PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Pelayo (ranked 1339 p4p, 173 weight class) and Iti Malia (ranked 1323 p4p, 172 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pelayo
vs
Malia

176 cm
26
183 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

184 cm
26
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Don Pelayo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Iti Malia!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pelayo misses with an elbow over the top.
Malia throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Malia lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

It looks like Don Pelayo has been cut.
Pelayo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pelayo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pelayo misses with a punch on the inside.
Malia lands an uppercut.
Malia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pelayo misses with some punches.
Pelayo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short right from Malia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malia is working Pelayo over against the cage.
Pelayo has a couple of punches blocked by Malia.
Malia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Malia scores with a shoulder strike.
Pelayo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Malia lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malia lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Malia lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malia blocks an elbow strike.
Pelayo has a couple of punches blocked by Malia.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pelayo.
Pelayo misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pelayo.
Malia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malia blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pelayo.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Pelayo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Malia's brow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Malia.
Pelayo lands a right hand.
Malia lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Malia - that landed with a thud.
Pelayo swings wildly with an uppercut but Malia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malia misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malia misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Pelayo fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Malia.
Pelayo is working Malia over against the cage.
Malia lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pelayo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Malia blocks an uppercut.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pelayo lands an uppercut.
Malia looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Malia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pelayo takes a shot to the head.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malia lands a hook that snaps the head of Pelayo backwards.
Malia lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pelayo misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malia tries to work over Pelayo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pelayo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Pelayo throws a punch but it's blocked by Malia.
Malia pushes Pelayo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Malia misses with some punches.
Pelayo struggles to land a body shot inside as Malia controls his hands.
Malia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pelayos head.
Malia lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Malia can't find room to land a body shot as Pelayo controls the action.
Malia misses with some punches.
A short right from Malia on the inside.
Pelayo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

It looks like Iti Malia has been cut.
Pelayo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Malia misses with the head strike.
Pelayo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pelayo struggles to land a body shot inside as Malia controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malia swings wildly with an uppercut but Pelayo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pelayo throws an elbow but it misses.
Malia lands a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malia swings wildly with an uppercut but Pelayo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malia blocks an elbow strike.
Malia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pelayo's elbow.
Malia lands a shoulder strike.
Pelayo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malia misses with a body punch.
Pelayo scores with a shot to the side of Malia's head.
Pelayo misses with an elbow over the top.
Pelayo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Malia misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iti Malia dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Malia walks into a straight right hand from Pelayo.

Pelayo clinches up with Malia and pushes him back against the cage.
Pelayo working aggressively here.
Malia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pelayo.
Malia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pelayo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pelayo.
Malia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Pelayo blocking some punches.
Malia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malia misses with a punch on the inside.
Malia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malia throws a head punch that misses.
Pelayo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malia can't find room to land a body shot as Pelayo controls the action.
Pelayo blocking some punches.
Malia has a couple of punches blocked by Pelayo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Malia.
Malia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pelayo's elbow.
Malia working aggressively here.
Pelayo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Malia lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malia.
Pelayo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Malia blocks an uppercut.
Pelayo trying to land knees to the body.
Pelayo prevents a body shot from Malia.
Malia tries to work over Pelayo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pelayo prevents a body shot from Malia.
Malia throws a punch but it's blocked by Pelayo.
Malia misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Malia.
Malia swings wildly with an uppercut but Pelayo uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Malia.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malia working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Malia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pelayo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pelayo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pelayo misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Malia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pelayos head.
Pelayo misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pelayo.
Malia tries a body shot but Pelayo blocks it.
Iti Malia seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pelayo misses with a punch on the inside.
Pelayo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pelayo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Malia backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pelayo.
Malia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pelayo.
Malia misses with the head strike.
Malia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Malia blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Malia lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pelayo misses with an elbow strike.
Malia throws a punch but it's blocked by Pelayo.
Pelayo lands a left hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malia.
Pelayo struggles to land a body shot inside as Malia controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Malia.
Malia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Malia pushes Pelayo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pelayo throws an elbow that misses.
Malia blocks a body shot from Pelayo.
Malia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Malia.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Malia tries to work over Pelayo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Malia.
A short right from Pelayo on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pelayo.
Malia lands a body punch.
Malia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Malia.
A head punch on the inside from Pelayo fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Malia fails to land.
Malia working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pelayo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iti Malia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pelayo throws a shot from downtown. Malia moves away and avoids it.
Malia thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice straight punches there by Pelayo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pelayo.
Pelayo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Pelayo clinches.
Pelayo misses with an elbow over the top.
Pelayo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pelayo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Pelayo - that landed with a thud.
Malia is leaning against Pelayo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Malia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pelayo prevents a body shot from Malia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pelayo throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malia.
Malia blocks the elbow strike.
Malia blocks an uppercut.
Malia throws a punch but it's blocked by Pelayo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malia scores with a shot to the side of Pelayo's head.
Nice body punch from Malia.
Malia misses with a punch to the body.
Malia blocks an elbow strike.
Pelayo lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pelayo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Malia.
Malia scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pelayo misses with an elbow over the top.
Pelayo misses with a body punch.
Pelayo cracks Malia with a nice body shot.
Pelayo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Malia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pelayo's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Malia scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pelayo lands a nice shot to the body.
Malia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malia gets through Pelayo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Malia has a couple of punches blocked by Pelayo.
A short body shot lands from Malia as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Malia tries to work over Pelayo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malia lands a hook to the side of the head.
Malia throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Malia.
Pelayo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Malia fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Malia blocking some punches.
Malia blocks a body shot from Pelayo.
Malia lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pelayo.
Malia misses with the head strike.
Malia working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pelayo takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pelayo tries to throw a body punch but Malia avoids it by throwing Pelayo back against the cage.
Pelayo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pelayo misses with the head strike.
Malia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Malia.
A right hook to the body lands for Malia.
Malia misses with a punch on the inside.
Don Pelayo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malia tries to work over Pelayo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malia misses with the head strike.
A short left from Pelayo.
Malia lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Malia.
Malia lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pelayo or not.
Malia prevents a body shot from Pelayo.
Pelayo struggles to land a body shot inside as Malia controls his hands.
Iti Malia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Pelayo.
Malia misses with a body punch.
Malia struggles to land a body shot inside as Pelayo controls his hands.
Malia tries a body shot but Pelayo blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malia lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pelayo backwards.
Malia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Malia lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pelayo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pelayo tries a body shot but Malia blocks it.
Malia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pelayo is leaning against Malia and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pelayo lands a left hand.
Malia misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iti Malia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Malia winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iti Malia!