PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Malikoic (ranked 4064 p4p, 488 weight class) and Adam Bocheck (ranked 4142 p4p, 495 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Malikoic
vs
Bocheck

194 cm
25
223 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid 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, Ivan Malikoic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adam Bocheck!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malikoic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A combination from Malikoic does no damage.
Malikoic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bocheck sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bocheck.
Bocheck will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bocheck looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ivan Malikoic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Bocheck.
Bocheck darts in looking for a takedown but Malikoic gets double underhooks and turns Bocheck into the cage.
Bocheck closes the distance and clinches up with Malikoic, looking for a takedown. Bocheck pushes Malikoic against the cage but Malikoic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malikoic tries for a takedown but Bocheck sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bocheck unleashes a big counter combination but Malikoic bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Malikoic misses with a takedown attempt - Bocheck sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Malikoic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bocheck shoots in for a takedown but Malikoic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikoic closes the distance and clinches up with Bocheck, looking for a takedown. Malikoic pushes Bocheck against the cage but Bocheck circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malikoic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bocheck sprawls well. Bocheck wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Malikoic gets slowly back to his feet.
Malikoic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Malikoic feints a jab promting Bocheck to slip. Malikoic then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bocheck slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Adam Bocheck has been cut.
No luck for Bocheck with that takedown attempt.

Bocheck forces Malikoic back against the cage and clinches.
Malikoic managing to block the knees to the body from Bocheck.

Bocheck's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Malikoic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Malikoic with that takedown attempt.
Bocheck bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Bocheck on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Malikoic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Malikoic wants it to stay on the feet.
Malikoic keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bocheck fails to land the takedown.
Bocheck misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Malikoic as Bocheck shoots in.
Malikoic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bocheck's waist but Bocheck gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malikoic off to one side.
Malikoic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bocheck 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocheck blocks the body kick.
Bocheck will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Malikoic tries to clinch there but Bocheck circles away.
Bocheck shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malikoic as he avoids it easily.
Bocheck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malikoic.

Bocheck instigates a clinch.
Malikoic is trying to pull guard but Bocheck has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Malikoic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikoic fails to land the takedown.

Bocheck has Malikoic up against the cage in a clinch.
Malikoic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bocheck is defending well.

Bocheck jumps guard and drags Malikoic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Bocheck has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Malikoic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Malikoic postures up.
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 Ivan Malikoic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Adam Bocheck's cut.
That's time! Malikoic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bocheck moves into range and clinches up with Malikoic.
Bocheck is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bocheck is looking to break free of the clinch but Malikoic has double underhooks.
Bocheck tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bocheck drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bocheck changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Malikoic fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ivan Malikoic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Bocheck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bocheck stuffs the takedown attempt from Malikoic. Malikoic gets slowly back to his feet.
Bocheck changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ivan Malikoic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bocheck fails with a takedown attempt.
As Bocheck tries to get set, Malikoic tries to push him back and clinch up but Bocheck manages to avoid the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocheck misses the jab.

Bocheck clinches with his opponent.

Malikoic gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Malikoic trying to control the position from guard on top but Bocheck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malikoic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Bocheck working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malikoic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malikoic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bocheck working a defensive guard but Malikoic passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bocheck is looking to control Malikoic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bocheck avoid being mounted?
Malikoic landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Malikoic trying to control from half guard but Bocheck is working away.
Bocheck has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Malikoic is working away from the top position though.
Bocheck wants to get back to his feet.
Malikoic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Malikoic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bocheck is just riding it out for now. Malikoic eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malikoic is looking to take a break and control but Bocheck is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Malikoic in particular looking to stall.
Bocheck is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Malikoic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Malikoic's back!
Bocheck is hanging on to Malikoic's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikoic is keeping busy.
Bocheck doesn't have the hooks in and Malikoic manages to turn into his guard.

Bocheck working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Malikoic has passed into half guard!
Bocheck gets full guard.

Bocheck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malikoic wants to control from the top but Bocheck keeps moving.
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 Ivan Malikoic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Adam Bocheck's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Malikoic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bocheck's waist but Bocheck gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Malikoic off to one side.

Bocheck drives through and clinches with Malikoic against the cage.
Bocheck fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bocheck wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bocheck stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Malikoic wants to take the fight to the mat but Bocheck manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bocheck tries to break free but Malikoic pushes him back against the cage.

Malikoic breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malikoic fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Malikoic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malikoic has a takedown stuffed.
Ivan Malikoic is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocheck shoots in for a takedown but Malikoic shows good takedown defense.
Bocheck shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Malikoic as he jumps to the side.

Bocheck shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Malikoic has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Bocheck is on him like a limpet, forcing Malikoic back against the cage.
Bocheck misses with the head strike.
Malikoic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bocheck to keep the fight standing.
Malikoic throws a punch but it's blocked by Bocheck.

Malikoic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bocheck is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bocheck shoots for a takedown but Malikoic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bocheck has managed to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bocheck stops a takedown attempt from Malikoic.

Malikoic breaks from the clinch.
Bocheck shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Malikoic sprawls well. Malikoic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bocheck gets slowly back to his feet.
Bocheck blocks a head kick by Malikoic.

Bocheck has closed the distance and engaged Malikoic in a clinch.
Malikoic has had enough of the clinch but Bocheck keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malikoic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malikoic fails with a takedown attempt.
Bocheck wants to counter the offense by Malikoic and move into the clinch position.
Malikoic slaps away a takedown attempt from Bocheck, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bocheck closes the distance and clinches up with Malikoic, looking for a takedown. Bocheck pushes Malikoic against the cage but Malikoic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bocheck fails with the takedown.

Malikoic moves into the clinch.
Bocheck jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Malikoic walks away with a smile on his face. Bocheck gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikoic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Malikoic connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Malikoic tries to clinch there but Bocheck circles away.
Malikoic avoids the head kick by Bocheck.
Malikoic shoots in but no luck this time.

Malikoic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bocheck keeps control of Malikoic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bocheck has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Malikoic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bocheck manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Malikoic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Malikoic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Malikoic!