Katsidis connects with a looping right hand.
Malaya scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A big left from Malaya misses.
Malaya rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Katsidis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Katsidis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Malaya manages to circle out of the way.
A head kick misses from Malaya.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Katsidis.
Katsidis with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Katsidis.
Malaya throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Achilleo Katsidis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malaya loads up on a big right hand but Katsidis slips the punch.
Katsidis half committed to a counter leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Katsidis.

Katsidis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Malaya!
Malaya bucks up and tries to throw Katsidis off but instead Katsidis has got his back!
Malaya is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malaya is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Katsidis off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Katsidis'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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Achilleo Katsidis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Katsidis 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Achilleo Katsidis!
After winning the bout, Achilleo Katsidis thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.