PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Jimenez (ranked 8205 p4p, 734 weight class) and Dean Malenko (ranked 24014 p4p, 810 weight class). Malenko has chosen Shooter as his entrance music. Dean Malenko has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Jimenez
vs
Malenko

200 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
212 lbs
2 - 9 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

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 Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dean Malenko!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jimenez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Jimenez. Those never looked like landing.
Malenko is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Malenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jimenez's guard.
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.
Malenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.
Malenko trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jimenez's guard.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Malenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jimenez's guard.

Malenko is trying to work for a kimura but Jimenez is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jimenez keeps working.
Jimenez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Malenko on the ground.
Jimenez is breathing heavily.
Malenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Malenko passes to side control.
Malenko wants to control but Jimenez is keeping him busy.
Jimenez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Malenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jimenez is not content to let Malenko control the position.
Malenko with the ground and pound but Jimenez regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Malenko trying to control from half guard but Jimenez is working away.
Malenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jimenez's head.

Malenko postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Jimenez to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good exchange - Malenko coming out on top.
Malenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jimenez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Jimenez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Malenko has closed the distance and engaged Jimenez in a clinch.
Malenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jimenez's efforts to push away.

Malenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jimenez is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Malenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Jimenez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Malenko is looking to clinch but Jimenez is avoiding it.
Malenko moves out of range as Jimenez throws a body kick.
Malenko wants to clinch but Jimenez slips to the side

and Jimenez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Malenko is on top in guard.

Jimenez has a closed guard, preventing Malenko from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Malenko throws a head kick that misses.
Jimenez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Malenko can pounce on him.
Jimenez avoids the head kick by Malenko.
Malenko avoids the head kick by Jimenez.
Jimenez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Malenko defends well and Jimenez ends up having to push Malenko into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Jimenez. No joy for Malenko on that attempt.

Jimenez moves into range and clinches up with Malenko.

Malenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jimenez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Malenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Malenko tries a quick counter leg kick but Jimenez is wise to it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Jimenez. No joy for Malenko on that attempt.

Malenko closes the distance and clinches.
Jimenez taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Jimenez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Malenko tries to pull guard but Jimenez won't allow it.
Carlos Jimenez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Malenko.
Malenko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Jimenez is defending well.
Malenko is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Malenko manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jimenez wants to control from the top but Malenko keeps moving.
Jimenez postures up.
Malenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez throws a strike but Malenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jimenez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Malenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malenko is stalling in the full guard.
Jimenez trying to control the position.
Malenko wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malenko looking to pass the guard.
Jimenez with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Malenko can't handle though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Malenko from controlling successfully.
Malenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dean Malenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jimenez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Malenko.

Malenko closes the distance and clinches.
Malenko tries to pull guard but Jimenez holds him up against the ropes and eventually Malenko drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Malenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jimenez gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Malenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Malenko or perhaps it was just good defense by Jimenez, which made it look bad.
Jimenez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Malenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jimenez's waist but Jimenez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malenko off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Malenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Jimenez. No joy for Malenko on that attempt.
Malenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jimenez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Malenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jimenez defends it nicely.
Malenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Carlos Jimenez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Malenko.
Malenko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jimenez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Malenko tries to clinch but Jimenez moves out of range.
Jimenez half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jimenez counters with a two punch combo.
Malenko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jimenez defends well and Malenko ends up having to push Jimenez into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jimenez appears to be looking for a big counter.

Jimenez drives through and clinches with Malenko against the ropes.
Jimenez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jimenez working hard to break the clinch.
Malenko has Jimenez pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Jimenez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jimenez trying to control the position but instead, Malenko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jimenez into the ropes.

Malenko manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jimenez stuffs the takedown.
Jimenez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Malenko tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Jimenez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Jimenez clinches up against the ropes.

Malenko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jimenez uses from the top position.
Malenko keeping moving, preventing Jimenez from controlling successfully.
Jimenez won't allow Malenko to sweep him here.
Malenko trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez trying to control the position from guard on top but Malenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Malenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jimenez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jimenez is looking to stand up but Malenko won't let him.
Jimenez content to stall in guard here.

Jimenez gets to his feet - Malenko follows without any prompting.
Jimenez stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Malenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Malenko walks forward, straight into a front kick from Jimenez.

Jimenez closes the distance and clinches.
Malenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jimenez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jimenez looking to throw knees to the head but Malenko is blocking nicely.
Jimenez is trying to push Malenko away but Malenko has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Jimenez wants to break free but Malenko has control.
Carlos Jimenez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Malenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dean Malenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Malenko has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Jimenez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Jimenez showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dean Malenko!
After winning the bout, Dean Malenko thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.