PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Friedrich (ranked 6304 p4p, 280 weight class) and Paul Malone (ranked 4006 p4p, 206 weight class). Malone has chosen Kanye West - Black Skinhead as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Friedrich
vs
Malone

160 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
131 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Evil Empire Nutrition - 151Q $100

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Niklas Friedrich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Malone!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friedrich lands a glancing blow to the side of Malone's head.
Friedrich looks to land a right hand but Malone moved out of range.
Malone with the counter takedown but Friedrich avoids it easily.
Niklas Friedrich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Friedrich clinches with his opponent.
Friedrich lands an elbow inside that Malone shrugs off.
Malone wants to take the fight to the mat but Friedrich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Malone wants a takedown.
Friedrich lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Friedrich.
Malone is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Niklas Friedrich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Malone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedrich will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Malone up against the cage.
Malone's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Friedrich lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Malone or not.
A short right from Friedrich on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedrich lands with a short shot to the head.
Friedrich gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Malone.
Malone looking for a takedown.
Friedrich lands an elbow that stopped Malone in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Paul Malone has been cut.

Friedrich has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Malone uses from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malone drops back, looking for a kneebar! Friedrich looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Friedrich looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Friedrich!

You can see the frustration on Malone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Malone is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Malone wants to control but Friedrich is keeping busy.
Malone is refusing to be controlled, as Friedrich sits in half guard.
Malone is concentrating on defense, preventing Friedrich from advancing position.
Malone trying to control from the bottom.
Malone desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone wants to control but Friedrich is keeping busy.
Malone is positioning himself well to prevent Friedrich advancing to mount.
Friedrich trying to control the action but Malone is working from the bottom.
Malone has his hands clasped together around Friedrich's back. He's all about the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Malone has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Friedrich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Malone's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Friedrich closes the distance and clinches.
Friedrich prevents the takedown attempt.
Friedrich lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Friedrich.
Friedrich swings wildly with an uppercut but Malone uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedrich gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Malone.
Niklas Friedrich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Malone.

Friedrich gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Malone is controlling Friedrich's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Malone is trying to maintain the position but Friedrich is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malone controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Friedrich is taking a breather. Malone says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Malone is concentrating on defense, preventing Friedrich from advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedrich throws a good cross that connects.

Friedrich moves into the clinch.

Friedrich has picked Malone up - he's going for a ride! Friedrich dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Friedrich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malone can do to turn this around?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Malone trying to control here.
Malone wants to improve his position but Friedrich is controlling well.
Malone keeping control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone wants to control but Friedrich is keeping busy.
Friedrich seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Malone does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Malone is looking for a sweep. Friedrich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Malone is trying to control but can't.
Malone is controlling Friedrich's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Malone trying to control but Friedrich postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malone keeping hold of Friedrich's head, controlling as best he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Friedrich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paul Malone's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Friedrich instigates a clinch.
Friedrich is pressed up against the cage. Malone has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Friedrich down to the mat. Friedrich avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Friedrich. Those never looked like landing.
Malone ducks under a wild hook from Friedrich.
Malone with the counter takedown but Friedrich avoids it easily.
A lazy left from Friedrich finds it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Friedrich fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Malone, pushing him back against the cage.

Malone gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Malone is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Friedrich sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malone in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Friedrich tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Malone!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paul Malone!
A determined Paul Malone didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!