PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sylvester Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Cave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sylvester Malone had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Malone
vs
Cave

184 cm
33
192 lbs
12 - 9 - 1

184 cm
40
190 lbs
26 - 23 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sylvester Malone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Cave!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cave gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cave really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malone. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cave preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cave is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Malone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cave is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Malone with a nice head shot there.

Cave is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Malone presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Malone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cave blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've been hearing reports that Malone has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Malone misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cave with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cave breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cave is looking to slow Malone down with leg kicks.
Malone is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cave sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cave is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
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!
Cave throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malone.
Cave scores with a one two! Malone had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Malone or perhaps it was just good defense by Cave, which made it look bad.
Malone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sylvester Malone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Malone manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cave on his heels. He'll look to pass Cave's guard now, I'm sure.
Cave wants to stand but Malone is controlling the position.
Cave working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malone.
Malone won't allow Cave to get back to his feet.
Malone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Malone trying to control but Cave is working from the bottom.
Malone won't allow Cave to get back to his feet.

Malone thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Malone trying to control but Cave is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cave is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Malone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Malone advances position into side control!
Cave is trying to buck Malone off.
Malone is looking to take a break and control but Cave is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cave wants to get back to his feet but Malone drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone scoring with punches and elbows.

Malone is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cave knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Malone throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Malone is putting a hurting on Cave here, landing some big shots from side control.
Cave pushes Malone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Malone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cave wants to get back to his feet but Malone is dominant here and he's now got Cave's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malone lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Cave hold on?!
Cave takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Cave is trying to stand back up.
Malone landing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malone looking for the RNC.
Cave is trying to stand back up.
Malone cracks Cave with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Cave from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cave is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Malone is punishing Cave with some ground and pound.
Malone connects with a big shot to the side of Cave's head.
Malone connects with a big shot to the side of Cave's head.
Malone connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Cave to escape the position.
Malone punches Cave on the ear.

Malone is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Cave has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Malone is punishing Cave with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sylvester Malone dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cave looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Malone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cave looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Cave explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Cave moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Sylvester Malone has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malone lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Malone feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Malone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cave keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Cave wants to get back to his feet but Malone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Malone lands a couple of elbows.
Malone won't allow Cave to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cave wants to stand up but Malone is controlling him.
Malone lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Malone postures up in Cave's guard and throws a big left but Cave blocks it.
Malone trying to control but Cave is working from the bottom.
Malone working some strikes from top position.
Malone tries to free his leg and advance position but Cave is retaining full guard.
Malone stops Cave from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Malone defending well as Cave loads up on a big left hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Malone.
Cave is pushing Malone's head away, looking to escape. Malone manages to hold on to the position though.
Cave takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Malone landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cave on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Malone working the body and head with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malone tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cave's legs.
Malone in side control lands a decent elbow.
Malone landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Cave pushes Malone away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Malone gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Malone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cave can do to turn this around?
Cave takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Malone connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cave some visible discomfort.
Malone has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Malone with shots to the head and body - Cave looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sylvester Malone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Malone landing strikes, looking to finish!
Malone lands a couple of good shots and Cave has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Cave is rocked!

Cave fending off the submission attempt from Malone.
Cave is trying to get back to his feet but Malone has full control of the position and if anything, Cave has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Malone lands strikes to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malone lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can Cave hold on?! Malone is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Malone has good solid back control here.

Malone looking to break Cave's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cave remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Malone will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Cave is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Malone off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Malone gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Malone lands punches and elbows.
Cave is still in real trouble! Can Malone finish him?
Cave covering up well under a series of strikes from Malone.
Cave seems to have recovered his senses.

Malone looking for the choke from the back.
Malone throwing damaging strikes from the back! Cave could be in trouble here!

Cave preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Malone.
Malone scoring with big shots to the body. Cave is looking for a way out. A despairing look towards the ref and the official steps in to stop the fight. Cave was obviously done but didn't want to tap out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sylvester Malone!
Sylvester Malone decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
In defeat, Nick Cave stepped up to the mic, saying 'im not gonna retire yet, but i started considering retirement'.