PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaka Malaka (ranked 4797 p4p, 482 weight class) and Leopoldo Belfort (ranked 4371 p4p, 455 weight class). Malaka comes to the cage accompanied by Rock Me. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malaka
vs
Belfort

189 cm
26
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

181 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaka Malaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leopoldo Belfort!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belfort shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Belfort is looking to work some ground and pound but Malaka has wrist control.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
Malaka wants to stand and escape but Belfort is having none of it.
Belfort looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Belfort connects with a couple of short punches.
Belfort makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Belfort connects with a couple of short punches.
Belfort chips away with some ground and pound.
Belfort keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Malaka's head.
Belfort postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Belfort won't allow Malaka to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belfort working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Belfort has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Belfort with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Belfort with a nice head shot there.
Belfort is in close to Malaka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Belfort preventing the sweep.
Belfort cracks Malaka with a solid left hand.
Belfort content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Belfort lands a couple of digs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belfort working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malaka's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Belfort's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Malaka has momentary wrist control but Belfort slips an elbow through the middle.
Belfort is pushing down on Malaka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Malaka is fighting to maintain full guard but Belfort has managed to sneak the leg through.
Belfort is looking to take a break and control but Malaka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Belfort takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Malaka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Belfort scores with a couple of nice shots.
Belfort scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ground and pound from Belfort.
Belfort looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Belfort lands strikes from half guard.
Malaka punching from the bottom.
Belfort seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Malaka has hold of Belfort's hands but Belfort slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Belfort controlling the action here.
Malaka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Belfort scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belfort lands strikes from half guard.
Malaka's coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Belfort scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Belfort lands strikes from half guard.
Malaka taking some punishment here, with Belfort in his half guard.
Belfort looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Malaka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Belfort is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belfort is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Malaka is rocked!
Malaka on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Oh Malaka is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Malaka is breathing heavily.
Belfort winds up and cracks Malaka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Belfort.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Belfort connects with a nice short shot to Malaka's temple.
Belfort slips a nice elbow through Malaka's hands, connecting with Malaka's forehead.
Malaka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Belfort scores with a couple of nice shots.
Belfort scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Belfort looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belfort sitting in half guard here. He lands a big elbow that has hurt Malaka! Oh, Malaka is in big trouble! Belfort lands more strikes and the ref dives in to save him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Leopoldo Belfort!