PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hakim Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Malenczuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Black
vs
Malenczuk

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hakim Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damian Malenczuk!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black has managed to clinch.
Black fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Malenczuk tightens his grip and picks Black up, before dumping him to the ground. Black manages to land in guard.

Black wriggles free and stands up.
A head kick misses from Malenczuk.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by Malenczuk.

Malenczuk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Malenczuk lands a left hand that snaps the head of Black backwards.
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!
Malenczuk wants to break the clinch but can't.

Malenczuk breaks the clinch.

Black rushes Malenczuk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Malenczuk breaks the clinch.
Black shoots in for a double leg but Malenczuk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakim Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black has closed the distance and engaged Malenczuk in a clinch.

Malenczuk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malenczuk lands with a shot to the body.
Black misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malenczuk looks for a takedown but Black sprawls well.

Malenczuk gets a double leg takedown into Black's guard.
Malenczuk postures up and lands a big shot to Black's brow.
Malenczuk lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malenczuk scoring with some ground and pound.
Malenczuk looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Black is trying to control the position but Malenczuk postures up.
Malenczuk is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Malenczuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malenczuk gets to his feet. Black looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Black is breathing heavily.
Malenczuk shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Black scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Black tries to keep at a distance but Malenczuk has taken the fight into the clinch.

Malenczuk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Black being controlled here momentarily.
Black has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Malenczuk has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
Malenczuk is pulling down on Black's head. It's preventing any offense from Black, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malenczuk manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Black is trying to drag Malenczuk to the mat but Malenczuk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Malenczuk breaks the clinch.
Malenczuk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Black defends well and Malenczuk ends up having to push Black into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Black is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Black blocks a head kick by Malenczuk.
Malenczuk shoots in but Black avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenczuk looks to land a combination. Black sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Malenczuk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Black, pushing him back against the cage.
Malenczuk dodges an elbow strike from Black.
Black drops down looking for an ankle pick but Malenczuk pulls his leg out and moves away.

Black closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Malenczuk makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malenczuk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malenczuk throws a nice looking combination but Black bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Black fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Malenczuk dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Malenczuk fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Black, pushing him back against the cage.
Black throws an elbow but it misses.
Malenczuk gets underhooks to prevent Black's takedown attempt.

Malenczuk has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Black uses from the top position.
Black lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Black trying to control but Malenczuk is working from the bottom.

Black decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenczuk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Damian Malenczuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Black gets a clinch.
Malenczuk is trying to break the clinch but Black has him pressed against the cage.

Malenczuk decides to pull guard.

Black stands up from Malenczuk's guard - Black perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black with a hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Malenczuk checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jab by Malenczuk.
Hakim Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black stuffs the takedown.
Black is trying hard to land a takedown here. Malenczuk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malenczuk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black wants to clinch up but Malenczuk keeps it at a distance.
Malenczuk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Black seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Black pushes Malenczuk up against the cage in a clinch.
Malenczuk with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenczuk tries to pull guard but Black holds him up against the cage and eventually Malenczuk drops back down to his feet.
Hakim Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Malenczuk.
Black looking to stall.

Malenczuk pulls guard.
Malenczuk keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malenczuk is keeping the position for now.
Black trying to control but Malenczuk is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenczuk looking for a sweep. Not yet Malenczuk, not yet.
Malenczuk wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Malenczuk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Black utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malenczuk landing some decent shots from guard.
Black has control of Malenczuk's left arm, preventing Malenczuk from doing any damage.
Malenczuk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Malenczuk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Malenczuk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Black swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Black is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Malenczuk defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black has momentary wrist control but Malenczuk slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Malenczuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Malenczuk closes the distance and pushes Black back into the cage.

Malenczuk gets control of Black's arms and successfully pulls guard. Malenczuk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Malenczuk pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Black throws an elbow that misses. Malenczuk uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Black's guard. Nice move by Malenczuk!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenczuk is in close to Black's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Malenczuk cracks Black with a solid left hand.
Malenczuk content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Damian Malenczuk has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black trying to control the position.
Malenczuk wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
Malenczuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Malenczuk stands up from Black's guard - Malenczuk perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black fails with the takedown
and Malenczuk counters with a straight right hand.
Malenczuk digs a good hook to Black's body.

Malenczuk gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Malenczuk is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Black is defending well.
Malenczuk is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Black is defending well.

Black breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black stuns Malenczuk with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Black blocks a head kick by Malenczuk.
Black tries to counter with a takedown but Malenczuk is quick to defend against it.
Malenczuk dives in and grabs Black's left leg, looking for a takedown. Black pushes down on Malenczuk's head and hops out.
Hakim Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Malenczuk.
Black shoots in for a takedown but Malenczuk shows good takedown defense.
Malenczuk misses with an uppercut.

Malenczuk moves into the clinch.

Black's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Malenczuk rushes Black and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Malenczuk pulls guard successfully.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Malenczuk is retaining full guard.
Malenczuk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Malenczuk has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to control but Malenczuk is working from the bottom.
Malenczuk has Black pulled in close to control his posture.

Black gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Malenczuk closes the distance and clinches.

Black breaks the clinch.
Malenczuk pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Malenczuk gets a clinch.
Black trying to stall but Malenczuk improves his position.
Black fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Malenczuk breaks from the clinch.

Malenczuk closes the distance and clinches.
Malenczuk using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malenczuk lands a hook that snaps the head of Black backwards.

Malenczuk decides to pull guard.
Hakim Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damian Malenczuk is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Malenczuk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Malenczuk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Malenczuk has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Malenczuk!
Damian Malenczuk was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.