PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian Hill (ranked 23808 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Malenko (ranked 8921 p4p, 0 weight class). Malenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Shooter. This should be fireworks!

Hill
vs
Malenko

191 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Brian Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dean Malenko!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hill throws out a loose jab but Malenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hill shoots for a takedown but Malenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Malenko takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hill looks for a takedown but Malenko sprawls well.

Hill instigates a clinch.
Hill stalls.

Hill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Hill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hill doesn't manage to clinch there - Malenko circles away.
Malenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hill.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hill wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Hill.

Malenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Malenko trying to land knees to the body.

Hill breaks the clinch.
Malenko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hill takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hill throws a sloppy head kick and Malenko moves out of range easily.
Malenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Malenko blocks a head kick by Hill.
Hill throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Malenko's waist but Malenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hill off to one side.
Malenko misses with a takedown
and Hill counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malenko.
Hill misses with a jab to the body
and Malenko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Malenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hill to the mat! Hill manages to get full guard.

Hill pushes Malenko off and gets back to his feet.
Hill is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hill fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hill's waist but Hill gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malenko off to one side.
Hill is trying hard to land a takedown here. Malenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Malenko steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hill.

Malenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malenko lands in his opponent's guard.

Hill has his feet on Malenko's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malenko closes the distance and pushes Hill back into the cage.

Malenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Malenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hill sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Malenko somewhat.
Hill feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Hill tries to sprawl but Malenko drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Hill manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Malenko keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill wants a takedown.
Hill has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Malenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hill goes for a takedown in the clinch but Malenko prevents it.

Malenko gets control of Hill's arms and successfully pulls guard. Malenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Malenko is controlling Hill's posture.
Hill trying to control the position from guard on top but Malenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Malenko looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A looping hook to the body misses from Hill. Malenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malenko is looking to clinch but Hill is avoiding it.
A good leg kick by Hill.
Hill tries to close the distance and clinch up but Malenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Malenko takes one on the button.
Hill shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Malenko defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hill sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Malenko shoots in for a double leg but Hill sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Malenko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hill is refusing to be controlled, as Malenko sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Malenko is looking to take a break and control but Hill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brian Hill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hill trying to control from the bottom.
Hill is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Malenko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Malenko's back!
Hill trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Malenko preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hill.
Malenko is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malenko is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hill gets his way!
Hill controlling well, preventing Malenko from escaping the position.
Malenko trying to control the action but Hill just sinks the hooks in.
Hill struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill keeps control of the position easily here as Malenko tries to buck him off.
Hill seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Malenko for as long as he can get away with.
Malenko manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hill's guard. Nice work there by Malenko.
Malenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Malenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hill works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hill wants to sweep but no luck.
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.
Hill is trying to control the position but Malenko postures up.
Hill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malenko can do to turn this around?
Hill keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.
Hill trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hill controls Malenko momentarily but Malenko frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hill closes the distance and clinches up with Malenko, looking for a takedown. Hill pushes Malenko against the cage but Malenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hill dives in for a single leg takedown but Malenko sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Hill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Malenko rushes Hill and presses him up against the cage.
Hill drops down looking for an ankle pick but Malenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Brian Hill will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hill takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hill throws a counter high kick but Malenko was just alert enough to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hill is defended easily by Malenko.
Malenko shoots in and drives through. Hill sprawls well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Malenko. Hill does a little dance to reset his feet.
Malenko connects with a high kick.
Hill misses with a takedown attempt - Malenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hill swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hill tries to keep at a distance but Malenko has taken the fight into the clinch.

Malenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Malenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Malenko misses with a body punch.
Hill has Malenko pressed against the cage.
Malenko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hill drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Malenko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Hill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malenko gets a clinch.
Hill fails to pull guard.

Malenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Malenko keeping full guard, as Hill tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Malenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hill can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Hill from controlling successfully.
Malenko looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill stopping the sweep attempt from Malenko.
Malenko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Hill trying to control the position from guard on top but Malenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Malenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Hill tries to sprawl out of it but Malenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hill manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hill scores with a body shot.
No luck for Malenko with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Malenko has a takedown stuffed.
Malenko wants to land a leg kick but Hill is out of range.
Nice body kick there by Hill.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Malenko is defended easily by Hill.
Hill looks for a takedown but Malenko sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hill is trying hard to land a takedown here. Malenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dean Malenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brian Hill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hill closes the distance and clinches up with Malenko, looking for a takedown. Hill pushes Malenko against the cage but Malenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Malenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hill has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!