PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Malingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lennon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Malingo
vs
Lennon

180 cm
23
151 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

167 cm
23
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eddie Malingo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Lennon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malingo misses with a looping left.
Malingo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Lennon tries to counter it with a takedown but Malingo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've been hearing reports that Malingo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Malingo throws a body shot but no joy.
Malingo scores with a leg kick.
Malingo lands a lovely overhand right.
Lennon takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Malingo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Malingo throws a hook but Lennon avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malingo, as that shot connected.
Malingo missing with a left hand there. Lennon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lennon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Malingo throws a lazy uppercut

and Lennon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lennon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malingo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malingo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Malingo has his foot on Lennon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lennon works his way back into a safe position though.

Malingo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lennon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Malingo working for a triangle but Lennon defends it easily.
Lennon passes Malingo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Malingo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malingo wants to control but Lennon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lennon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lennon prevents Malingo from improving his position.
Malingo gets full guard.

Malingo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lennon postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lennon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malingo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malingo trying to keep a closed guard but Lennon is proving a slippery customer.
Lennon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lennon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Eddie Malingo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malingo throws a big shot that misses.
Malingo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lennon moves out of range as Malingo strikes.
Malingo sets himself, and Lennon steps forward looking for the clinch! Malingo avoids it this time.
Malingo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lennon avoids the body shot from Malingo.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malingo misses the jab.
Lennon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Lennon on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Malingo. Malingo obviously looking to wear him down.
Malingo fails to land with a series of punches.
Lennon slips a straight right by Malingo.
Malingo looks to land a left hand but Lennon moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Malingo misses the target.
Lennon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Lennon blocks a jab.
Lennon with the counter takedown but Malingo avoids it easily.
Lennon blocks a jab.
Malingo sizes up Lennon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malingo misses with a hook. Lennon ducked under it nicely.
Malingo scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Malingo dominated that round.
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.

Lennon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malingo.
Horrible takedown attempt by Malingo or perhaps it was just good defense by Lennon, which made it look bad.
John Lennon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malingo throws the left hand but Lennon avoids the punch easily.
Jab from Malingo.
Malingo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Eddie Malingo is winning the standup battle so far.
Malingo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lennon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malingo throws a jab when Lennon was well out of range.
Lennon is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Malingo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.
Malingo misses with an uppercut.
Lennon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon ducks under a wild hook from Malingo.
Lennon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Malingo loads up on a big right hand but Lennon slips the punch.
Malingo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lennon counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lennon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lennon advances to half guard.
Lennon is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Malingo wants to hold on but Lennon pushes him away.
Lennon controlling from the full mount.
Malingo regains half guard.

Malingo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Malingo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lennon can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malingo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lennon pulls his head out easily.
Lennon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Malingo manages to get to full guard.

Malingo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lennon escapes and throws Malingo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Lennon moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Malingo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lennon off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malingo misses with a punch to the head.
Lennon covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Malingo is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lennon knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lennon for a finish.
Malingo landing with strikes.
Malingo misses with a punch to the head.
Lennon looking very determined here, making life difficult for Malingo.
Malingo punches the canvas rather than the man.
Malingo missing with strikes from the back.
Malingo misses with an elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malingo throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Lennon trying to control the hands but Malingo breaks the grip.
Lennon grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Malingo misses with punches from the back.
Malingo connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Lennon to escape the position.

Malingo working for a choke but Lennon reverses nicely into Malingo 's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Malingo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lennon is aware though and is defending well.
Malingo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lennon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Malingo dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Malingo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lennon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A slow jab from Malingo misses its intended target.
Lennon with the counter takedown but Malingo avoids it easily.
Malingo throws the left hand but Lennon avoids the punch easily.
Lennon steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Malingo.
Malingo throws an overhand right that lands on Lennon's shoulder, as Lennon tries to avoid the shot.
Lennon drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Malingo defends it well.
Lennon keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malingo.
Malingo throws a series of punches but Lennon moves out of range.
Malingo cracks Lennon with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Malingo throws a right hand that misses

and Lennon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Lennon.
Malingo fails to pull guard.
Malingo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lennon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lennon pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malingo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Malingo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malingo can't break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Lennon.
Lennon has Malingo pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lennon - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are getting on Lennon's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Lennon has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Malingo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Lennon can turn it around.
Lennon prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Malingo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lennon stalling against the cage.
Lennon pressing his opponent against the cage.
John Lennon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Lennon.
Malingo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Malingo misses with a hook.
Lennon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Malingo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And Lennon tries to counter it with a takedown but Malingo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Malingo throws a body shot but no joy.
And Lennon tries to counter it with a takedown but Malingo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Malingo misses.
Lennon tries to counter with a clinch but Malingo shakes him off and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Malingo.
A telegraphed right hand from Malingo misses the target.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.
Malingo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Malingo looks to score with a jab to the body but Lennon is just out of range.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.
Lennon moves out of range of the strikes.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lennon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Malingo.
And Lennon tries to counter it with a takedown but Malingo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lennon slips under a jab from Malingo.
Malingo throws out a loose jab but Lennon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lennon changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Malingo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lennon moves away.
Malingo looks to land a left hand but Lennon moved out of range nicely.
Eddie Malingo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A slow jab from Malingo misses its intended target.
Malingo misses with a looping right.
Malingo throws a good cross that connects.
Lennon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lennon with the counter takedown but Malingo avoids it easily.
Malingo tries a low kick but Lennon avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Lennon.
Malingo shoots in looking for a takedown. Lennon tries to sprawl out of it but Malingo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lennon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lennon is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Malingo throws a hook to the side of Lennon's head but Lennon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lennon with the counter takedown but Malingo avoids it easily.
Malingo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Malingo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lennon sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malingo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Malingo. Lennon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lennon feints the counter takedown.
Lennon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Malingo.
Lennon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Malingo throws a hook but Lennon avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Malingo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Malingo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Malingo!
Eddie Malingo spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.