PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Malingo (ranked 1033 p4p, 110 weight class) and Maxim Jericho (ranked 1338 p4p, 137 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Malingo
vs
Jericho

180 cm
28
151 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
147 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Malingo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maxim Jericho!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jericho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Malingo manages to avoid it.
Malingo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jericho throws a lazy right hand but Malingo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Malingo walks forward, straight into a front kick from Jericho.
Malingo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jericho has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Jericho lets loose with a powerful body kick. Malingo will feel that in the morning.
Jericho throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jericho misses with a low kick.
Malingo ducks under a wild hook from Jericho.
Jericho connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho scores with a spinning back kick!
Jericho jabs Malingo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Malingo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jericho throws a push kick but Malingo slaps the foot to one side.
Jericho throws a hook but Malingo blocks it.
Malingo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jericho goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Malingo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jericho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Malingo misses.
Malingo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Jericho misses with an uppercut
and Jericho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malingo misses with a series of wild punches.
Maxim Jericho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jericho thuds a left hand into Malingo's body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Jericho lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Malingo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Malingo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Malingo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jericho lands an overhand right.
Malingo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jericho was well out of range. Poor timing from Malingo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jericho.
Jericho lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malingo throws a jab but it's blocked by Jericho.
Jericho scores with a jab to the body.

Malingo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jericho manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jericho controlling the position.
Malingo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Malingo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Malingo trying to control the position from guard on top but Jericho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malingo throws a big right hand that misses.
Jericho is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malingo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jericho has momentary wrist control but Malingo slips an elbow through the middle.
Malingo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jericho tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jericho is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jericho keeping moving, preventing Malingo from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxim Jericho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Malingo.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Malingo, as that shot connected.
Jericho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malingo moves away.
A swing and a miss from Jericho.
Jericho misses with a hook
letting Malingo counter with a right hand.
Malingo shoots in for a double leg but Jericho sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jericho let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Malingo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters circling a little - Jericho finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Malingo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jericho's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malingo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jericho trying to control the position here.
Malingo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malingo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jericho tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malingo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jericho managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Malingo works over Jericho with some ground and pound from guard.
Jericho managing to control the position.
Jericho working a defensive guard here.

Malingo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jericho is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jericho has escaped and now he's on top!

Malingo trying to keep a closed guard but Jericho is proving a slippery customer.
Jericho is pushing down on Malingo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Malingo is fighting to maintain full guard but Jericho has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malingo is looking to improve his position.
Jericho is controlling the pace.
Jericho wants to pass to mount but Malingo is defending the position.

Malingo actively working from the bottom here.
Jericho is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four 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.
Eddie Malingo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jericho is continuing to stall.
Malingo gets back to full guard.
Jericho looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jericho's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Malingo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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 Eddie Malingo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Malingo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Malingo slips under a jab from Jericho.
Malingo shoots in but Jericho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jericho scores with a jab to the body.
Malingo goes for a double leg but Jericho avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jericho continues to drive forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malingo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jericho defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Malingo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jericho missing with a left hand there. Malingo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jericho has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jericho misses with a straight right.
A little feinted left hand from Malingo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Jericho dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Malingo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Malingo gets a takedown into half guard.
Jericho trying to control from the bottom.
Malingo throwing shots but Jericho is blocking nicely.
Jericho has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Malingo is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malingo is trying to control the action in half guard but Jericho is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Malingo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jericho is looking for a sweep. Malingo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jericho keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Jericho is looking to improve his position.
Malingo is looking to advance position but Jericho won't allow it.
Malingo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jericho desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malingo prevents Jericho from improving his position.
Jericho avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malingo.
Jericho is controlling Malingo's trapped leg to prevent Malingo from advancing to side control.

Malingo is working for a kimura but Jericho is defending it quite comfortably.
Malingo working Jericho over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Malingo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Malingo drops an elbow to the side of Jericho's head.
Malingo is trying to control. Jericho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Malingo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jericho is trying to control but can't.
Jericho gets back to full guard.
Jericho is adopting a defensive guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maxim Jericho.
I think Jericho 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

The fight is ruled a draw!