PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Diehard (ranked 79 p4p, 13 weight class) and Ray Malenko (ranked 129 p4p, 19 weight class). Ray Malenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Diehard
vs
Malenko

180 cm
33
158 lbs
28 - 12 - 1

182 cm
33
164 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Diehard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Malenko!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malenko throws a body punch but Diehard moves out of range.
Malenko scores with a jab to the jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by Diehard as he connects with a hook.
Malenko lands a lovely overhand right.
Malenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Malenko throws a sloppy body shot
and Diehard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malenko avoids the body shot from Diehard.
Malenko walks into a straight right hand from Diehard.
Malenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diehard jabs Malenko right on the nose. Malenko blinks but takes it well.
Diehard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malenko manages to avoid it.
Diehard looks to land a left hand but Malenko moved out of range nicely.
Malenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diehard manages to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diehard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diehard.
A little jabbing left from Malenko on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diehard misses with a right hand
and Malenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Malenko swings for the body but Diehard moves out of range.
Diehard lands with a right hand.
Diehard throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diehard uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Malenko has time to react.
Malenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Malenko lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diehard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Malenko avoids the body shot from Diehard.
Diehard throws a good cross that connects.
Malenko throws a body shot but no joy.
Diehard misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from Diehard.
Diehard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malenko moves away.
Malenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diehard.
Diehard throws a lazy right hand but Malenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Malenko! But no joy.
Diehard is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Diehard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Malenko.
Diehard has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Blake Phoenix's Champion Factory in the buildup to the fight.
Diehard tests Malenko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Diehard.
Diehard lands with a nice body punch.
Malenko just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diehard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Malenko swings for the body but Diehard moves out of range.
A lazy left from Diehard finds it's target.
Malenko thuds a left hand into Diehard's body.
Diehard attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Malenko throws a hook but Diehard avoids it easily.
It looked like Diehard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Malenko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Diehard blocks a jab.
Malenko takes a swing at Diehard's ribcage but misses.
Diehard throwing a counter right hand but Malenko manages to avoid it.
Diehard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Diehard is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Diehard scores with a sloppy right hand. Malenko should have avoided that one.
A shot to the liver by Malenko. Beautiful body shot.
Diehard works the jab nicely.
Diehard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Malenko.
Malenko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Diehard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Malenko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diehard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Diehard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Malenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diehard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Malenko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diehard slips under a jab from Malenko.
Malenko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Malenko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Malenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Diehard is just out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Diehard misses its target.
Malenko slips a straight right by Diehard.
Malenko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fighters circling - Malenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Malenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diehard manages to avoid it.

Malenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diehard to the mat! Diehard manages to get full guard.
Diehard looking for a sweep. Not yet Diehard, not yet.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Diehard keeps moving.
Diehard trying to keep a closed guard but Malenko is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko trying to control but Diehard is working from the bottom.
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!
Malenko controlling from the top position.
Malenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malenko being controlled here momentarily.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Diehard keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Malenko throws a shot from downtown. Diehard moves away and avoids it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Malenko throws an overhand right that lands on Diehard's shoulder, as Diehard tries to avoid the shot.
Diehard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Malenko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Malenko misses the shot to the body.
Malenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diehard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Malenko takes a swing at Diehard's ribcage but misses.
Diehard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Malenko.
Diehard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Malenko clobbers Diehard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Malenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Diehard is just out of range.
Diehard throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Diehard stuffs the takedown attempt from Malenko. Malenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Malenko throws a body punch but Diehard moves out of range.
Malenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diehard tests Malenko's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Malenko staying out of range there.
Diehard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Diehard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diehard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diehard lands a nice looking body shot.
Diehard looks to land a right hand but Malenko moved out of range.
Malenko misses with a hook. Diehard ducked under it nicely.
Malenko thuds a left hand into Diehard's body.
Bruce Diehard is winning the standup battle so far.
Diehard slips under a jab.
Malenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Diehard is just out of range.
Malenko staying out of range there.
Malenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Diehard misses with an uppercut
and Malenko counters with a right hand to the body.
Malenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diehard.
A punch lands to the side of Diehard 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice defenses there by Diehard.
Malenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diehard.
Malenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diehard was well out of range. Poor timing from Malenko.
Malenko is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Diehard rather than just go for the knockout.
Malenko throws a sloppy body shot
and Diehard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diehard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diehard jabs Malenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Malenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Diehard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malenko controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Diehard's guard.
Malenko is stalling here. Diehard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Malenko seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Diehard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Malenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Malenko has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Diehard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Malenko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Malenko regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko is looking to get back to full guard here but Diehard has managed to pass to side control instead.

Diehard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Malenko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Diehard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Malenko gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malenko is positioning himself well to prevent Diehard advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ray Malenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Diehard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Diehard controlling the position.
Diehard looking to control.
Diehard keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.

Diehard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ray Malenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko looking to pass the guard.
Malenko is working Diehard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diehard wants to sweep here but Malenko controlling him for the moment.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diehard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Diehard has gone for a leg lock! Malenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Diehard's guard.

Malenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diehard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diehard keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.
Malenko postures up.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malenko 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.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Diehard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko stopping the sweep attempt from Diehard.
Malenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diehard is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bruce Diehard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Diehard.
Diehard lands a lovely overhand right.
Diehard lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Diehard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Malenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diehard.
Diehard misses the shot to the body.
Diehard misses with a wild body shot.
Malenko misses with the combination.
Diehard misses the shot to the body.
Malenko appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diehard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Diehard.
Malenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Malenko drops his hands momentarily and Diehard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Diehard throws an off balance right hand
and Malenko counters with a right hand to the body.
Diehard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Malenko.
A left lands for Diehard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Diehard gets caught flat footed, as Malenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Diehard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Diehard keeping full guard, as Malenko tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malenko trying to control but Diehard is working from the bottom.
Malenko passes Diehard's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ray Malenko.
I think Malenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ray Malenko!
During a confident post fight interview, Ray Malenko thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.